Lot details
Registration No: VPL 441
Chassis No: AE56
Mot Expiry: June 2006

Introduced in 1954, the AC Aceca fastback was conceived as a more refined alternative to the company's seminal Ace roadster. Developed by Alan Turner and Desmond Stratton, the new model augmented its open-topped sibling's ladder-framed chassis with an elegant square-tube superstructure. Boasting a generous glasshouse, sensuous roofline and practical side-hinged rear hatchback, the Aceca's Grand Touring credentials were more than skin deep as proven by its all-round independent transverse-leaf suspension and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Initially powered by the John Weller designed 1991cc OHC straight-six which had been a staple part of AC production since 1919, the arrival of an alternative 1971cc Bristol engine in February 1956 gave performance more akin to that of the contemporary DB2/4 Aston Martin.
Finished in black with red leather upholstery, this particular example - 'VPL 441' - is described by the vendor as being in "very good" condition with regard to its engine, electrical equipment, interior trim, chassis, bodywork, paintwork and wheels / tyres (equipped with a 'freewheel' function on first gear, its four-speed manual gearbox is apparently in "good" order too). Arguably the most famous of all the Acecas, VPL 441 began life as a factory prototype before becoming the Works demonstrator. Exhibited at both the London and Paris Motor Shows during 1954, it also appeared in a number of contemporary publications (including an Autocar road test article published on March 4th 1955). Later owned by Land and Water Speed Record Holder Donald Campbell who had AC retro-fit the handsome coupe with a Bristol '100B2' powerplant, VPL 441 had migrated to Devon by the late 1960s. Still resident there in 1985, it was acquired by Peter Nickless of Shropshire and treated to an extensive five-year rebuild. Entrusting much of the work to the renowned Scott-Moncrief firm (invoices from the period are thought to total somewhere in the region of £30,000), Mr Nickless was rewarded with a measure of concours success before his death in the early 1990s. Subsequently confined to the Midland Motor Museum, the Aceca was sold on following the institution's closure in 2000. The subject of a bare metal respray in August 2002, VPL 441 entered the current ownership the following year. Used sparingly since then, it nevertheless participated in the 2004 Rallye de Paris. Starting readily and running well upon a recent inspection, this historic AC is offered for sale with large history file (factory correspondence, old-style logbook, numerous invoices / receipts etc), MOT certificate valid until 19th June 2006 and historic class (free) road tax until 30th June 2006.