1957 AC Ace-Bristol Roadster
- Engine
- 1,971cc inline-six, pushrod-operated inclined valves, BMW-derived Bristol unit, up to 130 bhp in road trim
- Colour
- Silver (with silver hardtop)
A left-hand-drive 1957 AC Ace-Bristol Roadster, chassis BEX 269, fitted with the matching-numbers Bristol 2-litre six-cylinder engine. Originally delivered new to the United States and finished in black, the car passed through at least three American owners before being exported to Belgium, where it underwent a professional restoration around 2001 with coachwork by specialist Rod Jolley. Well-documented throughout, the car is Mille Miglia eligible and comes with a period-correct silver hardtop.
Ownership
- 2021-10-10Auction saleSold €310,000 (≈ $341K)
- 1957 →Factory deliveryMr J Duffyfull documentation
First registered owner, took delivery in the USA; confirmed by an AC Cars factory letter dated mid-1957 stating original delivery destination and owner name.
- → 1998Acquisition unknownCalifornia-based owner or ownerspartial documentation
Car described in a Los Angeles advertisement circa 1998 as having had three owners in total and having been stored for an extended period; advertisement copy retained in the file.
- 1998 →Private saleBelgian owner who commissioned restorationfull documentation
Acquired the car after export to Belgium and arranged a professional restoration around 2001, engaging coachwork specialist Rod Jolley in the UK; restoration bills and progress photographs are on file.
- 2014 →Private saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Purchased around 2014 and used the car occasionally on local regularity-rally events; had it prepared by specialist firm Racing Box.
Competition
- 1959Le Mans 24 Hours 19591st in class, 7th overall
Result achieved by an AC Ace-Bristol in general production sports car racing; cited as among the model's finest competitive achievements.
- —Local regularity rallies
Current owner used this specific car on occasional local regularity-rally outings; silver hardtop fitted primarily for this purpose.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2001RestorationRod Jolley
Comprehensive professional restoration carried out circa 2001 after the car was exported to Belgium; coachwork was handled by specialist Rod Jolley in the UK. Certain body sections required replacement, though the original panels were retained with the car. Supporting invoices and in-progress photographs are on file.
A valuation report and a copy of the AC Bristol Register entry also form part of the documentation package relating to this restoration.
- —MechanicalRacing Box
The car was set up and prepared by known Bristol specialists Racing Box, ensuring it was in good mechanical order.
Work was carried out during the Belgian ownership period, prior to the current vendor acquiring the car around 2014.
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