1938 AC 16/90 Competition Sports Sloping Tail
- Engine
- 1,991cc supercharged inline-six, single overhead camshaft, Arnott vane-type supercharger at ~3.5 psi boost, 5.25:1 compression, capable of 100 mph
- Colour
- 'Snow Shadow Jewelessence' (bright metallic)
A rare and historically significant AC 16/90 Competition Sports with Sloping Tail coachwork, this car is the first of only five short-chassis examples fitted with an Arnott supercharger and was exhibited at the 1938 London Motor Show to introduce the supercharged model. Powered by John Weller's twin-cam 2-litre six-cylinder with vane-type forced induction, it was rediscovered in North Wales in 1974 in disassembled condition and subsequently restored by AC specialist Phil Whitaker, earning a third-in-class finish at Pebble Beach in 2006.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$224,000
- 1938 →Private saleR. Cowell-Smithpartial documentation
Purchased directly following the car's debut at the 1938 London Motor Show.
- → 1974Acquisition unknownR. Englandpartial documentation
Car was located near Caernarfon Castle in North Wales when found in disassembled but complete condition.
- 1974 →Private saleAlan Huxley-Jonespartial documentation
Acquired from R. England in North Wales; car remained in disassembled state during his ownership.
- → 1989Acquisition unknownD. Hescroffpartial documentation
Brought the car to Jim Feldman's notice in 1998, though the sale to Feldman is dated 1989; served as an intermediary collaborator in Feldman's collecting circle.
- 1989 →Private saleJim Feldmanfull documentation
Acquired through negotiation with D. Hescroff; restoration by AC specialist Phil Whitaker was completed in 1993, and the car has been carefully maintained as a centerpiece of Feldman's AC collection.
Competition
- 19381938 London Motor Show
Car served as the official introduction of the supercharged 16/90 model to the public, displayed on the AC stand.
- 20062006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance3rd in class
Result credited both to the quality of Phil Whitaker's restoration work and to the careful stewardship of the Feldman collection.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1993RestorationPhil Whitaker
Full reassembly and restoration of the car, which had been in disassembled condition since at least 1974, carried out by AC marque specialist Phil Whitaker and completed to a high concours standard.
Results of the work remained visually outstanding some three decades after completion.
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