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I saw a few mins towards the end of the '56 black & white film The Weapon when we were in France recently. we were struggling to see any half-decent TV and came across TalkingPictures TV, Sky 343. I thought it was an Ace. It crashed at night into a ditch near the end. The film was made at Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames and I wondered if there was any linkage between the studio and the local car manufacturer.
   Furthermore, in the frequent adverts for this channel, in amongst shots of transport machinery such as sea planes, liners, railway engines; there was definitely a front shot of  an AC moving at speed with the badge clearly visible. It was a pre-war car, perhaps an Acedes (my knowledge of such models is poor but others could certainly say what it was). The other thing that you get out of this channel is the sight of actors like George Cole and others as young men and just how frequently people smoked in those days. These black & white films were shot in an atmospheric haze of cigarette smoke.

I found my Aceca-Bristol headlamps to be as effective as a Toc-H lamp! D S advised fitting a Dynalite Alternator and Wipac halogen headlights.
   I bought a Dynalite C39 replacement (this has the lugs 144mm apart) and Wipac headlights and I'm assured that the result is good. There is an alternative alternator comp. called WOSP. I was assured that this company's product is also excellent.
   When BE601 is returned to me, I look forward to being able to go out in the dark.

Please send me an email davidbyng@blueyonder.co.uk and I'll send you a pic of my harness fitting points on BE601

BE 601 has a lovely new aerial and a refurbished radio.
   Contact Alan at the Vintage Wireless Company
   Contact details:
   Phone 0044 161 973 0438
   174 Cross St
   Sale
   Cheshire M33 7AQ
   
   Best wishes,
   David

Dear John,
   Thanks for your response. As many Acecas have been restored over the years, my instinct is that is someone in the UK has tackled this problem already. I'll make some calls to likely people and I'll keep you posted.
   Best wishes,
   David

The reconstruction of my Aceca, BE601 continues to make progress. I was encouraged by David Royle who rebuilt Bill Goyder's Aceca to put in additional soundproofing while the car was in pieces. I'm using Sound X soundproofing/noise deadening stuff - £150 for 128 sq ft, it comes in reels about 4" wide, impressively sticky backed. Mine is from Thompsons of Macclesfield. I've no idea how much I need but the more you buy the cheaper it gets. Time will tell how effective it is.
   Best wishes,
   David Byng

Dear Gus,
   Thanks for the reassurance that I'm not penny pinching.
   Regards,
   David

I've followed Tony Blythe's considerable efforts to produce a small run of replica Bristol cranked cylinder head spanners - Club mag March & July 2014. Out of curiosity, I wondered if any had come up on Ebay so I Googled it.
   
   There was one in September 2013,prepare to be amazed.
   This is the advert:
   'The cranked cylinder head spanner  for all Bristol 2 and 2.2 Litre  engines.
   This is essential to remove the cylinder head from your Bristol engine. If you know what this is you won't need me to mention  that this will fit 400 401 402, 403, 404, 405 and 406 models.
   
   Nor that it will fit your Bristol engined car  -  Cooper Bristol, Lister Bristol, Tojeiro Bristol, AC Bristol, and those delicious Bristol-engined post war Frazer Nash models, the Le Mans Replica, Mille Miglia, Targa Florio,  Le Mans Coupé and Sebring. And I don't need to tell you how rare these are. Part number N 600161. No .cracks, damage or signs of  abuse.
   
   A must-have tool for every gentleman's workshop.'
   
   The auction closed on 5th September 2013. There were 22 bids.
   The winning bid was £327.87!!!

As I grapple with the foibles of driving a post war sports car I was startled to find one day that I couldn't reverse my car out of my garage and had to resort to it being pushed out. Greater minds than mine diagnosed the problem as being that I'd left the car in overdrive and the solenoid that should prevent it being switched on in first & second gear wasn't working. This has yet to be fixed but in the meantime I need to be careful to limit my use of the overdrive.

Now that BE601 is a road going car again, albeit little used as yet, I'd welcome advice as to what wing mirrors to fit and where to fit them? I'm loath to mount any down the beautiful wings so v near the doors seems the best/least worst option. I've tried over-taker mirrors mounted on the rain gutters but these aren't really satisfactory.

Check out the two watches on Ebay (made in China):
   
     AC Bristol watch
   or
     AC Bristol Classic Car Speedometer Hot Unisex Sport Metal Watch
   both priced at £25.37, nice logos!
   
   Other news - I confidently expect BE601 to be a road going car in the very near future.I might have said that before but.....

Many thanks to Classicus for his instructions on how to post pics.

I'm pleased to report that BE 601 has recently emerged from the paint shop and looks terrific - most encouraging. I recall seeing a post a little while ago about who makes wire wheels and as you can see from the pic I had some new wheels (15" 72 spokes) made for her. They were made by a small engineering company in North London - Phil Hallewell Engineering. Google him and his web site shows the range of wheels he can make. I chose him because I like to support small companies and he did a good job for me. His workshop is in Ickenham near Uxbridge.[iC:Documents and SettingsByngMy DocumentsMy PicturesAC Restoration_2P1030094.JPGmg]

Forum readers will recall that I needed a new rear window frame (driver's side) for BE601. My belief was that someone had tackled this problem already. I rang David S (he who is all knowing) today. He said that Peter Wood was the man to talk to, 01788 822253 (near Daventry).
   I rang Peter this afternoon and he said that he had made a complete set of wood work for an Aceca and he still had all the jigs/steamer. He is happy to be approached if anyone else is interested. I shall call him next week when we return from France. Would that all problems were so easy to resolve!
   David Byng

The rebirth of BE601 has been making slow progress of late - getting through the application of the etching primer stage proved to be a bit of a struggle. Anyway that's done now so it is going back to the workshop this week to be reunited with its 100D2 engine & gearbox - serious progress at last.
   One snag has emerged which is that the wooden frame of the rear window (driver's side) has rotted to the point that it cannot be made good - thankfully although the nearside has delaminated to a certain extent, it is repairable. So, advice please as to the best way to get round this problem?