[Trevor Legate]

Hi Whatsa

Thanks for the above - saved me a lot of typing!!

Note - A bog-standard AC Ace was 'volunterered' by Ken Rudd to enter Le Mans (1957 I think, mislaid the details) from an easily-persuaded (to race ) lady owner and they just added the minimum legal requirments to get it scrutineered and pottered around in blistering heat for 24 Hours while everyone broke or crashed and it won its class! They then drove home via Paris when champagne was drunk at the AC showrooms, got squiffy, carried on to Blighty and two days later she was using it as her shopping car again. Not bad for a "crappy little ol' car with buggy springs."

Note: Ken Rudd promoted the Ford 2.6 engine (quite quick!) but Charles Hurlock thought it was too 'common' to reside 'neath the hood of an AC and virtually told Rudd to go away and take his engine with him. They did not promote the car at all. Pity. Rudd was very annoyed and never helped AC again.

Note: Interesting that the first Shelby sales literature extolled the qualities and virtues of the 'AC legend' but the next brochure never gave them a mention. You soon find out who your friends are......

Did you know??? When the first working prototype Cobra was taken for a 'road test' on the roads around Thames Ditton, they could'nt get the doors open afterwards due to chassis-flex. They had to whack them open with a mallet.