BEX447 History help

[GLogan]

BEX447 is a 1959 AC Ace, upgraded to 289 Cobra specs by a former owner some years ago. Does anyone have contact info for Ron Leonard, who was the first owner (in Arizona)? Or information about subsequent owners?  (A Dr. Ron Goodman bought it from Ron Leonard in 1963.) I bought the car a few years ago and am trying to fill in some blanks on its history.  Thank you!

[jrlucke]

Per an old posting the number is 970-259-0108 in Colorado. I knew Ron when he had a sports car parts house in the 1960's in Tucson. At the time he raced a dark green with gold stripe Mustang hatchback.

John

[GLogan]

Thanks, John.  I tried that number, and thankfully it is still good.  Had a nice long conversation with Ron (he is about 83 now). He lost track of the car after the person he sold it to in 1963 traded it for a new Cobra in 1965.  I did locate a dealer/restoration shop in CA who bought it from a customer in 2004 (Winning Makes, owner is Julian, a UK ex-pat), also had a nice conversation with him.  He sold it to a well-known collector Michael Taggert who passed away a few years ago.  The dealer who consigned it to the auction where I bought it in 2017 bought the Ace and several other cars from the estate, didn't know any of the car's history.  Julian still has the original steering box (the car has been converted to rack-and-pinion steering) if anyone needs one.  Still a big blank from 1965-2004.  I would really like to know who did the 289 conversion, they did a very nice job.

[B.P.Bird]

Dear Mr. Logan,
Always good to hear of efforts being made to fill in the histories of old A.C.s especially as The Grim Reaper doesn't make it any easier with the passing years. In respect to your question the person who needs the original steering is you - even if you don't return '447 to original then keeping the parts together is essential. All these converted cars will eventually be returned to period specification, if not for aesthetic  reasons then for financial reasons....
Barrie