quote:
Originally posted by administrator
Hello Bill
The last "pre-war" AC was delivered in June 1940. It was a 4 door saloon and from the chassis number, had probably been built in late 1938 and retained by the works for development work. It is possible that it was the first AC built on the Flying Standard overslung chassis. Most of these cars have an 'F' suffix to the chassis number. This one apparently doesn't, but it is described as a 1939-1940 model.
Two other cars are listed as delivered in 1940, one in March and one in April, and two others after the declaration of war, in November and December 1939. They were probably bult earlier and sold off as and when customers appeared. Just 17 cars are listed with the 'F' suffix and two are known to survive. The first was sold in August 1938 and was a saloon.
It is known that almost no private car work was carried out during the war. There is a record of AC selling one of their prototype aluminium cylinder heads unmachined and being unable to offer a machining service. They fitted the replacement engine to my PVT in November 1942 but that's the last record of any car work until after the war.
Bryan
This is just the information I have been looking for, Bryan. Thanks very much.
I wasn't aware that the last prewar model (with Standard chassis) was already out in 1938. I thought it was launched at the outbreak of war. I may have gotten this incorrect info from McLellan's book.
So, there were 5 cars delivered after the outbreak of war: 2 in late 1939, and 3 in 1940. The last one didn't have an F suffix, but did the other 4?
Interesting about the replacement engine fitted in 1942.
Also, the very first postwar chassis, as I understand, was built in 1945, and bodied in 1946. Is this correct? After this one car in 1946, I think I remember seeing 16 listed for 1947, and significantly more for 1948.