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Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / BEX 437 INFORMATION?
« on: August 31, 2012, 02:43:41 »
Does anyone have any information on BEX 437 beyond the mid-1980s? I own AEX 443, which received BEX 437's motor (Bristol #804 D-2 tuned and upgraded for racing), its gearbox, as well as its badges, instruments, competition exhaust, and competition clutch.
In 2010 I was able to partially get around some rather strict privacy laws here in British Columbia, Canada, and was able to get copies of the original registrations for both AEX 443 and BEX 437, thus ending years of having had incorrect information about the cars' histories and exactly what I have. I then set about writing the correct history of my Ace as it is, which essentially is "a tale of two Aces".
BEX 437 was imported to Vancouver by the local official AC dealership at the time, British Sportscar Centre. It was put on a rotating pivot during the summer of 1958 so as to attract customers. During the summer a local restauranteur called Bob Constabaris put a deposit on it, and was told he could take delivery on November 1. Constabaris, who had already raced an Austin-Healey locally and was heavily involved with the British Columbia sportscar club, proceeded to race BEX 437 as of the summer of 1959, when the club's official FIA Westwood track was inaugurated. Constabaris proved to be a successful racer, driving BEX 437 to several impressive victories, particularly between 1960-63, sometimes even beating a local short-nose D-Type.
As the 1960s progressed, cars became more powerful and better-handling...which started to slowly diminish Constabaris' class E, D, C, and overall, top 3 finishes, but he racked up an impressive number of points nonetheless. As part of his divorce settlement, BEX 437 was sold off to someone who decided to turn it into some sort of Cobra. The new owner gave it Cobra snake badges and a Chevrolet 327 motor. AEX 443's CL series AC engine was suffering from internal corrosion, hence its original owner, Hugh A. Mann, took advantage of the availability of BEX 437's discarded, race-prepared Bristol motor and related parts. Sportscar Club of British Columbia records show that BEX 437 never raced in British Columbia with its new drivetrain, and given how heavy a Chevrolet 327 is, it comes as no surprise. The last information I have is that in 1985 BEX 437 was sitting in a field in Delta, British Columbia, exposed to the elements and in a bad state of disrepair, including structural cracks. In 2010 I was able to learn that it had not been insured in British Columbia for decades. I am wondering whether anyone knows if it was restored, and possibly wound up in another jurisdiction? Or did it just crumble away in the field? Any information would be greatly appreciated, as it would allow me to finish my car's history. Thank you for your attention.
Laurence Kent
In 2010 I was able to partially get around some rather strict privacy laws here in British Columbia, Canada, and was able to get copies of the original registrations for both AEX 443 and BEX 437, thus ending years of having had incorrect information about the cars' histories and exactly what I have. I then set about writing the correct history of my Ace as it is, which essentially is "a tale of two Aces".
BEX 437 was imported to Vancouver by the local official AC dealership at the time, British Sportscar Centre. It was put on a rotating pivot during the summer of 1958 so as to attract customers. During the summer a local restauranteur called Bob Constabaris put a deposit on it, and was told he could take delivery on November 1. Constabaris, who had already raced an Austin-Healey locally and was heavily involved with the British Columbia sportscar club, proceeded to race BEX 437 as of the summer of 1959, when the club's official FIA Westwood track was inaugurated. Constabaris proved to be a successful racer, driving BEX 437 to several impressive victories, particularly between 1960-63, sometimes even beating a local short-nose D-Type.
As the 1960s progressed, cars became more powerful and better-handling...which started to slowly diminish Constabaris' class E, D, C, and overall, top 3 finishes, but he racked up an impressive number of points nonetheless. As part of his divorce settlement, BEX 437 was sold off to someone who decided to turn it into some sort of Cobra. The new owner gave it Cobra snake badges and a Chevrolet 327 motor. AEX 443's CL series AC engine was suffering from internal corrosion, hence its original owner, Hugh A. Mann, took advantage of the availability of BEX 437's discarded, race-prepared Bristol motor and related parts. Sportscar Club of British Columbia records show that BEX 437 never raced in British Columbia with its new drivetrain, and given how heavy a Chevrolet 327 is, it comes as no surprise. The last information I have is that in 1985 BEX 437 was sitting in a field in Delta, British Columbia, exposed to the elements and in a bad state of disrepair, including structural cracks. In 2010 I was able to learn that it had not been insured in British Columbia for decades. I am wondering whether anyone knows if it was restored, and possibly wound up in another jurisdiction? Or did it just crumble away in the field? Any information would be greatly appreciated, as it would allow me to finish my car's history. Thank you for your attention.
Laurence Kent