1956 AC ACE-Bristol Roadster

The Bring-A-Trailer online auction for this AC ACE-Bristol Roadster is now live. You can access it directly using this link:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/195...

AC Ace-Bristol Register head, Keith Lessiter was kind enough to provide the copies of the original order details for this particular example.

1956 was the first year the new Bristol, Type 100D, 120bhp competition engine was available for the AC ACE Roadster and engine number "519 100D" was fitted new to this vehicle and remains there to this day.

The block itself carries the original casting date of "4May56" or May 4th, 1956 which further confirms the originality of the engine.

The AC records confirm it was ordered new by AC Imports Inc., out of 8 Alden Avenue, Valley Stream, NY on behalf of their client, Mr. Peter Dechart, a very well known early member and later, life-time member of the Sports Car Club of America.

Details on his life can be seen here:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/...

The car was originally completed in the one of one color, Polychromatic Pale Fawn, which is closest to the 1963 Corvette Color, Saddle Tan. The interior was black leather and the soft top and tonneau cover were finished in black.

The AC records further confirm the fitting of optional Girling front disc brakes, making this likely one of the earliest examples so fitted as they did not become a regular official option until 1957. They were likely installed by AC knowing that the owner intended to compete with the car in a variety of events in the States.

The car was completed in and released for shipping on July 25th, 1956.

Dechert entered the car in the 9th Annual International Sports Car Grand Prix of Watkins Glenn on September 15th, 1956 where he finished a very impressive 7th Overall.

It appears that Dechert only raced in just the one event and never raced the car again until finally selling it in March of 1963 to Dale Copeland of 1330 Potomac, Avenue, Hagerstown, Maryland.

The car was then acquired in the late 1980s by Ron Leonard and sent to well known AC Specialist, Bill Murry for restoration with the engine and gearbox being rebuilt by Colorado, Master-Mechanic, Mike Dopudja.

Leonard ran into financial difficulties and fellow Colorado resident and classic car enthusiast, Tom Horan purchased and completed the project in 1990.

Horan ran the car several times in the Colorado Grand before selling it to another well known collector, Bill Jacobs.

Jacobs also enjoyed the car in several Colorado Grand events and other shows and rallies before being talked out of ownership in 2005 by a long-term client and friend who over the next near 20 years, drove the car just over 1,200 miles

During his owners, the car has received lavish attention by Cavallo Motorsport, Chris Dugan at Dugan Enterprises, Motion Products and Rare Drive, Inc., in East Kingston, New Hampshire. There are receipts and records for well over $100,000.

After being asked to assist with the sale, I put 70 very fun miles on the car and the only thing that went wrong was the second sweep hand fell of the dash mounted rally clock. Both timers still work however.

In preparation for the upcoming sale on Bring-A-Trailer the car was sent to James Millar for full services, safety checks and compression test which came out drop-dead perfect on all cylinders from 155 to 157 psi.


I have had quite a few of these over the past 30 years, the majority of which had mystery history and a variety of changes and modifications, usually centered around replacement engines, gearboxes, brakes, gauges, steering wheels etc...

I have been watching this one closely for the past twenty years, hoping one day the owner would finally let it go and hopefully let me sell it for him. That day has finally come and there will be a very, very happy and fortunate new custodian when this one sells.

I suspect this has the potential to achieve a record price as not only is it the right car and the right model, it also had fully documented history, excellent period race history and it remains all matching numbers with all of the rare bits and pieces still there.

Kind regards and best of luck to everyone,

Bill Noon

Symbolic International
At Veloce Motors Vault
9340 Dowdy Drive Suite 102
San Diego, California 92126 USA

Phone 619 840 7811
Email [email protected]
Website www.symbolicinternational.com