British AC Cars will always go down in history for producing the roadster that ended up serving as the basis for the legendary AC Cobra! However, before Mr. Shelby got his hands on the British car, AC was building very elegant cars, like this 1959 AC Aceca Bristol Coupé!

The design and technology of this small coupe were far ahead of its time, with emphasis on the tubular chassis, with independent suspension on all four wheels, and the hatchback-style rear door - a major innovation in the 1950s.

Under the hood is a twin-cam inline six-cylinder engine sourced from Bristol, producing 125 Ps thanks to three Solex downdraft carburettors.

The AC Aceca Bristol is the most powerful and rare version of the Aceca. Only 169 units were manufactured, 64 of which were left-hand drive.

This example was sold by AC Imports P. Dechert, in the United States, in April 1959. In the 21st century, it returned to Europe where it underwent a complete, well-documented restoration. It is a numbers-matching unit, including body and interior colors, and is in excellent condition, ready for any type of use.