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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / Re-enactment of Hon Mrs Bruce's epic drive

« on: February 14, 2013, 18:59:05 »

This month’s ‘The Automobile’ (Issue March 2013) has a full-page article by Matthew Bell on the Hon. Mrs Victor Bruce’s epic drive in her AC in 1927, covering 8000 miles in 8 weeks round the Mediterranean (plus, then another 1000 miles at Montlhery). The article has a fine photo of Mrs Bruce at the Bournemouth Concours D’Elegance in 1928 with a most attractive AC four-door saloon.

Matthew plans to re-enact Mildred Bruce’s journey, with his own vintage AC, in 2015, though at less pace and with much more leisure! Already members of the ACOC have offered help and assistance and I’m sure more on the idea will come out over the coming months through ‘ACtion’, ‘The Automobile’ and elsewhere.

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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / Historic photos of AC's!

« on: December 15, 2012, 22:55:28 »

I came across a great website. The Stilltime Collection is a photographic library with 'photographs from the 20th century preserved as a British historic record and resource'.

   I put in a search for AC under the 'car' category and there, to my surprise, some 65 photos, most in fabulous focus, and many I'd never seen before. Certainly some have come from the AC factory, as Thames Ditton is featured in some shots, and they are clearly for marketing purposes.

   These photos are a treasure. There are many prewar AC's in the archive and below are just a few to show the quality and rarity. The library sells copies (http://www.stilltimecollection.co.uk)

   1928 AC Aceca

I wonder who this lady is waving at?

A four-cylinder, probably in Thames Ditton

Notice the AutoCarriers signage behind..

A Sociable, about 1914

What about the rear of this one? What is that all about? Maybe for a van attachment?

I think this is an AC from about 1914 (but someone may correct me?)

There's also the early '20's race cars, AC's armoured vehicle for the War Office, the Montlhery-bodied car and more. For anyone interested in motoring history I recommend some browsing....

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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / AC Sociable Engine For Sale

« on: December 13, 2012, 19:29:38 »

Single cylinder, air-cooled of course, mounted on stand at present, and according to the owner 'in good running order'. £1750 is asking price. Seller's telephone number: 01286 674896

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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / Great photos of AC at the 1925 Lisbon Motor Show

« on: November 20, 2012, 17:03:05 »

Great shots from 1925. The AC show stand at the Lisbon Motor Show, Portugal. Such a period setting, with Art Nouveau and Art Deco furnishings - the figurine on the table, pillars painted with vertical lines and scrolls, then add Palm trees and jardinières for character and atmosphere. All so typical of the time. I wonder why the banner says A.C. Motors (and not AC Cars or A-C Cars, as used then)....maybe the display was by an importer?

   The second shot shows the picture cropped to show the 2/3 seater and how polished and nicely presented it was.

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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / Vintage Six for sale, at auction

« on: November 13, 2012, 13:55:33 »

With probably less than twenty vintage AC Sixes surviving these cars rarely come up for sale. Bonhams are offering one, from 1926, in their Harrogate sale. It's been in storage for more than 30 years and looks in quite a sorry state. They estimate £5-8000, but unless you've got a lot of time on your hands I think restoration costs will certainly exceed £20,000. I'm told the car has a PVT engine installed (with three carbs), but the original engine is in the same auction (looking very poorly). Here's a link, click on the pictures there to enlarge them:

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20147/lot/535/?list_search_query=1&lang=en_gb&back_to_year=2003&sale_no=20147&limit=9999&query=ac&create_facets=False

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General Forum / Vintage AC-6 - name dropping in Downton Abbey

« on: September 23, 2012, 23:50:31 »

Downton Abbey (Channel ITV1), Series 3 Episode 2 of the award-winning period drama, shown tonight, has an AC-6 in the opening sequence taking the driveway to the house, (viewed from inside the car and with excellent footage of it being driven to the main entrance of the house).

   Script:

   (in the car)
   - Who will groan first when they see it, Granny or Papa?
   - (laugh) I should think they’ll howl at the moon in unison

   (on arrival at the entrance to Downton Abbey)
   - What in God’s name is this?
   - Well, I never!
   - Where did this come from?
   - I ordered it on the way through in London and picked it up on the way back. It’s an AC.
   - Well, at least, it’s English….

   You can watch it here:

   http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=325299

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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / Downton Abbey (AC-6)

« on: September 23, 2012, 23:34:52 »

Downton Abbey (Channel ITV1), Series 3 Episode 2 of the award-winning period drama, shown tonight, has the AC-6 in the opening sequence taking the driveway to the house, (viewed from inside the car and with excellent footage of it being driven to the main entrance of the house).

   Script:

   (in the car)
   -   Who will groan first when they see it, Granny or Papa?
   -   (laugh) I should think they’ll howl at the moon in unison

   (on arrival at the entrance to Downton Abbey)
   -   What in God’s name is this?
   -   Well, I never!
   -   Where did this come from?
   -   I ordered it on the way through in London and picked it up on the way back. It’s an AC.
   -   Well, at least, it’s English….

   You can watch it here:

   http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=325299

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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / Vintage 4-cylinder for sale

« on: August 20, 2012, 17:13:53 »

http://www.prewarcar.com/index.php?option=com_caradvert&view=ad§ion_id=1&id=70864&Itemid=432

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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / Picnic at Quarry Corner by Debra Wenlock

« on: August 03, 2012, 22:54:36 »

The photo below is of a painting of the 1935 Ards TT by Debra Wenlock. It shows a group of ladies alongside their AC (showing apparently little interest as the Lagonda of Hindmarsh/Dobson races by). Admission to the enclosure at Quarry Corner was five shillings (25p) per person and ten shillings (50p) for the car.

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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / London to Edinburgh Trial, 1919

« on: July 31, 2012, 19:59:26 »

The website for Brough in Cumbria has an early photo, taken in 1919 outside The Castle Hotel there, of cars stopping in the village during the London to Edinburgh Trial.

   The photo shows an AC at the front of the picture - looks like a 12hp - and possibly more AC’s (?) It could be an AC ‘Sports’ model to the left, at the back, also.

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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / Another pic from the forthcoming 'Downton Abbey'

« on: June 21, 2012, 15:43:33 »

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Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum / Vintage AC-6 in 'Downton Abbey'

« on: June 10, 2012, 15:44:28 »

A vintage AC-6 has been used in the filming of the third series of ‘Downton Abbey’. Set in the early 20’s the period drama has its TV broadcast scheduled from September 2012.

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