AEX 160 to auction April 23

[alexG]

As here, the ex Walter Padow car, and a very detailed write up and photos:
   http://www.worldwide-auctioneers.com/auctions/details.cfm?vehicleID=54&id=54
   Would probably be a record price if achieved in the range quoted....
   
   This Ace has gone through two dealers in the last 6-12 months, and Im pretty sure is consigned by the last one, Driversource, who are in Houston also :    http://www.driversource.com/
   
   Interestingly there is also a Buckland in the same auction:
   http://www.worldwide-auctioneers.com/auctions/details.cfm?vehicleID=41&id=54
   Another very robust price estimate!
   
   Do any of our American friends know this auction house, as its not one I've come across before?

[pjbowman]

Worldwide is a very well-known auction house here in the US, I have dealt with them in the past, and get their catalogs for each auction. While I won't be attending this particular auction, I will away the results!

[scud]

The Buckland was sold by RM at Hershey last year. $82500.
   
   http://www.rmsothebys.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1070537

[Klassik Metall]

The Ace sold for $396 000 but the Buckland only achieved $66000.

[alexG]

That has to be the highest AC engined Ace price I have seen, at least at auction (in UK money c. £280k). Can't see that being achieved in Europe, although it was a nice car!

[Klassik Metall]

At least two early AC powered Aces have sold recently in Europe, for prices approaching this amount. The cars I know of were both sold through dealers.
   
    It would seem that the most important price factor is if the car is eligible for the Mille Miglia Retrospective. Many wealthy collectors now buy cars specifically to enter this event.

[tim isles]

Let's not forget BEX 1054. Sold last month for $495K. Looks a beautiful car.
   http://rmsothebys.com/am16/amelia-island/lots/1960-ac-ace-bristol/1078834

[alexG]

Tim, how could we forget BEX 1054.....but I was talking AC engined cars which have always been a bit under the price radar for the Bristols.
   
   The point about the MM retrospective is interesting because as many will know there are a lot of, sometimes quite ordinary, or totally obscure, cars eligible. This list shows 173 makes and 902 models!!!
   
   http://www.1000miglia.eu/attach/Content/Interna/2176/o/19271957elencovetturepartecipantienglish19_11_2015.pdf
   
   So theres quite a choice around... In UK terms things like early TR2/3, MGA etc all qualify, so there are a lot cheaper ways of getting an eligible car; however getting an entry is another matter. Its worth just glancing down the list to see how many makes are there you've never heard of! A Picon, a Platé, a Pulidori just in part of one section, for example...
   
   There is at least one Ace I know of in this year's event, Paolo Pedersoli in AEX 100, a car which originally was sold to Canada. Good luck to him in the event.

[Klassik Metall]

Yes, there are many other MM eligible cars out there but it doesn't mean they'll automatically get a place on this very over subscribed event. I think it would be fair to say that the operators of the rally tend to favour certain rarer marks over others. For example many Vintage Bentleys have taken part over the years but none took part in the original race. The same is true of the Ace Bristol but one is competing this year, it might have something to do with it belonging to one of the event sponsors, possibly.