AC Owners Club Forum
AC Owners Club Forum => Vintage, PVT & 2 Litre Forum => Topic started by: pjbowman on May 09, 2021, 01:00:43
-
Gullwing Motors has a Buckland on eBay right now. I’m sure it is overpriced as all their stuff is, but here’s the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274790016425 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/274790016425)
-
This car is not a Buckland.
It is one of only approximately 13 Drop Head Coupes bodied by Thames Ditton. A very rare survivor!
Tom
-
I learn something new every day!
Hope someone saves this rare beast.
-
If it is not considered a Buckland, what is the model designation? Just DHC?
-
Strictly the 'Buckland' is a 2 Litre chassis bodied by the Buckland Bodyworks. (See Photo - Note the hood without pram irons and side screens)
ACs also produced the same bodywork termed the '2 Litre Sports' or '2LS' in the sales book. (Photo of RWE 343 - Very much the same style as the Buckland but has a bodywork door plate like a 2 Litre)
The Drop Head was bodied exclusively by Thames Ditton and, despite ACs having a range of names to choose from, rather like the 2 Litre Saloon, is termed the 'Drop Head Coupe' or 'DHC' in the sales record (Note - pram irons on the hood, Saloon type doors and windscreen and glass windows all round)
Tom
-
I wholly agree with Crankcase, lovely rare car.
Not sure how knowledgeable the dealer is if he thinks its a Buckland?
Gary
-
Yes all the above details are correct. This D/H/C is chassis number ELX 1102, engine UMB 1103, as can be seen the car is left hand drive and was originally sent to Auto Palace in Holland.
-
Thanks for the Chassis and Engine number, I will be able to add it to the register as a survivor. I hope it goes to a good home.
All the best,
Tom
-
Tom, did you receive my info on the updates I have found for the 2 Litre?
Regards, Leo
-
I connected via email with the dealer and advised car was not a Buckland this past weekend. The response I got was just a link to more photos. Tom sounds like you’ve found the numbers so great. It’s an interesting car and i learned of its more rare livery and advised dealer that too. Again no response! While I’m partial to the Buckland it’s still a pretty car.
Leo hope you are doing well!!
David Wightman
-
Hi Leo,
Always happy to get news of 2 Litres so thanks for both the 2 Litre and Buckland information, I have changed the Register to reflect it.
David,
Personally I prefer the DHC but I do not have enough room!!
All the best,
Tom
-
Car is now correctly relisted as a DHC. Will see if it sells!
-
The more the merrier but I too suffer from notenoughgaragespaceitis. It’s something I try to deal with.....
-
A great find! It never fails to amaze me where ACs were sold in that period and earlier, and that they keep turning up!
Further to Tom's description above, the AC Two-Litre - based models included a Cabriolet version of the Drophead. This had cant rails over the doors, rear side windows and a different hood. It is not known how many of this model were made, there being no cars recorded as such in the Factory Ledger.
The Cabriolet in the period photographs, below, is a very early example of the Two-Litre, having completely divided windscreens and a chrome embellishment running across the scuttle and up the divide.
From the photographs on e-bay, the Drophead in New York has white-on-black instruments and no sidelight pintles. My parent's 1949 saloon - not identified but possibly L1085 - had both. Also, the windscreen wipers were controlled by a large black knob on the centre-top of the dashboard. Does anyone know when these features were changed?
The full range of AC Two-Litre based cars were described in the ACtion Archives of May, June and July 2017. These included a few 'woodie' estate cars and, in Denmark, a couple of 7-seater taxis!
John
-
Such a wealth of knowledge Leo. You should write a book...... hope you are well!
-
Hello David, sadly I did not post the information re this Drophead, my code is not ARCH, but the photo is interesting as the car uses the same rear side window treatment as the one off drophead with the larger boot and petrol tanks in the front wings.
Regards
-
The early car in the photographs and the much later car with the tanks in the front wings are indeed visually similar in the hood and side windows.
The earlier car may well be ELX 855, the second Two-Litre Drophead and the first LH drive example. The first Drophead, L852, was recorded in the Factory Ledger as an experimental car.
Although ELX 855 was first registered early in 1949 the saloons in that section of the Factory Ledger were all mid 1948. This could explain the windscreen treatment on the car in the photographs, which was also used on the earliest Saloons.
Interestingly, some Dropheads, including the first two, were recorded in the Factory Ledger as 'Drophead Coupe', whereas others were simply 'Drophead'. Purely conjecture on my part, but could use of the term 'Coupe' be identifying the 'Cabriolet' style cars?
John
-
Sorry Leo for the confusion on your “ handle”! Hope you are doing well. Would love to have a conversation with you one day on your research if Buckland bodyworks. Ayler you’d be willing to do a zoom call and we can catch up? Regardless hope you’re doing well!