1956 AC Bristol For Sale in St Louis, MO, 2146376671 Tweet

AC Cars Ltd. has a long and illustrious tradition of building some of Britains most memorable sporting cars. Founded in 1908 the company first made utility vehicles delivery and trade under the Auto Carriers banner. Around 1920 new management arrived and reorganized the company as they shifted focus to become serious manufacturers of quality sporting cars. Racing and record-breaking became a priority and the achievements quickly followed with AC scoring the first ever British victory in the 1926 Monte Carlo Rally. A series of sporting saloons and touring cars sustained AC until the outbreak of World War II when wartime contracts made AC a handy profit.By the early 1950s sales of their saloon cars began to fall and management decided a new direction was needed to keep AC Cars relevant. The company hired a talented young designer named John Tojeiro to design a new sports car around ACs venerable inline-six. Tojeiro caught the attention of AC after word got out about the exquisite sports racing cars he built in a rented garage near the AC factory. For the new road car he applied his racing experience equipping the car with four-wheel independent suspension and a twin-tube chassis. First shown at the 1953 Earls Court Motor Show the Ace was a beautiful little two-seat roadster that held the distinction of being Britains first all-independent suspension sports car. The venerable overhead cam AC 1991 cc inline six was standard. Production began in 1954 and buyers relished in the Aces sublime handling and 100mph performance.In 1956 the highly regarded 1971-cc Bristol six became available upgrading the standard Ace to Ace-Bristol specification. This high-revving state-of-the-art power unit initially produced 125 bhp at 5750 rpm which rose to 128 hp in its ultimate D2 specification care of increased compression from 8.5:1 to 9:1. The engine could trace its origins back to BMWs advanced pre-war 328 design which helped make it successful in racing well into the 1960s.Bristol-powered Aces were brilliant in competition winning three successive SCCA E-Production Championships between 1957 and 1959 followed by D-Production Championship in 1960 and C-Production Championship in 1961. The Ace-Bristol also scored very well at Le Mans where it finished 2nd in class in 1957 and 1958 and achieved a sterling class victory and 7th overall in 1959. This performance no doubt left an impression on 1959 Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby who later created his own 289 and 427 Shelby Cobra derivatives based on the classic AC Ace.This beautiful 1956 example was purchased from a British sports car collector in Philadelphia following a number of years in storage. The car has benefitted from a no-expense-spared ground-up restoration. During the four-year restoration completed in 2018 great attention was paid to utilizing factory-correct parts and finishes. Today the car is presented in the stunning shade of Aston Martin Almond Green a refined and period-appropriate shade that accentuates the cars flowing lines. Chrome 16-inch Turrino wire wheels complete with AC knock-off hubs wear newer period-correct tires enhancing both aesthetics and handling.The interior has been fully restored in Andes Green leather sourced from Spinneybeck to ensure authenticity and craftsmanship. Complementing the upholstery is a new set of Wilton wool carpets further enhancing the cars luxurious feel. Weather protection comes via an Everflex convertible top with matching side curtains and the car also includes a tonneau cover for added versatility during events or storage.Under the hood this example is powered by the Bristol six-cylinder engine renowned for its race-winning pedigree. The engine has been freshly rebuilt with performance in mind and has less than 500 miles since the build. During the rebuild the block was bored .010 over fitted with Wiseco billet pistons INRacing fast road camshaft with oversize cam bearings 7mm stainless valves with titanium retainers and a WOSP starter. After completion the engine was dyno tested at 140 horsepower. Paired with a four-speed manual transmission the engine provides exhilarating performance with a high-revving character and exceptional responsiveness. The braking has also been upgraded with discs up front a popular mod in period. The engine bay reflects the same high standard of restoration featuring correct finishes and period-authentic detailing.The interior has been freshly appointed in Andes Green leather sourced from Spinneybeck. Period-correct Wilton wool was sourced for the carpet. Protection from the elements is provided by either an Everflex convertible top with side curtains or tonneau cover. The Ace-Bristol is accompanied by a tool roll original jack with rods a full-size spare and restoration receipts.One of only 463 Ace-Bristols produced between 1954 and 1963 this example stands as one of the finest restored examples available today embodying the perfect blend of performance style and usability. The cars superb restoration ensures it is ready for concours display or competitive driving events. Its eligibility for prestigious events such as the Colorado Grand Tour Auto and Targa Florio underscores its versatility and desirability.With its Italian-inspired design competitive history and practical usability this Ace-Bristol offers a unique opportunity for the discerning collector to acquire a meticulously restored historically significant sports car.Offers welcome and trades consideredFor additional details please view this listing directly on our website https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7792-1956-ac-bristol-roadster/