One of the world's best known classic sports cars - the AC Cobra - has been saved. A new company - AC Car Group Ltd - has acquired the assets and business of the former AC Cars company, Britain's car maker with the longest record of continuous production.
AC Car Group is based in Weybridge, Surrey close to the historic Brooklands race track. The company's history can be traced to a South London workshop which began car production in 1901.
The brutally fast Ford V8-engined AC Cobra (in pre-speed limit days it reached 196mph on the M1!) was devised by AC in conjunction with Texan racing driver Carroll Shelby. Now throughly updated, its unique blend of performance and style has made the AC Cobra a true classic car.
The new AC Ace model received rave reviews from the motoring press in 1995 but never entered full production. Its design is now being revised to meet safety and environmental regulations and offer even greater driving enjoyment.
Both the Cobra and Ace feature sturdy stainless steel chassis and hand-crafted aluminium bodywork.
THE AC COBRA
The Cobra is a high powered, hand crafted aluminium bodied sports car of the 1960's . Its creation, production and ongoing development being the result of joint Anglo American co-operation between Carroll Shelby, AC Cars Limited and The Ford Motor Company. The AC/Shelby/Ford Cobra was a huge success. The combination of British craftsmanship, Ford Power and Carroll Shelby's foresight, determination and racing successes made the Cobra famous and today ranks among the most collectible and valuable of classic motor cars. Today's AC Cobra is still entirely hand made by the same traditional British coach-building methods used by AC Cars in the 1960's and utilising the same original Cobra tooling. Each part is painstakingly hand crafted to the highest possible standards from the aluminium outer body to the leather trimmed interior. The Cobra name and Trademark were sold to Ford Motor Company by Carroll Shelby in 1965 and AC Cars are the only Company in the world licenced by Ford to use the famed Cobra Trademark and name on their product.
Pictures of the AC Cobra:
An add of the AC Cobra MKIV
Side-front view of the AC Cobra
Side-back view of the AC Cobra
Factory view of a lot of AC Cobra's
Dashboard view of the AC Cobra
THE AC ACE
The new AC Ace model received rave reviews from the motoring press in 1995 but never entered full production. Its design is now being revised to meet safety and environmental regulations and offer even greater driving enjoyment.
The latest AC Ace has been designed and developed not only to meet the rigorous and exacting safety and emission requirements of the EEC and North America, but also to provide an aerodynamically stable, long-lasting vehicle that is both practical and remarkably easy to drive. Yet, at the same time, it has the exciting performance and handling characteristics of the almost forgotten golden age of powerful front-engined British sports cars. The massive construction of the stainless steel alloy monocoque-type chassis, together with the aluminium outer body panels, provide an immensely rigid and corrosion-resistant platform to mount the race-inspired suspension, ABS controlled ventilated power disc brakes and variable-ratio power-assisted steering. Sacrificial crash structures and hydraulic rams are incorporated into the front and rear of the monocoque, capable of progressively absorbing substantial impact without damage to the main chassis and cockpit areas whilst extensive door beams protect driver and passenger from side impact. Wide-based unequal-length wishbones, gas-filled dampers (twin at the rear) and concentric coil springs impart the traditional firm feel of a powerful sports car without impairing ride quality or transmitting vibration and harshness into the cabin. Though front engined, a 50/50 front/rear weight distribution has been achieved to provide precise and balanced handling that both reassures and rewards the driver. The ACE's 5.0 litre EFI catalytic V8 engine, coupled either to the 5-speed manual or the optional 4-speed automatic transmission, allows effortless acceleration up to a top speed in excess of 140mph. At the same time, 28 Tclean' miles per imperial gallon can be achieved on unleaded fuel. British craftsmanship is evident the moment you sit behind the wheel. Trimmed extensively in the finest Connolly hide, wool carpets and burr elm veneers, the interior imparts a feeling of luxury and natural warmth. Fully adjustable seats, adjustable steering column and air conditioning provide driver comfort whilst the fully retractable power hood provides an all-weather sports car for all climates. The joy of experiencing comfortable open-top motoring regardless of the season is, of course, the true purpose of the Ace. The Ace's unique and distinctive shape is the result of extensive wind tunnel testing resulting in excellent aerodynamics providing high speed stability. Of equal concern was the desire to reduce cockpit turbulence during Ttop-down' motoring. The Ace features a remarkable absence of the wearying and undesirable wind buffeting normally associated with open-top vehicles. In every sense, the AC ACE and the AC COBRA are both traditional British sports cars from Britain's oldest manufacturer designed predominantly for the American market to invigorate and satisfy those who take personal pride and derive pleasure from their open top motoring.Pictures of the ACE and the AC Cobra together:
Side view of the AC Cobra and the ACE next to each other
Back view of the AC Cobra and the ACE
AC COBRA SPECIFICATION
Two-seater, left or right hand drive open top sports car with spaceframe Tladder' construction chassis.
Hand rolled 16 gauge aluminium alloy body, seam welded using parent metal.
Stainless steel bumpers mounted on hydraulic rams to absorb low speed impacts.
Driver's side roll-over bar.
Traditionally hand crafted interior using finest English leather and deep pile wool carpeting.
Hood and tonneau cover hand stitched in Everflex.
Type Approved to meet EEC legislation.
Certified to US 49 State legislation.
| ENGINE | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Capacity | 4942 cc (302 cu in) |
| Bore | 101.6 mm (4.0 in) |
| Stroke | 76.2 mm (3.0 in) |
| Compression ratio | 9.0:1 |
| Valve gear | OHV |
| Aspiration | Electronic fuel injection |
| Power (DIN/rpm) | 225 bhp @ 4200 rpm |
| Torque (DIN/rpm) | 300 lb ft @ 3200 rpm |
| Power to weight ratio | 200 bhp per ton |
| PERFORMANCE | |
| 0-60 mph | 5.3 seconds |
| 0-100 mph | 13.3 seconds |
| Top speed | 135 mph |
| FUEL CONSUMPTION | |
| Urban | 15.7 ltr/100km (18 mpg) |
| Touring | 10.9 ltr/100km (26 mpg) |
| MANUAL TRANSMISSION | ||
| Gearbox | Borg Warner T50D | |
| Type | 5 speed | |
| Final drive | Salisbury limited slip differential, rear wheel drive | |
| Gear | Ratio | mph/1000 rpm |
| 1st | 3.35 | 7.1 |
| 2nd | 1.93 | 12.2 |
| 3rd | 1.29 | 18.3 |
| 4th | 1.00 | 23.6 |
| 5th | 0.68 | 34.7 |
| Reverse | 3.15 | N/A |
| Final drive ratio | 3.31:1 | |
| CHASSIS AND BODY | |
| Construction | Tubular steel Tladder' spaceframe chassis, aluminium body |
| Suspension | Unequal length wishbones, coil springs and twin tube dampers |
| Steering type | Rack and pinion |
| Turns lock to lock | 3.6 |
| Turning circle | 10.9 m (35 ft 10 in) kerb to kerb |
| Wheels Front | 7 x 16 in, Rear 8 x 16 in, Spare 7 x 16 in |
| Tyres Front | 225/50VR x 16, Rear 255/50VR x 16, Spare 225/50VR x 16 |
| Brakes, type | Dual circuit servo assisted discs all round, ventilated at front |
| CABIN DIMENSIONS | |
| Headroom | 910 mm (36.0 in) |
| Legroom | 1100/925 mm (43.0/36.5 in) |
| Shoulder room | 1257 mm (49.5 in) |
| Luggage capacity | 0.27 cu cm (9.50 cu ft) |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Wheelbase | 2285 mm (90 in) |
| Front track | 1409 mm (55.5 in) |
| Rear track | 1485 mm (58.5 in) |
| Overall length | 4200 mm (165.4 in) |
| Overall width | 1746 mm (68.7 in) |
| Overall height | 1200 mm (47.2 in) |
| Kerb weight | 1120 kg (2469.6 lb) |
| Fuel tank capacity | 70.5 ltr (15.5 imp gals) |
| Weight distribution (f:r) | 50:50 |
DASHBOARD INCLUDES
Speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure gauge, oil temperature gauge, water temperature gauge, fuel gauge, voltmeter, handbrake/brake fluid level warning light, main beam warning light, indicator warning light, low fuel warning light, oil pressure warning light and ignition warning light.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Hood and tonneau, driver's side roll-over bar, dual catalyst exhaust system, leather interior, fully carpeted boot and alloy wheels.
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
Alarm system, mohair hood/tonneau, painted stripes, painted wheel centres, three eared spinners (set of four), stainless steel sidevents, oil cooler, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, wooden gear knob, windwings, perspex sun visors, rubber mats, radio cassette including two speakers, CD multichanger radio cassette including 4 speakers and electric aerial.
AC ACE SPECIFICATION
At this moment this information isn't correct because of the relaunch of the AC ACE in 1997. The specifications are the old specifications of the AC ACE.
- Two-seater, left or right hand drive sports car constructed on a stainless steel monocoque chassis with aluminium body.
Monocoque chassis incorporates front and rear sacrificial crumple zones with integral hydraulic rams to absorb low speed impacts.
Door anti-intrusion beams.
Electrically operated fully retractable soft top.
Forward hinging bonnet giving excellent access to engine bay and service points.
Transmission, 4 speed automatic or 5 speed manual.
Type Approved to meet EEC legislation.
Constructed to meet North American EPA/DOT requirements.
| ENGINE | |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Capacity | 4942 cc (302 cu in) |
| Bore | 101.6 mm (4.0 in) |
| Stroke | 76.2 mm (3.0 in) |
| Compression ratio | 9.0:1 |
| Valve gear | OHV |
| Aspiration | Electronic fuel injection |
| Power (DIN/rpm) | 240 bhp @ 5250 rpm |
| Torque (DIN/rpm) | 320 lb ft @ 3250 rpm |
| Power to weight ratio | 170 bhp per ton |
| PERFORMANCE | |
| Manual Transmission | |
| 0-60 mph | 5.9 seconds |
| 0-100 mph | 15.4 seconds |
| Top speed | 140 mph |
| FUEL CONSUMPTION | |
| Urban (manual) | 15.1 ltr/100km (18.8 mpg) |
| Touring (manual) | 10.5 ltr/100km (27 mpg) |
| Urban (automatic) | 15.3 ltr/100km (18.5 mpg) |
| Touring (automatic) | 10.5 ltr/100km (27 mpg) |
| AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | ||
| Gearbox | AOD | |
| Type | 4 speed | |
| Final drive | Salisbury limited slip differential, rear wheel drive | |
| Gear | Ratio | mph/1000 rpm |
| 1st | 2.41 | 9.2 |
| 2nd | 1.47 | 15.1 |
| 3rd | 1.00 | 22.2 |
| 4th | 0.67 | 33.8 |
| Reverse | 2.00 | N/A |
| Final drive ratio | 3.31:1 | |
| MANUAL TRANSMISSION | ||
| Gearbox | Borg Warner T50D | |
| Type | 5 speed | |
| Final drive | Salisbury limited slip differential, rear wheel drive | |
| Gear | Ratio | mph/1000 rpm |
| 1st | 3.35 | 6.5 |
| 2nd | 1.93 | 11.5 |
| 3rd | 1.29 | 17.2 |
| 4th | 1.00 | 22.2 |
| 5th | 0.68 | 32.4 |
| Reverse | 3.15 | N/A |
| Final drive ratio | 3.31:1 | |
| CHASSIS AND BODY | |
| Construction | Stainless steel chassis, aluminium body |
| Front suspension | Unequal length wishbones, gas damper units and coil springs |
| Rear suspension | Unequal length wishbones, twin gas damper units and coil springs |
| Steering type | Rack and pinion, variable ratio, power assisted |
| Turns lock to lock | 2.75 |
| Turning circle | 10.5 m (34.5 ft) between walls |
| Wheels | 7.5 x 16 in |
| Tyres | Front/spare 225/50ZR x 16, Rear 235/50ZR x 16 |
| Brakes, type | Ventilated discs all round, ABS |
| CABIN DIMENSIONS | |
| Headroom | 940 mm (37.0 in) |
| Legroom | 1067/915 mm (42.0/36.0 in) |
| Shoulder room | 1445 mm (56.9 in) |
| Luggage capacity | 0.27 cu cm (9.50 cu ft) |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Wheelbase | 2472 mm (97.3 in) |
| Front track | 1590 mm (62.6 in) |
| Rear track | 1570 mm (61.8 in) |
| Overall length | 4420 mm (174.0 in) |
| Overall width | 1870 mm (73.6 in) |
| Overall height | 1300 mm (51.2 in) |
| Kerb weight | 1440 kg (3175 lb) |
| Fuel tank capacity | 80 ltr (18 imp gals) |
| Weight distribution (f:r) | 50:50 Automatic |
| 49:51 Manual | |
DASHBOARD INCLUDES
Speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, oil pressure warning light, indicator warning light, ABS warning light, handbrake/brake fluid level warning light, ignition warning light, main beam warning light and cigar lighter.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Transmission - 5 speed manual, air conditioning, variable ratio power steering, ABS braking system, dual catalyst exhaust system, full leather interior, wool carpets, electrically operated fully retractable soft top, electrically heated windscreen, electrically operated windows, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, electrically heated washer jet nozzles, central door locking, Pioneer radio/cassette player with CD facility, electric aerial, projector beam headlights, auxiliary fog and driving lights, fully carpeted boot, boot interior lights, remote boot release and alloy wheels.
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
Transmission - 4 speed automatic.
Pioneer CD multichanger.
For more info call:
AC Cars Group
Martin Hayes, Communications Advisor
(phone) 44 171 437 7955 and (fax) 44 171 437 7966 (UK).
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