+1 313 312 0780

1957 AC Aceca

Lot 129 | The Academy of Art University Collection Saturday, 15 February 2025

Estimate: $80,000 - $110,000
| Offered Without Reserve
Offered Without Reserve

1957 AC Aceca

Lot 129 | The Academy of Art University Collection Saturday, 15 February 2025

Estimate: $80,000 - $110,000
| Offered Without Reserve
Offered Without Reserve
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Broad Arrow Auctions | 1957 AC Aceca
Broad Arrow Auctions | 1957 AC Aceca

The Academy of Art University Collection

  • Shown at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
  • A factory left hand drive example delivered new to the United States
  • Vintage raced during the 1979 United States Grand Prix weekend
  • One of 49 AC Acecas produced for 1957
  • Offered with its matching numbers “CL” engine; long-term ownership 1979-2010

Chassis No. AEX607
Engine No. CL2337W

Introduced at the 1954 Earl's Court London Motor Show, the AC Aceca was a refined coupe variant of the open-cockpit AC Ace, blending luxury and performance into a hand-built grand tourer. Based on the Ace's tubular chassis, the Aceca featured heavier-duty main rails, additional cross members, and rubber-mounted differentials to reduce vibration. Enhanced sound insulation with fiberglass panels, along with a cabin adorned in leather, wood, and wool carpeting, elevated its refinement. Powered by AC's 2.0-liter inline-six engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission and weighing just 2,120 pounds, performance was impressive. Furthermore, the Aceca offered near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution, combining elegant design with exceptional handling. Production spanned from 1954 to 1963, with 151 AC-engined Acecas produced.

According to a former AC Ace Club Registrar, this Aceca left the factory on 17 April 1956 in Rouge Iris with Grey leather trim. It was fitted with an AC “CL” (Crank Large) engine serial number 2337W with a 7.5:1 compression ratio and Wellworthy pistons. First sold in the United States, this left-hand-drive example's known history begins with Florida ownership in 1959. The car was later sold to Arthur Lukach of Rockford, Illinois by at least 1965 as a letter on file details his request to AC Cars for pricing and service assistance. Lukach passed it to Gary Sonnenshein in 1967. By January 1979, Frank Jellinek Jr. of New Hampshire had acquired the car. While Jellinek only owned the car for a single year he did enter and race AEX607 in white livery as part of the vintage festivities during the 1979 U.S. Grand Prix weekend at Watkins Glen.

In November of that year the car entered the long-term ownership of James Carr of Greenwich, Connecticut who kept the car until his passing in 2010. During his 31-year ownership, Carr gradually restored the Aceca during the late-1980s and in late 2009 he commissioned a respray in its current Dark Blue. In 2012 the car was acquired by the Academy of Art University Collection. With the Aceca in such fine condition the Academy entered it in the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance N1 class. Today, it is offered with 32,409 indicated miles at the time of cataloging along with previous ownership documentation and hood key. Uncommon in the United States, and offering tremendous eye-appeal, this rare Aceca offers the chance to join an exclusive club of AC owners who have had their cars displayed on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach.

Jakob Greisen
Senior Car Specialist