AC Owners Club Forum

AC Owners Club Forum => General Forum => Topic started by: Chafford on February 04, 2007, 18:08:20

Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: Chafford on February 04, 2007, 18:08:20
According to the AC Cars website, aluminium bodied cars are still made to special order to the original specification from the original tooling.
   
   So where are these cars being made? Frimley? Malta? Brooklands Motor Company?
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: Mark IV on February 04, 2007, 21:19:27
In their dreams! AC has no facilty or staff qualified to make alloy bodies. They would have to "sublet" the work. Perhaps they could rebadge a Kirkham!
   
   There are people who have contracted for replacement bodies/panels who are still waiting for delivery from orders placed in the Frimley era.
   
   Rick
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: Chafford on February 04, 2007, 21:38:27
I seem to recall a few months ago that AC placed an advertisement for an aluminium car they were completing. Never found out where it was being built.
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: hawk289 on February 04, 2007, 22:10:10
I live about 10mins from the frimley building, got cleared out long time ago. I know a few of the AC guys, nothing is done in the UK at the moment. If they have Alu bodies, either Kirkham or someone else is doing them. I believe they have some of the original jigs, etc. in Malta.
   
   John.
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: keithjecks on February 04, 2007, 22:21:55
What is a Kirkham? Is that the car that Gerry Hawkridge gets made up in an aerospace factory in Poland, or are they badged Hawk? I saw one of Gerry's cars a while ago being built. I must say that the quality of the aluminium was very impressive
   
   Keith
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: Chafford on February 04, 2007, 22:34:54
Bodies, chassis and suspensions made at Kirkham's former MIG factory in Poland, cars completed by Hawk who are the European agents for Kirkham.
   
   http://www.kirkhammotorsports.com/mfg/index.html
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: nikbj68 on February 05, 2007, 08:08:32
quote:
Originally posted by Mark IV
   In their dreams! AC has no facilty or staff qualified to make alloy bodies. They would have to "sublet" the work. Perhaps they could rebadge a Kirkham!
   
   There are people who have contracted for replacement bodies/panels who are still waiting for delivery from orders placed in the Frimley era.
   Rick
   

   I wonder if now that AC have appointed (according to the "AC Cars Manufacturing Ltd" (http://"http://www.racecar.co.uk/acoc/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=80")thread)   The Brooklands Motor Company (http://"http://www.brooklandsmotorcompany.co.uk") as their official service/repair agents in the UK whether the above orders might be fulfilled?
   I also believe that Brooklands employ several ex-AC craftsmen, so any parts or repairs from them have a 'certified bloodline'![8D]
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: TLegate on February 05, 2007, 10:07:35
'Certified' being the operative word (just a joke Steve - it's a joke.......aarrgghhh)  keep bending that aluminium - or is it now called aluminum??
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: Mark IV on February 05, 2007, 12:06:45
quote:
Originally posted by Mark IV
   
There are people who have contracted (WITH DEPOSITS!!!!) for replacement bodies/panels who are still waiting for delivery from orders placed in the Frimley era.
   
   Rick
   
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: Chafford on February 05, 2007, 12:49:27
quote:
I wonder if now that AC have appointed (according to the "AC Cars Manufacturing Ltd" (http://"http://www.racecar.co.uk/acoc/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=80")thread)   The Brooklands Motor Company (http://"http://www.brooklandsmotorcompany.co.uk") as their official service/repair agents in the UK whether the above orders might be fulfilled?
   I also believe that Brooklands employ several ex-AC craftsmen, so any parts or repairs from them have a 'certified bloodline'![8D]
   

   
   There's a thought. Aluminium continuation cars produced by the Brooklands Motor Company under licence from AC Cars. The cars would be known as Brooklands ACs! AC would grant Brooklands a 25 year license to use the AC trademark and the chassis numbers would be prefixed by BL! [:)][:)]
   
   Far-fetched? I'm sure it could be done! [;)]
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: TLegate on February 05, 2007, 13:38:21
Why bother to say 'far-fetched'? You should read the postings on Club Cobra more closely, especially those from Amy Boylan. (You know, Chief Executive, Shelby Automotive, or whatever it is today)
   
   I don't think its a state secret to point out that AC Frimley (and 'AC Guildford') was kept afloat by the good services of dear old Basher of Brooklands, in the metal bending dept., nor that Hawk Cars came to the rescue by supplying/trading parts. Both companies hung out to dry of course, but that's not for here, but I might go so far as to suggest....arrgghhh....
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: Gus Meyjes on February 05, 2007, 14:02:37
That's the word on this side of the pond. Aluminum (that's also for this side of the pond) bodies were supplied, but not paid for is what I heard in the grapevine here. I wonder if David Kirkham was approached for production of Shelby's but after this experience and thus their short engagement, decided he was better off alone.
   
   Gus
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: TLegate on February 05, 2007, 15:51:23
Kirkham supplied circa 100 bodies to Shelby before the AC/Lubinsky deal was done.
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: Chafford on February 05, 2007, 18:43:14
quote:
Originally posted by Trevor Legate
   

   Why bother to say 'far-fetched'? You should read the postings on Club Cobra more closely, especially those from Amy Boylan. (You know, Chief Executive, Shelby Automotive, or whatever it is today)
   
   I don't think its a state secret to point out that AC Frimley (and 'AC Guildford') was kept afloat by the good services of dear old Basher of Brooklands, in the metal bending dept., nor that Hawk Cars came to the rescue by supplying/trading parts. Both companies hung out to dry of course, but that's not for here, but I might go so far as to suggest....arrgghhh....
   
   

   
   Agreed. But strange that Brooklands are the official service and repair agents for AC.
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: aaron on November 07, 2007, 10:13:21
quote:
Originally posted by hawk289
   
I live about 10mins from the frimley building, got cleared out long time ago. I know a few of the AC guys, nothing is done in the UK at the moment. If they have Alu bodies, either Kirkham or someone else is doing them. I believe they have some of the original jigs, etc. in Malta.
   
   John.
   

   
   John ,you say you are 10 mins from the old AC factory in Frimley,so am I were abouts are you ?
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: hawk289 on November 07, 2007, 13:26:21
Hi,
   
   I'm in Fleet, Hampshire, about 3-4mins from Junc 4a.
   
   John
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: aaron on November 14, 2007, 23:02:04
John, small world ,Im in Farnborough just down the road from you
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: hawk289 on November 14, 2007, 23:26:42
So less than ten mins, send me an email john_abel289@hotmail.com
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: PHILIP BARTON on November 16, 2007, 21:09:06
Hi,Classic Autos of Kings Langley,Herts,have been hand building aluminium bodies for Aces,to the best of my knowledge for at least 30 years to the original spec.Why go to Poland?
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: nikbj68 on November 19, 2007, 18:23:28
quote:
Originally posted by PHILIP BARTON
   
Hi,Classic Autos of Kings Langley,Herts,have been hand building aluminium bodies for Aces,to the best of my knowledge for at least 30 years to the original spec.Why go to Poland?
   

   (http://www.icanefile.org/images/money_in_hand.jpg)
   [?]
   
   [edit] Do, or have, Classic Autos build Cobra bodies? I don`t think that the Kirkhams offer an Ace body, but they are tooled for MkI/II/III, FiA & 427 S/C Cobra shells.
Title: Do AC still make aluminium bodied cars?
Post by: Guest on November 24, 2007, 12:53:16
Apples and oranges im afraid .