56 Ace

[AEX132]

I posted this in the general forum and realized this one is more appropriate:

Hello AC owners and enthusiasts, I'm new to the site having recently inherited my father's 1956 Ace AEX132. I have very little information on the car other than that it hasn't run in at least 25 years. However, it has been stored inside and is in what seems to be remarkably original condition other than the replacement corvette small block. I'll take better pictures next time I get a chance.
Does anyone have more information on this vehicle? Thanks for your assistance!

[maeter1@me.com]

I just checked and besides a production date of the 26th of March 1956, it shows an original color of green with a "natural" interior. Original engine number was CL 2267.

[AEX132]

Thanks for the info!  Wonder where that engine is now. I would love to reunite them but that seems about as likely as finding a 10mm in the bottom of a toolbox

[maeter1@me.com]

A CL engine came up for sale on Bring-a-Trailer in 2023 amd sold for $18,000 as the original car was selling at the same time. Another one sold for $10,500 in 2021.  I would join the AC Owners Club if I were you and put an ad in the club's magazine, ACtion.

[James Eastwood]

Very cool, and welcome to the Forum. Your car looks to be in very good shape. Do post some more pictures, including the engine installation. Is it an auto btw? I'm interested to know what the button on the gear shifter is.

You can try searching the the internet using the Chassis number and also with the Registration. It looks like the registration may not be the original, would the DMV be able to offer any history, inlcuing the engine number change, perhaps a colour change too?

Someone has done quite a bit of work on it including the replacement wooden instrument panel, these were often damaged in period in accidents if seats belts were not fitted.

Get it driving, use it for the summer then decide what to do with it.

Regards
James

[AEX146]

Dear AEX132,

You may like to know that in Rinsey Mills' book "AC Six-cylinder Sports Cars" there is a photo on pg 117 of a number of Aces outside the factory. AEX 132 is one of the cars.

Regards,
Ben

[AEX132]

Thanks James I'll get some more pictures next time I'm in town. My son and I run a small Performance shop here in Portland, Oregon and plan to do a light restoration on it. I remember driving it several times as a teenager under my dad's supervision of course   
It's a four speed manual and the button was fitted by the previous owner to activate the horn. It will be one of the first things to be removed. I would describe the current color as root beer. Not my favorite so eventually we'll return it to the original green.

Cheers,  Alex.

[AEX132]

Hello Ben and thanks for the tip. I just found a copy for sale at Hortons!  I'm very excited to learn more about the history of this fabulous car and even more so to get it back on the road.

Cheers,

Alex

[Vincent998]

Hi:

It might interest you to know that there are at least two more ACs in the Willamette Valley - I have an Aceca and there is an Ace in Eugene. I suggest you contact Rob Krantz the American ACOC organizer.
Cheers!
David