At the 1954 London Motor Show, AC debuted the Aceca. It was an attractive closed variant of their popular Ace Roadster, but it had a greater degree of refinement and sophistication. Passenger comfort was a design priority, and accordingly, the chassis-mounted rear differential utilized rubber bushings, reducing the amount of noise, vibration, and harshness transferred from the road to the car’s interior. A bulkhead of sound-absorbing fiberglass was installed between the engine and the passenger compartment in the hand-built, lightweight aluminum bodywork. With fully independent suspension and a six-cylinder engine, the Aceca was able to provide remarkable handling and spirited performance.

Beginning in 1956, the Ace and Aceca were offered with the 1,971-cubic centimeter, six-cylinder Bristol engine as an option. This derivation of BMW’s pre-war 328 engine boasted hemispherical combustion chambers and an inclined valvetrain, and it provided the car with greater performance, unlocking the true potential of both the Ace and Aceca chassis. It was a powerhouse in competition: it dominated the SCCA E- and D-Production classes between 1957 and 1961, it won its class at Sebring in 1958 and 1959, and it captured its class at Le Mans in 1959. Contemporary road tests reflected upon the Aceca-Bristol’s prowess, as they unanimously praised the car’s balance and sublime handling and noted that most drivers would run out of skill before approaching the Aceca-Bristol’s own limits.

The Aceca-Bristol offered here was restored in 2000, in its present elegant yet understated Blue livery, with grey leather interior and blackwall-shod chrome wire wheels. It is reported by the owner to have its original Bristol D2 engine, with nearly 120 horsepower, in the original chassis, and it is also reported to be in excellent condition throughout. It has won several local awards, which attest to the quality of its restoration.

This is a superb chance to slip behind the wheel of an exciting, dashing British sports car that has outstanding performance and took the world by storm in the mid-1950s.