Well, i do recall that the Lubinsky/Jim Price/Gabriel Diaz "partnership" (i don't know the exact nature and documentation of their business titles) of the early 2000's did result in at least one new "FIA" style AC Cobra, serial numbered COX 2610 (if i recall correctly) being sold in the USA, after considerable delay due to tepid interest and significant price reductions from the original offer. It was blue and nicely built and painted.
i had considerable discussions with Diaz in the summer of 2003, who was a rather nice chap trying to eke out a result from his considerable investment in the enterprise. He was very proud of his relationship with Mr. Price and just simply loved the cars. i don't think he has done very well on that partnership subsequently, as he has dropped off the radar screen completely.
i don't recall a similar "Pride" in his other partner, who represented AC in its various "forms" at the time.
If he reads this, i wish Gabriel would drop me a note about his health, etc... He is a member of CC, but perhaps the moderator might prefer to reveal that identification. Computerworks has commented on this car previously on an extensive thread in 7.15.2004.
Here is a copy of the advertisement for the car, as presented to me at the time:
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AC 289 FIA For Sale
A Brand New AC 289 FIA
This car was one of the last ones produced by AC CARS in Frimley, UK
It was manufactured on the original chassis jigs as well as on the wooden body forming bucks from the 60´
Hundreds of man hours were required to hand craft the aluminium bodywork and interior
Specifications:
Built to the specification of the 1960´which enabled the car to compete in the FIA race series
Original 3 inch diameter ladderframe chassis
Race specification handcrafted body with cut back doors, with rear flares and scooped bonnet
Modified boot contour (to allow FIA toolbox)
Alloy brake calipers CR front, ORA rear
Brake cooling scoops
Differential Ratio:3.77:1
Transverse leaf sprung suspension
Koni schock absorbers
37 gallon twin fuel tanks with Monza cap
Anti-roll bars front and rear
Forward braced driver´s rollover bar
Quick lift jacking brackets
Bucket racing seat
2 piece tonneau
Four point racing harness
Unique dash with Stewart Warner instruments
16 inch original woodrim steering wheel
Oil cooler
Peg drive wheels 6 1/2" x 15 " Front, 8 1/2" x 15 rear
Car ready for installation of a 289 engine with top loader gearbox and propshaft
Complete rolling chassis
More pictures at
www.webgate.cl/ac289
The car is in the State of Virginia.[i]
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Given the experience, i don't think many of those cars were completed, but at least one was finished as a roller, for sure. Gabriel has stated above that it was completed at Frimley, not Brooklands. And the builder was certainly NOT AC Cars Limited, but would have been AC Cars Group, Limited. i will attach a pix of the interior. Others have also appeared on CC at some point, also, but not posted by me.
At one point, that car was also on wooden plywood wheels, would you believe? They were used for shipping to the USA, as the partnership could not get proper-fitting wheels in the UK, where the car was fabricated. Wheels were found here or the others were machined sufficiently to clear either the steering knuckle or the caliper, i cannot recall which.
Were other 26XX cars actually built at that time or subsequently? Or are those current SAI/CS/RM products? Frimley didn't last very long and they had little cash (or credit) with which to build cars for the "partnership" which formed AC Cars USA, Inc. or whatever it was called otherwise.