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Hi, I've got an Ace replica, based on a Hawk chassis & body that I've re-engineered over several years. It was on the ACOC stand at last year's NEC car show. Pictures of the car are on the site under a NEC search. Maybe my background in this area that might help in your endeavours. Contact me if needed; details have been eMailed to you.

quote:Originally posted by Anthony Blythe
   

quote:Originally posted by lew
   
Hi Anthony
   Please put me down for one
   
   Lew Baker
   

   
   All, The first order for 10 spanners (batch 1) have now been returned from the specialist high pressure water jet cutting company and are undergoing final milling. The second batch order, again for a minimum of 10 spanners has been been finalised & this batch will go through the same processes. I am not actively pursuing a 3rd batch of 10 spanners but if sufficient interest is shown I will see what I can do.
   Thank you to all who placed orders including those from across the pond (x3), South Africa & Europe. Tony B
   
   End of Production. Three batches of these spanners have now been completed and I'm 'calling it a day'. Thanks again to everyone that has made contact with me over the past months making enquires regarding these replica spanners; much appreciated. There are now 30 + 'collectable items' (maybe) across the globe; including 10 down-under. Tony B
   

quote:Originally posted by lew
   
Hi Anthony
   Please put me down for one
   
   Lew Baker
   

   
   All, The first order for 10 spanners (batch 1) have now been returned from the specialist high pressure water jet cutting company and are undergoing final milling. The second batch order, again for a minimum of 10 spanners has been been finalised & this batch will go through the same processes. I am not actively pursuing a 3rd batch of 10 spanners but if sufficient interest is shown I will see what I can do.
   Thank you to all who placed orders including those from across the pond (x3), South Africa & Europe. Tony B

quote:Originally posted by ctpearce
   
The 2 photos of an Aceca Bristol tray are exactly the same as my car (BE588 1957) and also BE817 (1961) which I used to own. The BE588 one is complete although the screwdriver and the socket on the end of the socket 'driver' (space on right) are not original. The hammer (which I think is original) is a Thor no 1 which fits well although I also have a more recent Thor no. 1 which is a touch larger and doesn't fit so well. In practice, the bigger/heavier Thor no. 2 is  actually more useful for the job. The spanners are Garringtons. The Bristol engine spanner is generally not now useful as most Bristol engines seem to have beefed-up cylinder head studs/nuts. I would add a photo but haven't worked out how to do this. Anthony, are you thinking of re-producing these Aceca Bristol trays as mine is a touch tatty?
   

   
   I've privately eMailed the above person but for completeness. The difficulty of recreating any version of these tool trays is that the current tool content a) may now be different
   for what is was originally and b) even it has not changed some of the tool suppliers (Garrington for the spanners and I believe Jenbro for the pliers) changed their forgings (and hence the items external profiles) over the cars production run. To achieve a 'good fit' for the cut outs a tray would need to be individually built to the tools that are now in place for that specific car. If anyone is still interested please contact me privately. Thanks, Tony B

quote:Originally posted by dkp_cobra
   

quote:Originally posted by ace
   
   
   
   
   I don't know if these 2 photos of my Aceca Bristol's tool tray will come out but it is very different from trays shown before. I don't think that it has been altered in any way since made in 1959.
   

   
   Here they are:
   
   
   
   
   

   
   Does anyone have details regarding the hammer used for the Aceca or Ace ? Manufacturer, weight, type of ends, etc ?

Before others ask no I don't unfortunately have a stock of these particular spanners but I thought I would offer my limited understanding for this specific item.
   
   This dumbbell shaped spanner I believe is used for the top (rather than side) cylinder head bolts on the engine. I've been lucky enough to see a real one, thanks to a local Ace/Aceca owner, the spanner has a Bristol tool ID of N600121 stamped into its shank.
   
   It's basically a 3/8" drive 6" long socket bar with a straight, rather than universal jointed, 3/8" whitworth socket on one end and a beefed up 5/8" diameter on the other end in which a 6" long - 5/16" diameter tommy bar can be inserted.
   
   I understand, similar to the 'C' spanner (for the side cylinder head bolts - Bristol tool ID N600161), the item would be classified as rare & hence would demand a significant price (£200+) on a well known on-line auction site. I'm currently making a replica.
   
   Hope the above helps readers & please feedback any corrections or more info. I have some knowledge about the other tools in the tray, but maybe that would be too boring ! ?

Thanks you for these two photos; very much appreciated. You are correct in saying it's a very different layout and I haven't seen this design before.
   
   For interest I'm in contact on another matter with the Bristol Enthusiasts Club and recognise the plug spanner for their cars and the slot that would be used for the missing dumbbell cylinder head spanner.
   
   Thanks again for your response.

The following was received by eMail from Stephen Hall; he's given me clearance to add his comments and photo to this posting.
   
   "Hi Tony,
   
   As you know from our previous discussions – I have ventured up this 'blind alley' myself – I tried to research what these mysterious three cut outs are for. Whilst I ascertained that the cut out closest to the center is most likely for a nest of BSF box spanners the certain identity of the other two remains a mystery.
   
   I know Rinsey quite well & he is of the opinion that there are several versions of the tray for each of the engine variants. Reference to the AC library via John Spencer turned up a detailed photo of a saloon tool tray but nothing for a Bristol engined AC.
   
   Given that AC were a bespoke manufacturer I decided to apply logic & came up with my own solution. I will be very interested to hear how your detective work progresses.
   
   Best Regards - Steve"
   
   Steve was kind enough to send me a photo of the tool tray he has created (see below). The plug spanner arrangement, with a universal joint, is a 'period item' that has been found
   (I think from an auto jumble event) rather than an official AC or Bristol tool.
   
   

Thanks for all the above advice, very much appreciated.
   
   Because this first batch is small & as the costs have been kept to an absolute minimum, with no profits being made by anyone involved I will fund all 'up front' money in this instance.
   
   If these spanners 'take off' and I already been contacted by two different sections of the Bristol Car community, including their BMW friends, I may well need to change my stance on how this might be funded in the future. But thanks again for your comments.

[First Order Book now Closed]

First Order Book now Closed. The numbers needed for the first batch of these re-manufactured spanners have now closed. This is primarily down to financial risk considerations, which will be all mine, as no payments will be asked for from those that have placed these first batch orders until the spanners have been created & tested. Any follow up re-manufacturing will be dependent on any subsequent order numbers being placed (I would judge again a minimum order of 10)costs may have to be adjusted based on first batch experience. If you are interested please place your order through this website or eMail me directly. Thanks again for all those that had shown interest in this venture. Kind Regards, Tony B

[Update on Orders.]

Update on Orders. I've now had 11 orders confirmed;some  directly to me via eMail. I'll now take this forward and keep those interested parties updated. Due to financial risk considerations, all mine, as no payments are being asked for until these spanners have been created and tested, the first order book batch is now closed. However please continue to place any following orders though this website entry or eMailing me directly although costs may have to adjusted due to first batch experiences. Thanks again to all those that contacted me for this venture.[:D]

Yes I can confirm that its this type of spanner; I've correct the description to the correct name. Kind regards, Tony
   [/quote]

Sorry for the spelling mistakes (should have been rocker not rocket); now corrected and corrected again (see below) as its a cylinder head spanner !

OK, For those of you that weren't not on the stand, the reference to my 'tool' and the 'tool fairy' is that I've constructed a replica tool tray for the car based on the design shown in the Rinsey Mills book. However via various contacts I believe a number of different tool tray designs might exist and a few months ago I set up a topic asking for info so I might build another one. A lot of info came from State side (thanks for your feedback) and I'm now in the process of a second version construction. As part of the tour around the car, including letting people sit in it, I 'showed off' my tool tray. On one of the few occasions (during Saturday) when I was not on the stand the 'tool fairy' arrived and deposited a Bristol cranked spanner in my boot which I discovered whilst packing up. I was in shock as this is a very rare item.If you are out there please let me know who you are so I can thank you.The following day I confirmed with the people on the Bristol stand that this was the correct tool and the  guys held onto it in a loving embrace, immediately wanting to know if it was for sale. No it's not; its destined now for a replica Bristol orientated tray; making this potentially my third build !

HI All, I'm the 'baddie' that had the none original AC on the club's 2013 stand. As mentioned previously I contacted the stand organizer and immediately stated that this wouldn't be his & maybe most/all members first choice, but was willing to be 'in reserve'. A point of clarification the only thing 'Hawk' about the car now is the chassis & body; everything else about it has changed in my ownership. For example,most real AC Ace owners will know that the instruments are similar/same as the 1950/60 Jaguar XK series, so are mine. Within the confines of the engineering limits I needed to work within the car is as replica as I can make it (being an ex Concour judge helps me understand the importance of detail) BUT I always tell people this is not a real Ace just as good a copy as I was able to create. Would LOVE a real one, but don't think my wife would be willing to sell all our savings.