History of Ace Bristol BEX283

[Exacowner]

Back in 2014 "Terry" posted looking for info on the early history of Ace BEX283 circa pre 1980s.  I just recently saw that post since I had occasion to revisit my files on the car which I owned around then.  The gentleman to whom I'd sold it (in Pennsylvania, USA) around 1981 recently passed away.  A current car buddy is involved in the disposition of the estate and in conversation about the car collection component we realized that I had this long ago  connection to the deceased.  BEX283 is apparently not in the current estate so I decided to go looking for what might have become of it.  Hence this post.   I'm interested in providing the little bit of ownership and maintenance history and some pix that I have from that period to the current owner or, perhaps better, to someone associated with the AC Owners Club who might be keeping an archive on the Ace production cars — maybe Tim Pearce?  Also, if the car still exists and is anywhere convenient to me I'd be interested in seeing it or, if it's too far away, maybe hearing a bit about its travels since the '80s.  Another person in our circle of eclectic enthusiasts has both an Ace and an Aceca so I'm frequently reminded how much I did and still do admire the cars.  Thanks in advance for any assistance that anyone can provide.  Ken Bell

[Exacowner]

Just an update — Keith Lessiter provided incredible background on BEX 283 from 1981 (in Pennsylvania) to circa 2013 (in Illinois) and my ownership info extended that timeframe back to 1976 (in Virginia out of Georgia).  Terry, if you're still out there, did you acquire the car around 2014 and did that cause you to inquire?  Any idea where the car got to between 2014 and 2026?  Anybody?  As for the 20 year gap between 1957 in Columbus Ohio and 1976 in Georgia, I'm speculating the car was raced in the southeast US given its condition and modifications circa 1976.  Whoever restored the car to a beautiful green over brown in the period 1982-2013 may have discovered things about the car which would tend to confirm or refute that speculation. 

[AC Ace Bristol]

Ken.
Re: History of BEX283.
Great to  assist in your quest on History of your once owned BEX283, (1976-1981) by exchange of Pictures and known data. Hopefully you make contact with the current (unknown ) Custodian and pass on your pictures and Documents /  paperwork.
Very interesting to learn that you were introduced to Ace Bristol's when you saw the Metallic Brown one at Watkins Glenn in 1958,  A bonus to us both when you confirmed that the Pictures I sent you of BEX313  when painted Metallic Brown  brought back many memories. ( Remained Metallic Brown till August 2008,, then fully restored and  painted green...  similar to  AC Mist Green )
Which in turn led to new exchange of details on BEX176 once owned by your friend Jimmy  Harris, Hopefully you can contact him and confirm when  and to  whom he sold it .
Last but not least, Thank you for the pictures of BE214 (650BPK) when owned by A G Parker, painted Blue and published in "The Survivors : European Sports Cars of the Fifties" by Henry Rasmussen & published in    California  in 1978.  .  I Have located a signed  copy # 80 of 100. in NY. and  will try to buy it, alternatively  may just read  the copy owned by John Deveson.  The current  Custodian of BE214  since  1982 . .
..
Ken..... .Thanks again for the exchange of emails, Hopefully Tim Pearce the Current Ace Bristol Registrar, can furnish you with more History as he has  the.  9  x  65mm thick A4 Files, creating the very comprehensive Hard copy  Ace Bristol Register..(  Last updated  November 29th 2023,  )

Cheers for Now.
Keith Lessiter
Ex - ACOC Ace Bristol Registrar       

[Aceca289]

First Owner of BEX283:

This car perked my interest when I discovered that it was imported through Charles E King (the AC distributor in Chicago - who was also the first owner of my Aceca AEX521). The note in the AC logbook says it went to "Columbus Truck and Equipment Company"...located in Columbus Ohio. A few google searches and AI led me to the name of the owner of Columbus Truck and Equipment Company (Raymond E Mason) and an obituary where it notes that Raymond was "a former race car driver". See the link to his obituary below. Hopefully, some of you AC racing history researchers can use this information to connect some period race information for Raymond Mason to BEX283.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/columbus-oh/raymond-mason-10669273

Best of luck,

John Thompson

[jrlucke]

The Racing Sports Cars website has a fairly long listing for Raymond E Mason:

https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/Raymond-Mason-USA.html

John

[Aceca289]

John -

Thanks for the quick response. It looks like Raymond Mason was very active from at least 54 - 61 using a variety of cars. I do see that an AC Ace (apparently BEX283) appears in some 1957 race results. I bet it was used quite a bit more. One other thing I noted is that Raymond liked to use 7X in many of his race car numbers (such as 71 and 171 used for the Ace as well as other cars he raced). Another clue to possibly link unknown photos to BEX283??

John Thompson

[AC Ace Bristol]

John Thompson,  John Lucke. &  Ken Bell
Re:BEX283.
.
Great observation,  The AC Ace Build / Despatch Book (The AC Bible),  Confirms the AC Agent in one column and then in adjacent column,  The First owner if known at the time of order / despatch.
Who ever recorded ( penned ) BEX283 details on 17th April 1957, inadvertently  wrote the First owner details in the AC Agents column, then confirmed the Name of AC Agent  above the first owners address Being :.
Columbus Truck & Equipment Co Inc.  1249 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, Ohio USA,  Then  hand drew an arrow pointing to the adjacent column.   The AC Agent  "Charles E King"  confirmed AC warranty on  8th May 1957.
 Interestingly neither  "Tony Bancroft. Tim Isles nor  I "  being past Ace Bristol Registrars ever picked up on this anomaly, otherwise earlier history especially Race History  would have been followed up and  recorded in both the Electronic Ace Bristol Register and Hard Copy Register.
Well spotted ! .. 
.
Keith Lessiter
Ex- Ace Bristol Registrar