Editing AC Ace (section)

==History==
AC came back to the market after the [[Second World War]] with the [[AC 2-Litre|2-Litre]] range of cars in 1947, but it was with the Ace sports car of 1953 that the company really made its reputation in the post war years. Casting around for a replacement for the ageing 2-Litre, AC took up a design by [[John Tojeiro]] that used a light, ladder-type tubular frame, all independent transverse leaf spring suspension, and an open two-seater alloy body made using [[English wheel]]ing machines, possibly inspired by the [[Ferrari 166 S|Ferrari 166 MM barchetta]].<ref name=Motor1954/><ref name=DavisJr>{{cite magazine |author-last=Davis Jr. |author-first=David E. |date=March 2002 |title=Ferrari's Dreamboat |url=https://paulrussell.com/articles/FerrarisDreamboat+BoatBuilder.pdf |magazine=Automobile Magazine }}</ref>

Early cars used AC's elderly {{convert|100|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} two-litre [[overhead cam]] [[straight-six engine]] (first seen soon after the end of the First World War), which, according to a 1954 road test by ''Motor'' magazine, gave a top speed of {{Convert|103|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|0|-|60|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} in 11.4&nbsp;seconds and a fuel consumption of {{convert|25.2|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus}}.<ref name=Motor1954>{{cite journal |title = The AC Ace| journal =[[The Motor (magazine)|The Motor]]| date = 1 December 1954}}</ref> It was hardly a sporting engine however, and it was felt that something more modern and powerful was required to put the modern chassis to good use.

Joining the Ace in 1954 was the [[AC Aceca|Aceca]] hard top coupé, which had an early form of hatchback rear door but used the same basic timber framed alloy body.

From 1956, there was the option of [[Bristol Cars]]' two-litre {{convert|120|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} straight-six with 3 downdraught carburettors and slick four-speed [[Manual transmission|gearbox]]. Top speed leapt to  {{convert|116|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} with {{convert|0|-|60|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} in the nine second bracket. Overdrive was available from 1956 and front disc brakes were an option from 1957, although they were later standardised.

[[File:1962 AC Ace 2.6 Ruddspeed front.jpg|thumb|left|1962 2.6-litre Ruddspeed-engined Ace]]
In 1961 a new 2.6-litre ({{convert|2553|cc|cid|abbr=on}}) straight-six 'Ruddspeed' option was available, adapted by Ken Rudd from the unit used in the [[Ford Zephyr]]. It used three [[Weber carburetor|Weber]] or [[SU carburetor|SU]] carburettors and either a '[[Raymond Mays|Mays]]' or an iron cast head. This setup boosted the car's performance further, with some versions tuned to {{convert|170|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, providing a top speed of {{Convert|130|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|0|-|60|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} in 8.1&nbsp;seconds.<ref>{{cite web|title=AC Ace 2.6|url=http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/47/|work=Motorbase|access-date=5 July 2012}}</ref> However, it was not long before [[Carroll Shelby]] drew AC's attention to the Cobra, so only 37 of the 2.6 models were made.<ref>{{cite web|title=Model specs: 1961-1963 AC Ace RS 2.6 |url=http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/carspecs.php/?see=3206 |work=Octane |access-date=5 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708202318/http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/carspecs.php/?see=3206 |archive-date=8 July 2012 }}</ref> These Ford engined models had a smaller grille which was carried over to the Cobra.

For the Ace as well as the Aceca, AC used chassis numbers beginning with '''AE''' for AC-engined cars, '''BE''' for Bristol-engined ones, and '''RS''' for those equipped with the Ford unit. An "'''X'''" following the first two letters indicated an export model.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.w2ec.com/Ace50s.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110202013648/http://www.w2ec.com/Ace50s.html | archive-date = 2011-02-02 | title = Ace (1953-1962) | work = The AC Home Page | first = Paul R. | last = Vasek }}</ref> With the engine set well back in the chassis, the Ace handled well and was successful in competition.