- Chassis # AEX 556
- Engine # CL2250
- 1 of 328 Examples Produced
- Numbers-Matching Engine With 2012 Rebuild By AC Specialist
- Single Ownership From 1991 To 2018
- Offered With Factory Tools, Jack, And Records

The AC Cars’ name became commonplace with their successful AC Ace sports car introduced in 1953. Intending to build upon this success, AC released the Aceca starting in 1954. Based heavily upon the two-seat, open cockpit Ace, the Aceca was essentially a hand-built, enclosed, grand touring version of the popular Ace. Its hatchback design was quite unique for the time and added excellent usability to the small grand tourer. Early cars were fitted with a 2.0 liter inline six-cylinder engine built by AC mated to a 4-speed manual transmission but production switched to a similar power plant from Bristol in 1956 with these cars being names Aceca-Bristols. The Aceca came in at a scant 2120 lbs thanks in large part to its tubular frame, aluminum engine block, and aluminum body panels. Featuring nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution, the Aceca proved to be an exceptionally well handling car. Production of the Aceca ran from 1954 through 1963 with 151 AC engined Acecas produced, 169 Bristol engined Aceca-Bristols produced, as well as 8 examples produced utilizing a 2.6 liter tuned Ford Zephyr engine.

The example on offer here, chassis AEX 556 and engine number CL2250, is a 1956 AC Aceca, one of only 328 examples produced by the company. It is a matching numbers example finished in silver exterior with black leather interior and red carpeting. According to the included history file, the car spent a good portion of its life, up to until around 1990 in Northern California where it changed hands approximately 2 times. It appears when the 3rd owner purchased the car it had been sitting for an extended period of time and the owner took it upon himself to recommission the car and get it back on the road before selling it to the 4th owner around 1990. In 1991, the 4th owner who was located in New York state decided to undergo a sympathetic restoration of the car completed by Waren L. Riter and Sons Inc. of Plainfield, NY. From the included receipts, it appears that the car was stripped down to bare metal and repainted in the silver color it still currently wears. Along with the repaint, it appears that a majority of the cosmetic nature of the car was either refurbished or replaced. From here, the 4th owner enjoyed the car regularly while thoroughly maintaining it, backed by the service receipts which are still included with the car. In 2012, the engine was pulled from the car, packaged up, and sent to the UK were it as refreshed and rebuilt by AC specialist, Rod Briggs. Work completed by Mr. Briggs included installing custom JP pistons, increasing the compression from 6.5:1 to 7.5:1, new cylinder liners, and the addition of a single-piece rear main seal conversion. The factory white metal connecting rods were reconditioned and reused. During this time the SU carburetors were also reconditioned by Burlen Ltd. The seats were also reupholstered in leather around 2017. The 4’th owner enjoyed and continued to maintain this Aceca regularly until late 2018 when it was sold to the current owner/consignor/collector who also resided in New York state. The current owner and consignor has put minimal miles on the car since acquisition but has maintained and stored this Aceca in a proper manner. As it sits today, this 1956 AC Aceca remains in great driver quality condition. It is mechanically strong thanks to its fairly recent mechanical overhaul and proper servicing over the past 30 years.

Included with the sale of this car are the factory spare, tools, jack, and service records dating back to 1991.

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