AC Trace

Sir,

Four years ago I purchased an AC Ace, chassis no BEX 327, which is documented by AC as having left the factory without engine and gearbox on June 19, 1957, bound for the USA.

The body was in excellent condition, with the side-screens unused in their original covers. It was fitted with a 5.3-litre Corvette engine, no A216349, blown up and in a terrible state. It has a four-speed Muncie gearbox, an lsd, and 40-gallon petrol tank, plus disc brakes (which I think may have been fitted in 1963). The flared arches front and back predate the Cobra by some four years. When the car was stripped for painting these panels appeared original and not added in the USA. The original red had been changed to silver.

On the down side, the chassis was extremely bent and twisted, probably due to the dash hoop and A-frame being cut, and the power being too great for the weakened structure. The car must have handled like a pig!

I believe the car was owned from 1963 to 1990 by a Jack Moore from Varysburg, New York, who may have been involved with racing Ferraris and Porsches. There were some stickers indicating that it may have been raced; unfortunately these were removed during restoration.

I would be very interested if any of your readers knew Mr Moore, and perhaps saw the car, either in red or silver.

Edward Coomber, Worcester.