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AC Zephyr at Pebble Beach

Discussion in 'Shelby History and Miscellaneous Topics' started by bitzman, Aug 22, 2008.

  1. Aug 22, 2008 #1
    bitzman

    bitzman Well-Known Member

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    At the 2008 Pebble Beach concours, amongst the fully restored (and some say over-restored) multi-million dollar cars
    there was a somewhat tatty AC Zephyr roadster in British Racing Green with red leather This is the first one I have ever seen and it is remarkable how much it looks like the 260 Cobra, albeit with no fender flaring.
    The dashboard layout is similar to the Cobra but the shift lever with its strange S-shape looks like something from a tractor. The car had no side vents. This was apparently the third generation starting with the '53 A.C. Ace. When they went to the lower profile Ford Zephyr engine they were able to lower the hoodline to the shape used in the Cobra.I think there were just 26 or so made. I am grateful to Pebble Beach for establishing a class for unrestored cars or I might have had to wait decades more for someone to restore one. I predict that A.C.Zephyr prices will go up now that Pebble Beach displayed one, and there is still such a vast differance between their value and that of the A.C. Cobras.
     
    bitzman, Aug 22, 2008
    bitzman, Aug 22, 2008
    #1
  2. Aug 22, 2008 #2
    DeLa1Rob

    DeLa1Rob Well-Known Member

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    A.C. cars in general should be appreciating in value. They are the roots of the Cobra and a good value for those who can't afford the Shelby product.

    robin
     
    DeLa1Rob, Aug 22, 2008
    DeLa1Rob, Aug 22, 2008
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  3. Aug 23, 2008 #3
    56ace

    56ace Well-Known Member

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    The RS 2.6 Aces (the designation for the Ken Rudd tuned Zephyr powered cars) are already pretty pricey since there were only 37 convertible versions made and 8 Aceca coupes. The 2.6 engine could be had in 5 different states of tune with the Stage 5 version putting out 170hp. Not in Cobra territory, but still a pretty good performer for a 2.6 liter engine.
    Jay
     
    56ace, Aug 23, 2008
    56ace, Aug 23, 2008
    #3
  4. Aug 24, 2008 #4
    steele138

    steele138 Well-Known Member

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    How about a picture or two?
    Always fun to look at how the cars changed,or stayed the same
    steele
     
    steele138, Aug 24, 2008
    steele138, Aug 24, 2008
    #4
  5. Aug 24, 2008 #5
    56ace

    56ace Well-Known Member

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    56ace, Aug 24, 2008
    56ace, Aug 24, 2008
    #5
  6. Aug 25, 2008 #6
    steele138

    steele138 Well-Known Member

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    Jay
    Thanks for sharing
    Scott
     
    steele138, Aug 25, 2008
    steele138, Aug 25, 2008
    #6
  7. Aug 25, 2008 #7
    56ace

    56ace Well-Known Member

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    56ace, Aug 25, 2008
    56ace, Aug 25, 2008
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  8. Aug 27, 2008 #8
    Magstar

    Magstar Well-Known Member

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    The Pebble Beach car is no# 5028 ,still owned by the original owner with one repaint about 30 years ago. There were 37 cars built including the proto-type ,as I understand one was distroyed and the serial # was put on a different car. A friend of mine owns # RS5025 which was the FIA homalagation car ,1 of 13 with stage 5 tuning and 1 of 18 with overdrive trans, the only one built with a header instead of a cast manifold. Very cool cars!!!!
     
    Magstar, Aug 27, 2008
    Magstar, Aug 27, 2008
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  9. Aug 28, 2008 #9
    bitzman

    bitzman Well-Known Member

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    AK miller told me he did it first

    The late Ak Miller, one of the pioneers of hot rodding (before he went to WWII and the Battle of the Bulge) told me once that he put a Ford engine into an AC well before Shelby. Now I have seen pictures of a devin bodied car with a Ford in it that looked like a sports car but it wasn't an A.C. Has anyone else ever seen a picture of that Miller-built A.C. Ford, and what engine could have it been if it was pre 260-289?
     
    bitzman, Aug 28, 2008
    bitzman, Aug 28, 2008
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  10. Aug 28, 2008 #10
    56ace

    56ace Well-Known Member

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    Here is a link to a thread on club cobra that talked about Ak's car awhile back.

    http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83942&highlight=miller

    In short, Ak bought one of the Sebring cars ('58 maybe?), heavily modified it for racing at Bonneville, then said he was going to strip it down, put a Devin body on it, and then run it at Pike's Peak. Since he ran a Devin at Pike's Peak for a few years, it was probably what was left of the Ace.

    Jay
     
    56ace, Aug 28, 2008
    56ace, Aug 28, 2008
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