[RedEsprit]

Hi Jay,
Aces and Bristols originally came only with flat screens to my knowledge. I have seen several retrofits, however, including factory retrofits. Many owners had the factory "build" curved screens to modernize their cars when they saw the Ruddspeeds and Cobras. AC was a very accommodating manufacturer and I dealt with them for many years and inquired about the windscreen update to their Store's Manager back in 1969 or so. You may have an AC factory retrofit or modernization. The reason I know about the windscreen is that I completely re-bodied a 1958 AC Bristol as an FIA Cobra and naturally replaced the flat screen with a standard curved Cobra screen. The cowl is slightly flatter on a Cobra than on a pre-Ruddspeed AC. and this came directly as a result of the Bristol engines (which were very tall) no longer being available. AC took it as an opportunity to modernize the body a little and used the grills from the AC Greyhound (upside down) which they had in large supply.

De-arcing the chassis is a real pain and we solved the problem by having a glass shop disassemble the sceen and "shave" some glass from the center of the bottom and then re-assembled the screen. This screen was a chrome aluminum frame rather than brass, however, and was a little more "pliable". It never fit perfectly but we got the gap down to a managable 1/4 inch or so which was covered by the gasket. To my knowledge, there is no way to tell simply by looking at the screen. It is the double-curved bottom extrusion that creates the problem. Your best bet (and easiest fix) is to have a custom screen built in England for the car. All about the same price. I am having a racing screen built there for my ERA.