The AC 3000ME was launched at the London Motor Show in 1973 and offered for sale by AC Cars between 1979 and 1984.

During the 1970's, AC Managing Director, W Derek Hurlock, developed a new and smaller car.

Mid-engined designs were in fashion at the time and in 1972 the prototype Diabolo was built with an Austin Maxi engine and transaxle.

However, following considerable investment in development using the BLMC power unit and transmission, the engine manufacturers decided that they needed all the E series engines they could make to power their own Maxi and Allegro models, so the Diabolo project appeared likely to collapse for lack of an engine.

In much the same way as they had taken up the Tojeiro prototype and turned it into the Ace, AC acquired the rights and at the 1973 London Motor Show showed their own version, the mid-engined ME3000 with the 3.0 litre Ford Essex V6 engine installed transversely over a custom AC designed gearbox.

The car featured a steel chassis making extensiv...