13
Lot
13
In Classic Cars
1955 AC Aceca Coupe
Chassis Number: AE513
Registration Number: VWJ 154
- Matching numbers engine/gearbox
- Previous owner for 42 years
- Much recent restoration work
The success of Cliff Davis' Tojeiro sports-racer prompted AC Cars to put the design into production in 1954 as the Ace. The Davis car's pretty Ferrari 166-inspired barchetta bodywork was retained, as was John Tojeiro's twin-tube ladder frame chassis and Cooper-influenced all-independent suspension, while the power unit was AC's own venerable, 2.0-litre, long-stroke six. This overhead-camshaft engine originated in 1919 and with a modest 80bhp (later 100bhp) on tap, endowed the Ace with respectable, if not outstanding, performance. A hardtop version - the fastback-styled Aceca coupé - debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1954. The Aceca's hatchback body was constructed in hand-formed aluminium over a tubular steel framework, while the tubular chassis was more substantially built than the Ace's. To reduce noise levels within the cabin, AC mounted all major components on rubber bushes. The result was a well-engineered, light in weight and extremely pretty GT car in the best AC tradition.
Very few alterations were made to the Ace and Aceca apart from a change of engine for 1956 when the more powerful (up to 130bhp) 2.0-litre Bristol six-cylinder engine became available, while towards the end of production the 2.6-litre Ford Zephyr engine was on offer also. The Bristol six was based on that of the pre-war BMW 328, which featured an ingenious cylinder head, designed by Rudolf Schleicher, incorporating hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined valves without recourse to overhead, or twin, camshafts. Instead, the earlier BMW Type 319 engine's single block-mounted camshaft and pushrod valve actuation were retained, thus avoiding an expensive redesign. Two rocker shafts were employed, one situated above each bank of valves, giving the engine an external appearance almost indistinguishable from that of a twin-overhead-cam design. Downdraft inlet ports contributed to the motor's deep breathing, and its tune-ability made it a popular choice for British racing car constructors, most notably Cooper, during the 1950s. Externally, Bristol's clone of the BMW motor differed little from the German original, the most obvious difference being the adoption of SU, rather than Solex, carburettors part way through production. The most significant changes made by the Bristol designers were metallurgical, their utilisation of the highest quality materials contributing to greatly increased engine life. The combination of a fine-handling chassis and a decent power-to-weight ratio, helped the Ace to numerous successes in production sports car racing, arguably its finest achievement being a 1st-in-class and 7th overall finish at Le Mans in 1959. This lovely early and very original matching numbers Aceca was first registered on 27th October 1955, fitted with the AC straight six engine and triple SU carburettors, and finished in Guardsman Blue with a matching blue leather interior. In previous long term storage for 42 years, the Aceca benefitted from a comprehensive engine rebuild before being acquired by a family friend, a lifelong classic car collector and member of the VSCC, who has undertaken further cosmetic restoration works to complete the AC to the standard you see here.
The previous paintwork was stripped back to bare metal, and the car finished back to its original shade of blue metallic. The bodywork and chassis were in remarkably well preserved condition, the coachwork requiring only preparation before being refinished. The wiring was renewed throughout, and all exterior chromework and fittings placed back on the car. New Lucas 100S lights were added, notably though all other glasswork is original, as are the door frames. The original seats are in very good order so were reinstalled alongside new carpets trimmed with the correct edging. Sitting on rebuilt 16? wire wheels (to the correct early pattern type and attached with the original AC spinners), the AC retains its drum brakes on each corner, and all suspension components. More recently the Aceca has enjoyed a tune up and general service, and we are sure with only a light amount of further preparation this will be a very rewarding car to own, drive, and possibly rally.
This wonderful early and matching number example is Mille Miglia eligible, and offered with the original buff logbook and current V5C.
Once paid for, lots can be collected from Dore and Rees by appointment. We can recommend shippers to assist with the collection and transport of lots to you.
.VIEWING
Viewing for Classic Cars will be held at the Cattle Market car park, next to the
Cheese and Grain, Market Yard, Frome BA11 1BE
Friday 11 February 10am to 6pm
Saturday 12 February 10am to 1pm
AUCTION
The auction will be held at Dore & Rees Auction Salerooms, Vicarage Street, Frome BA11 1PU
Saturday 12 February at 2pm
REGISTRATION TO BID
All new bidders will be requested to provide a copy of identification (Passport/Driving Licence) and proof of address (utility bill, Council Tax bill)
BUYERS PREMIUM
Buyer's premium for all lots in this Classic Cars auction is 10% of the hammer price plus VAT
ONLINE BIDDING
Additional charges for online bidding apply
PAYMENT
Lots must be paid for in cleared funds prior to collection.
COLLECTION & STORAGE
All cars are to be collected after the auction, up to 18:00 on Saturday 12 February or by 12:00 on Monday 14 February.
Lots that cannot be collected from the viewing site by 12.00 on Monday 14 February will be taken into secure storage at the buyer’s expense.
Costs are as follows:
Transport - £140 + VAT
Storage - £14 + VAT per day for the first 14 days, £10 + VAT per day thereafter
Storage details:
Rudler Car Transportation and Storage
P.O. Box 11, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 7SY
Tel: +44 (0)1793 73 11 07
Terms and Conditions of Sale - BUYER
This document acts to confirm the terms and conditions under which Dore & Rees, acting as agent, will sell Lots by auction to Buyers on behalf of Sellers.
i. you will not bid on a Lot you do not intend to pay for
ii. you have the funds to complete the purchase at the total value of Hammer Price, Buyer’s Premium together with VAT at the prevailing rate and any applicable charges;
iii. the funds are not connected with any criminal activity including tax evasion, and that you are neither under investigation nor have you been charged with or convicted of money laundering, terrorist activities or other crimes
iv. if the Lot you purchased is to be removed to a country outside the UK, all duties, taxes and licences on the export of the Lot are your responsibility.
i. Information provided to us by the Seller of the Lot (for which we are not liable); and
ii. Our opinion (although it is likely that we will not be able to carry out a detailed inspection of each Lot).
i. The Hammer Price;
ii. Buyer’s Premium of 25% of the Hammer Price (except Classic Car auctions Buyer's Premium of 10% of the Hammer Price)
iii. Any artists resale right royalty payable on the sale of the Lot
iv. Any VAT due
i. You are in breach of your warranties in clause 3; or
ii. We have not completed our enquiries pursuant to the Money Laundering Regulations and related legislation to our satisfaction; or
iii. We have reason to believe that the transaction might be unlawful for any reason, or that the sale might put us under any civil or criminal liability,
we may delay the completion of the sale, delay a release of a Lot or cancel the sale of a Lot
i. Pay to us the Total Amount Due by one of the following methods:
i. Not later than 5 working days following the day of the auction
ii. Not later than 5 working days following the date that we have received payment of the Total Amount Due in cleared funds, if later.
i. Take action against you for damages for breach of contract
ii. Reverse the sale of the Lot to you and/or any other Lots sold by us to you;
iii. Resell the Lot by auction or private treaty (in which case you will have to pay any difference between the price you should have paid for the Lot and the price we sell it for as well as the charges outlined in Clause 8. Please note that if we sell the Lot for a higher amount than your winning bid, the extra money will belong to the Seller;
iv. Remove, store and insure the Lot at your expense;
v. If you do not pay within 5 days of your successful bid, we may charge interest at a rate not exceeding 1.5% per month on the Total Amount Due;
vi. Keep that Lot or any other Lot sold to you until you pay the Total Amount Due
vii. Reject or ignore bids from you or your agent at future auctions or impost conditions before we accept bids from you; and / or
viii. If we sell any Lots for you, use the money made on these Lots to repay any amount you owe us.
V1.1
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1955 AC Aceca Coupe
Chassis Number: AE513
Registration Number: VWJ 154
- Matching numbers engine/gearbox
- Previous owner for 42 years
- Much recent restoration work
The success of Cliff Davis' Tojeiro sports-racer prompted AC Cars to put the design into production in 1954 as the Ace. The Davis car's pretty Ferrari 166-inspired barchetta bodywork was retained, as was John Tojeiro's twin-tube ladder frame chassis and Cooper-influenced all-independent suspension, while the power unit was AC's own venerable, 2.0-litre, long-stroke six. This overhead-camshaft engine originated in 1919 and with a modest 80bhp (later 100bhp) on tap, endowed the Ace with respectable, if not outstanding, performance. A hardtop version - the fastback-styled Aceca coupé - debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1954. The Aceca's hatchback body was constructed in hand-formed aluminium over a tubular steel framework, while the tubular chassis was more substantially built than the Ace's. To reduce noise levels within the cabin, AC mounted all major components on rubber bushes. The result was a well-engineered, light in weight and extremely pretty GT car in the best AC tradition.
Very few alterations were made to the Ace and Aceca apart from a change of engine for 1956 when the more powerful (up to 130bhp) 2.0-litre Bristol six-cylinder engine became available, while towards the end of production the 2.6-litre Ford Zephyr engine was on offer also. The Bristol six was based on that of the pre-war BMW 328, which featured an ingenious cylinder head, designed by Rudolf Schleicher, incorporating hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined valves without recourse to overhead, or twin, camshafts. Instead, the earlier BMW Type 319 engine's single block-mounted camshaft and pushrod valve actuation were retained, thus avoiding an expensive redesign. Two rocker shafts were employed, one situated above each bank of valves, giving the engine an external appearance almost indistinguishable from that of a twin-overhead-cam design. Downdraft inlet ports contributed to the motor's deep breathing, and its tune-ability made it a popular choice for British racing car constructors, most notably Cooper, during the 1950s. Externally, Bristol's clone of the BMW motor differed little from the German original, the most obvious difference being the adoption of SU, rather than Solex, carburettors part way through production. The most significant changes made by the Bristol designers were metallurgical, their utilisation of the highest quality materials contributing to greatly increased engine life. The combination of a fine-handling chassis and a decent power-to-weight ratio, helped the Ace to numerous successes in production sports car racing, arguably its finest achievement being a 1st-in-class and 7th overall finish at Le Mans in 1959. This lovely early and very original matching numbers Aceca was first registered on 27th October 1955, fitted with the AC straight six engine and triple SU carburettors, and finished in Guardsman Blue with a matching blue leather interior. In previous long term storage for 42 years, the Aceca benefitted from a comprehensive engine rebuild before being acquired by a family friend, a lifelong classic car collector and member of the VSCC, who has undertaken further cosmetic restoration works to complete the AC to the standard you see here.
The previous paintwork was stripped back to bare metal, and the car finished back to its original shade of blue metallic. The bodywork and chassis were in remarkably well preserved condition, the coachwork requiring only preparation before being refinished. The wiring was renewed throughout, and all exterior chromework and fittings placed back on the car. New Lucas 100S lights were added, notably though all other glasswork is original, as are the door frames. The original seats are in very good order so were reinstalled alongside new carpets trimmed with the correct edging. Sitting on rebuilt 16? wire wheels (to the correct early pattern type and attached with the original AC spinners), the AC retains its drum brakes on each corner, and all suspension components. More recently the Aceca has enjoyed a tune up and general service, and we are sure with only a light amount of further preparation this will be a very rewarding car to own, drive, and possibly rally.
This wonderful early and matching number example is Mille Miglia eligible, and offered with the original buff logbook and current V5C.
Once paid for, lots can be collected from Dore and Rees by appointment. We can recommend shippers to assist with the collection and transport of lots to you.
.VIEWING
Viewing for Classic Cars will be held at the Cattle Market car park, next to the
Cheese and Grain, Market Yard, Frome BA11 1BE
Friday 11 February 10am to 6pm
Saturday 12 February 10am to 1pm
AUCTION
The auction will be held at Dore & Rees Auction Salerooms, Vicarage Street, Frome BA11 1PU
Saturday 12 February at 2pm
REGISTRATION TO BID
All new bidders will be requested to provide a copy of identification (Passport/Driving Licence) and proof of address (utility bill, Council Tax bill)
BUYERS PREMIUM
Buyer's premium for all lots in this Classic Cars auction is 10% of the hammer price plus VAT
ONLINE BIDDING
Additional charges for online bidding apply
PAYMENT
Lots must be paid for in cleared funds prior to collection.
COLLECTION & STORAGE
All cars are to be collected after the auction, up to 18:00 on Saturday 12 February or by 12:00 on Monday 14 February.
Lots that cannot be collected from the viewing site by 12.00 on Monday 14 February will be taken into secure storage at the buyer’s expense.
Costs are as follows:
Transport - £140 + VAT
Storage - £14 + VAT per day for the first 14 days, £10 + VAT per day thereafter
Storage details:
Rudler Car Transportation and Storage
P.O. Box 11, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 7SY
Tel: +44 (0)1793 73 11 07
Terms and Conditions of Sale - BUYER
This document acts to confirm the terms and conditions under which Dore & Rees, acting as agent, will sell Lots by auction to Buyers on behalf of Sellers.
i. you will not bid on a Lot you do not intend to pay for
ii. you have the funds to complete the purchase at the total value of Hammer Price, Buyer’s Premium together with VAT at the prevailing rate and any applicable charges;
iii. the funds are not connected with any criminal activity including tax evasion, and that you are neither under investigation nor have you been charged with or convicted of money laundering, terrorist activities or other crimes
iv. if the Lot you purchased is to be removed to a country outside the UK, all duties, taxes and licences on the export of the Lot are your responsibility.
i. Information provided to us by the Seller of the Lot (for which we are not liable); and
ii. Our opinion (although it is likely that we will not be able to carry out a detailed inspection of each Lot).
i. The Hammer Price;
ii. Buyer’s Premium of 25% of the Hammer Price (except Classic Car auctions Buyer's Premium of 10% of the Hammer Price)
iii. Any artists resale right royalty payable on the sale of the Lot
iv. Any VAT due
i. You are in breach of your warranties in clause 3; or
ii. We have not completed our enquiries pursuant to the Money Laundering Regulations and related legislation to our satisfaction; or
iii. We have reason to believe that the transaction might be unlawful for any reason, or that the sale might put us under any civil or criminal liability,
we may delay the completion of the sale, delay a release of a Lot or cancel the sale of a Lot
i. Pay to us the Total Amount Due by one of the following methods:
i. Not later than 5 working days following the day of the auction
ii. Not later than 5 working days following the date that we have received payment of the Total Amount Due in cleared funds, if later.
i. Take action against you for damages for breach of contract
ii. Reverse the sale of the Lot to you and/or any other Lots sold by us to you;
iii. Resell the Lot by auction or private treaty (in which case you will have to pay any difference between the price you should have paid for the Lot and the price we sell it for as well as the charges outlined in Clause 8. Please note that if we sell the Lot for a higher amount than your winning bid, the extra money will belong to the Seller;
iv. Remove, store and insure the Lot at your expense;
v. If you do not pay within 5 days of your successful bid, we may charge interest at a rate not exceeding 1.5% per month on the Total Amount Due;
vi. Keep that Lot or any other Lot sold to you until you pay the Total Amount Due
vii. Reject or ignore bids from you or your agent at future auctions or impost conditions before we accept bids from you; and / or
viii. If we sell any Lots for you, use the money made on these Lots to repay any amount you owe us.
V1.1