1958 AC Ace-Bristol Roadster
- Engine
- 1,971cc inline-six with pushrod-operated inclined valves, up to 130 bhp in road trim; BMW five-speed gearbox fitted
- Colour
- Light blue metallic (repainted from earlier metallic green)
A left-hand-drive, Bristol-engined AC Ace roadster (chassis BEX 421) delivered new to Paris in May 1958, retaining its matching-numbers Bristol six-cylinder engine and later fitted with a BMW five-speed gearbox for long-distance touring, with the original gearbox retained. The car sustained front-end accident damage in Italy in the early 1960s and was subsequently rebuilt with a Zephyr-model front end. It passed through several French owners before spending nearly three decades with the founding president of the AC Club de France, who campaigned it extensively in European and international historic rallies including five Coupes des Alpes and three Tours Auto.
Ownership
- 2022-10-09Auction saleSold €270,000 (≈ $297K)
- 2024-05-10Auction saleEstimate €270,000 – €350,000
- 1958-05-01 → 1958-05-14Factory deliveryEts Chardonnetfull documentation
Paris dealership that took initial factory delivery before registering the car to its first private owner.
- 1958-05-14 → 1963-03-01Factory deliveryJean Balaresquefull documentation
First private owner; took delivery in Paris with light blue metallic paint and red interior.
- 1963-03-01 → 1964Acquisition unknownBoutkil Abdelhouhabpartial documentation
Paris-based owner during whose tenure the car sustained front-end damage in an accident in Italy; bodywork was subsequently rebuilt using the Zephyr-model nose.
- 1964 →Private saleNicolas Gillespartial documentation
Purchased from Garage de Lorraine; later reacquired the car for a second period of ownership.
- 1964-03-01 → 1964Acquisition unknownGarage de Lorrainepartial documentation
Workshop that coordinated the front-end repair via Carrosserie Delvalet, then sold the car onward the same year.
- 1995-04-20 → 2022Private saleAlain Mauboussinfull documentation
Founding member of the AC Club de France and head of the Mauboussin jewellery house; acquired through intermediary Christophe Pund and used the car extensively in historic rallying over 27 years. Car repainted metallic green and later light blue metallic in 2006.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownNicolas Gilles (second period)partial documentation
One of four subsequent owners after the 1964 sale; Gilles is noted as appearing twice in the chain of custody.
Competition
- 1998-05-01Louis Vuitton China Run ClassicDriver: Alain Mauboussin
Dalian-to-Beijing rally run in challenging conditions with no roadside infrastructure; a fuel tanker followed the field along with accompanying journalists.
- —Coupe des Alpes (multiple editions)Driver: Alain Mauboussin
Car participated in five editions of this event during the 1995–2022 ownership period.
- —Tour Auto (multiple editions)Driver: Alain Mauboussin
Three participations during the 1995–2022 ownership period.
- —Transalpina Rally (multiple editions)Driver: Alain Mauboussin
Among several rallies contested by Mauboussin during his long ownership.
- —Z TrophyDriver: Alain Mauboussin
Belgian historic event attended during the 1995–2022 ownership period.
- —HVCB RallyDriver: Alain Mauboussin
Belgian historic vehicle event attended during the 1995–2022 ownership period.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1964BodyworkGarage de Lorraine / Carrosserie Delvalet
Front bodywork rebuilt following accident damage sustained in Italy; the repair used the slightly different nose section from the Ford Zephyr-engined variant, which the car has retained ever since.
Work carried out in March 1964; the replacement front end is visually distinguishable from the standard Bristol-model nose.
- 2006Bodywork
Exterior repainted twice: first to metallic green and subsequently returned to light blue metallic.
- —RestorationJ C de Penfentenyo
Comprehensive restoration undertaken; a complete photographic record of this work is held in the car's history file.
Carried out during the late 1980s; exact year not specified. Bills dating from 1989 onward are present in the documentation dossier.
- —Modification
Original Bristol BWCR9 gearbox replaced with a BMW five-speed unit to improve suitability for long-distance rallying; the original gearbox (number DID424) is retained and accompanies the car.
Date of gearbox change not stated in the catalogue.
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