1956 AC Aceca 'Bristol Prototype' Works Tulip Rally Entrant

AE550 left the Thames Ditton works on the 7th April 1956, it was delivered to Ken Rudd, this is where it was prepared for the upcoming Tulip Rally, where it competed in the hands of its first owner John Patten as one of three works Acecas. Finishing 72nd overall and 3rd in class. AE550 then went back to Rudds for a Bristol engine conversion in June preparing for the upcoming race season, this is documented by the London county council where Mr Patten updated the engine number a month prior to the production of the Aceca Bristol by AC Cars.

The Aceca went on to race at Crystal Palace August Trophy Meeting placing 2nd, ahead of the AC Ace of Bruno Ferrari. Patten went on to compete in many other events that year very successfully, the following year he re-entered the Tulip Rally, placing 17th overall and second in class once again.

After forty years of single ownership, we acquired AE550 and carried out a full restoration to FIA specifications.