1961 AC Ace - RS 5000

The original Ace was announced in 1953 using AC’s own long lived engine but in 1956 the Bristol engine became an option. In 1960 The Bristol Car company, having gone over to the Chrysler 5 litre V8 for their 407, said it would be discontinuing manufacturing their own 2 and 2.2 litre engines. Whilst AC had a plentiful stock of new Bristol engines in the stores, it was clear a new source of power was going to be needed for the Ace, Aceca and Greyhound range. Whilst no hard facts are known, it is believed they looked at the Buick 3.5 litre V8 amongst possible others. This engine was made later by Rover. However, Rudd Engineerng Ltd in Worthing, Sussex, AC agents and well known for performance enhancing conversions on a range of cars, suggested to AC that the well tried and tested Ford six cylinder 2553 cc engine could be well suited to the AC range. It had been used to great effect from Ford rally cars to Dowty Turbocraft speedboats when fitted with the Raymond Mays aluminium cylinder head made by Rubery Owen, the latter in its marine version.

The Hurlock AC management agreed and commissioned Rudd to build a prototype development car for evaluation. An Ace with chassis number AE 1191 was passed to Rudd and its engine, number  CLBN 2475, removed and returned to the stores.
In Spring 1961, fitted with triple SU carburettors and overdrive, giving 155 bhp at 5,000 rpm, it was offered to the press. This was considerably more than the previously best offering of the 125 bhp at 5,750 rpm of the Bristol 100D2 unit. It was tested to great acclaim by Motor Sport, Car & Driver, Autosport and The Motor.
Using Rudds as the distributor, AC agreed to add it to their range and to be as the Ruddspeed 2.6 Ace, Aceca and Greyhound. Initially the cars were to be sent to Rudd for the choice of engine to be fitted but, to Rudd’s displeasure it was decided it was more practical to complete the cars at Thames Ditton.

AE 1191 was renumbered RS 5000 (RS signifying Ruddspeed) and recorded as such in the factory production ledger, colloquially known as “the bible”. In accordance with AC’s long standing practice, left hand drive cars had the suffix X added. Initially it was used as the factory demonstrator before it was returned to Rudd and campaigned in hill climbs by his fellow director Tom Culnane and his friend Betty Haig, particularly at Prescott and Shelsley Walsh.

The new model and engine option was announced and displayed at the 1961 Earls Court Motor Show. Five stages of tune were offered, soon revised to four because none wanted the second option which was just Stage 1 with lightweight pistons. These were:

Stage 1: Modified Ford cylinder head, opened and polished ports, larger inlet and exhaust valves, triple inlet manifold with three H6 1 and 3/4 inch S.U. Carburettors producing 120 bhp at 5,000 rpm.
Stage 2: As Stage 1 but with lightweight pistons producing 125 bhp at 5,000 rpm.
Stage 3: 6 port Raymond Mays aluminium cylinder head with special high-speed pistons and lightweight push-rods, triple H6 S.U. 1 and 3/4 inch carburettors producing 155 bhp at 5,500 rpm.
Stage 4: As Stage 3 with three 40 DCOE2 carburettors producing 170 bhp at 5,500 rpm.

Also available was a chromed rocker cover and an alloy finned one inscribed “Ruddspeed”. It is recorded as leaving the factory on 16.03.1961, registered 700 BBP,  engine number S213890E and fitted with an overdrive. The original colour was white with a black interior and a curved screen.

Being the prototype, this car did not have the revised lower nose of the production 2.6 Aces. Shortly after being built, it was updated to Stage 4 with three Weber carburettors. After Rudd sold the car on, it went to various owners. The first was Derek Pye who raced it at Goodwood in 1962. Later known owners were Norman Connor, Chris Walters, David Meynall and Richard Prior from whom Simon Bathurst Brown bought it in 1970 in poor condition. In his hands it had further competition use at Lydden Hill, Silverstone and Goodwood. The original 15” wheels have been replaced by 16” and a John Tojeiro/Ben Yates rack & pinion steering conversion fitted.

We would love to hear from anyone has more information on the car or would like to add to the history please feel free to contact us here at Ruddspeed.
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