In 1986 the Hurlock Family ended their 56 year controlling interest in AC Cars by selling their share to Autocraft and Ford.

Under the new management today’s prototype AC Ace known as the Ace of Spades was developed styled by Ford’s own design studio and built by Autokraft in time for the 1986 Birmingham Motor Show.

The Ace of Spades was built around a steel monocoque and featured all wheel drive and a V6 motor from the Ford XR4x4 / Ford Scorpio parts bin. It was estimated the car would reach 60 mph from rest in less than seven seconds and that the top speed would be of the order of 140 mph.

For unspecified reasons Ford dropped their interest in pushing the Ace of Spades into production and eventually sold their interest Ford to Autocraft. In 2000 AC enthusiast Mr Stevens bought the car with 20 miles on after AC Car Group Ltd had gone into receivership in 1996.

Mr Stevens turned the show car into a more practical road going proposition which included commissioning the Leiter Motor Company of Semley to devise a roof and electrically operated window’s. When the car was seen here at Classics at the Castle in Sherborne the Ace of Spades prototype had clocked up 6,000 miles.

Shortly after this the car was sold by Mr Stevens family at auction where it fetched £15,000. Classics at the Castle will be held again tomorrow and if time permit’s I look forward to attending.

Thanks for joining me on this All Wheel Drive Ace edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !