AC-Tojeiro Ace Prototype, 1953. John Tojiero was producing sports cars on a limited scale when he approached AC with his his latest prototype. The owners of the AC Motor Company were looking to modernize their products and picked up Tojiero's proposal fitting it with an AC engine and other AC parts. It was presented on the AC stand at the 1953 Earls Court Motor Show having been given the name "Ace." The car was put into production at AC's Thames Ditton factory and in 1956 gained a Bristol 2.0 6 cylinder engine. When Bristol stopped making the engine in 1961, AC's owners were approached by Carroll Shelby to use a Ford V8 in the Ace chassis, producing the first AC Cobra in 1962.
AC Cobra GT Roadster, 2023. An all-new version of AC's longest running model has been revealed with a new chassis designed in Italy by Icona Design Group and Cecomp. Powered by a supercharged 654bhp V8 a naturally aspirated version will also be offered. The carbon fibre body has been redesigned around a new, longer wheelbase though it still bears a close resemblance to the 61-year-old original Cobra. Prices have gone up considerably with the entry level model costing from £285,000