AC Cars Ltd.

of Thames Ditton, Surrey, was established in 1922 carrying on the business previously set up by Autocars & Accessories Ltd.

in 1908 and Autocarriers (1911) Ltd., who were responsible for the quirky, single-cylinder, rear-engined, three wheeler Sociable models.

Designer John Weller launched his 1,991cc, single overhead camshaft, wet-liner, six-cylinder engine at the Olympia Show in 1919, that engine going into series production in 1922 and remarkably this basic design continuing in production for over forty years, albeit by 1963 it developed a massive 103bhp.

Racing driver S.

F.

Edge headed the marketing impetus at AC and fully recognised the advantages to be gained from competition success, supporting entries at Brooklands where the marque firmly established its credentials in the hands of such notables as Joyce and Gillett.

The Hon.

Victor Bruce, with co-driver W.

J.

Brunell, achieved the first British Monte Carlo Rally victory in 1926 at the wheel of an AC.

Th...