1960 AC Aceca - Sensational!

We are delighted to have the opportunity of offering this magnificent, beautifully presented AC Aceca onto the market with a recorded mileage, believed genuine of just 29000 miles. During the 1950’s AC enlisted the aid of genius race chassis designer John Tojeiro in creating a sports car to boost sales of the AC marque. His subsequent creation was the Ace which appeared at Earls Court in 1953 with its tubular ladder type chassis with all round independent suspension by traverse springs – the first British sportscar to be thus equipped. The AC offered immense road holding and handling and the car could easily out pace many of its bigger rivals and it soon established an enviable reputation in sporting events around the World. The AC Aceca Coupe followed in 1954, a beautifully proportioned early example of a GT type body.

240 SPF was first registered on the 10th November 1960 to AC Cars Ltd, Thames Ditton and was purchased new at the 1960 Motor Show by a Mr and Mrs Cane. They both invested in new cars, Mr Cane purchased an AC Greyhound and this Aceca was for Mrs Cane. She feared the Bristol engine would be ‘too fast', and it was agreed that the car would be returned to AC for the installation of their own 2 litre engine. Mrs Cane kept the car for 17 years and throughout its early life the car was maintained by AC Cars Limited in Thames Ditton. We have invoices throughout the 1970's for various maintenance and upkeep and in 1977 the AC was sold with a recorded mileage of 15,000. The AC's second owner was another lady, the proprietor of a North London Hair Salon and in 1979 the car was back at Thames Ditton for its annual MOT and various mechanical maintenance and servicing.

In 1983 the AC headed briefly north, it sold to a gentleman in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, now with 18000 miles recorded. The Aceca only stayed in Yorkshire for one year and in 1984 was sold to Prop Jet Limited (later Fortis Aviation Ltd), registered at Stansted Airport. It stayed in the same ownership for a further 17 years and in 2001 with 27,500 miles recorded the AC returned to Northern England, residing with a private owner in Oldham. In 2013 with 28000 miles, the AC sold to the most recent owner, a Lancashire based collector who has covered very little mileage, the car arriving with us recording less than 29000 miles. Over the past six years with its most recent owner, the car has been taken to a beautiful standard having had a complete full re-paint, full re-trim and the original AC 2 litre engine has been completely stripped down and rebuilt and is with the car. The AC is currently equipped with a Triumph 2.5 litre engine which offers outstanding and much improved performance against its original engine. The AC 2 litre engine was not the most desirable of options, however the original unit has been rebuilt and kept with the car for reasons of provenance. For performance and usability, it makes sense to keep the current, rebuilt, strong and superbly fit engine in the car.

There is no doubt 240 SPF is a very special car. The mileage certainly fits the history and its believed the first lady owner only covered 15000 miles in the car up to 1979, it was the couples second car having the AC Greyhound as its stable mate. The mileage is warranted from 1978 to 2019 so we know it has covered just 14000 miles in the last 41 years, and having the cars 1970's Thames Ditton service history is also very impressive. With a superb traceable history and presenting in such beautiful condition, we know this is a very sought-after car. The AC presents superbly with its original first-class aluminium body finished in the cars original colour of Blue. The paint finish gleams and is of an exceptional high standard, bright work and wire wheels are in excellent order and the interior is beautifully re-trimmed. The engine bay presents superbly, and having been in the hands of a meticulous collector, the car is in excellent condition throughout. Having covered hardly any mileage over the past six years, the AC will be fully serviced and MOT tested for its next owner, and the original freshly rebuilt AC engine will be delivered with the car. This is a true collector's piece, a rare iconic car for the sporting motorist and collector, seeking a hand built classic offering comfortable and elegant high speed motoring.