The AC Ace first appeared at Earls Court in 1953 and epitomised a new era of British post-war sports car production.

The owners of AC, Charles and Derek Hurlock, along with AC agent, Ken Rudd, transformed the company's reputation by taking a racing special and putting it into production, with notable stylistic influences from Italian sports cars of the era.

The result was a car that delivered both on the road, and particularly on the track thanks to the input of racing chassis designer John Tojeiro.

Tojeiro employed the same simple tubular ladder-type chassis with an aluminium body that he had used in his earlier specials, however, the Ace differed by being fitted with all-round independent suspension by transverse springs (the first British sports car to do so), ensuring superb handling with minimal body roll and plenty of feedback.

Such was the success of the Ace chassis, it became the foundation for the mighty Shelby Cobras with over three times the power of the original 105bhp...