Messages

Mr Bill Thumel of Abacus Racing in Virginia Beach now owns the Ace and wants to restore it back to original. I had a call a week of go from someone that claimed to have an original engine. I'd like to find that engine to help Bill get this Ace back to the way it should be. I never had the money to get this Ace back to the way it should be. Bill owns a restoration shop for vintage race cars, it is the perfect fit for BEX1045. I know that it is a good home, and I can still visit. Bill's team is already verify the numbers and researching the cars history.

I'm looking for a Bristol engine and gearbox for my 1960 Ace.

Any idea where to find a Bristow engine for may AC Ace? I would need the correct transmission also. Thank for any help in locating.

I Love the show, Wayne finds incredible cars and this is the second time he has had an AC on the program.

Whats with the nose on that Ace? It looks too small. I emailed them for a photo of the grill opening but did not get a reply.

Wow, good observation. Jerry never mentioned that when we spoke. I'll still display the faded photos of Jerry's Mongoose with pride in my family room. My search continues on the history of BEX1045. Merry Christmas and keep posting!

I've also spook to Jerry Scheberies and he sent me a couple of photos and a slide of his AC Mongoose with the Oldsmobile engine. We spook several times and compared notes from what he could recall about his Ace and repairs that had been made to my Ace (BEX1045). My Ace was red and had an Oldsmobile engine and Corvette 4 speed prior to the last rebuild where the Ford 302 and C4 were installed. Jerry seems to think that I have the Ace he built because no one else was installing Oldsmobile engines because the Buick engine was narrower. Since Jerry doesn't recall the VIN number and CA doesn't keep information that far back we may never know where the Mongoose ended up.

The sidepipes, Grant steering wheel and the B&M shifter would have to go, along with that color. The Aceca's body & glass looks good. Make changes as you drive and enjoy the car.

Jerry Scheberies of the "HOT ROD" story sent me some photos of his Ace. Can the VIN be found by the tag number? If so the California black tag was ACA 237, and yellow tag was UJV 111. I don't know if California used black tags on even year and yellow tags on odd years??? Virginia had used black for even and white for odd years.

When I bought the car Frank had told me that the car was red with black interior and had an Oldsmobile engine and 4 speed transmission. The car had ugly wheels that he threw in a dumpster with the convertible top years ago. Frank said that he bought the car when he lived in Centreville, VA from Doug Mccroy. (not sure about the spelling of Dougs last name).

Okay, I don't believe Frank is going to return my calls. My Ace has had body repair to the right front fender, the frame rails appear to have had tow tabs at one point (for flat towing or tieing down when being towed). My steering box has had angle iron welded around it and over to the right side frame rail for added support. The left front shock upper mount has also had a small piece of 1/4 flat steel welded over the stock wringled shock mount. In the top center of the firewall is a plate screwed to the firewall that measures 1 1/2" x 4" it has been painted over so I don't what it reads or if it was a factory access opening. There has been aluminum patch work to the lower firewall and the engine sides of both foot boxes, I assume to allow room for the V8 engines. There were once engine mounts weld to the frame rails ahead of the current engine mounts. Frank had told me of a third support from the roll bar across the passenger seat to the frame, making it impossible for someone else to ride in the car. The front spings are no longer fabric wrapped, but the rear spring is still wrapped in cotton fabric. The rear differential, spring and shocks appear untouched.

I hope that Frank Mauck can shed some light on the history of my Ace, I've emailed Keith his phone numbers. When I last spoke to him he had trouble remembering the previous owners name.

The engine and automatic transmision are from a 1970 Ford Torino, (302 and C4). The hood scoop is fiberglass & Frank Mauck told me that when he purchased it instructions were included as to exactly where it was to be located on the hood and the placement of each rivet. He also told me that the new steering wheel was the most difficult part to obtain, the old wheel was hanging in his garage and was bent and splintered. I don't know what became of the OE center button, it now has the AC Cobra emblem in the center.

I bought the Ace on Nov.29, 2001

I'm in Nokesville VA and I purchased the Ace in Silver Springs MD