Barn Find AC

PostPost by: elaninfuture » Sun Dec 09, 2018 11:43 pm

When I heard rumors of an AC in a barn, this wasn't what I was dreaming of. Still, a very cool old car in great shape, considering it's been sitting for decades. Anyone have a sense of the market on 2-litres?
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PostPost by: prezoom » Mon Dec 10, 2018 1:13 am

A friend of mine has what I believe is a 1937. Will ask him when I get a chance.
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PostPost by: elaninfuture » Mon Dec 10, 2018 2:15 am

Thanks. I don't think they are very valuable. I'd like to have it, but I have no idea what a fair price would be.
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PostPost by: jono » Mon Dec 10, 2018 3:00 pm

A friend of mine is doing a concourse restoration of an AC Buckland Tourer like this one.

He reckons it will be worth around 40k when finished.
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PostPost by: Elanintheforest » Mon Dec 10, 2018 4:31 pm

Is that to justify his ?70k spend, Jono?!

I had a good look around a Bentley S2 at an auction 18 months ago which had restoration bills for ?220,000 for restoration work completed 20 years previously. The car was faultless, without a blemish in the paint, chrome or interior, and under the bonnet / under the car was as good. It sold for ?24k.

There seems to be very little appeal for many saloons from the 50s and early 60s nowadays, and with something like the AC, restoration costs could run into a lot more than the car would be worth, even many times more. Just finding parts could be a nightmare.

It's not all about money though, and if it's something you've always wanted (the car or the challenge) then you won't find another one in a hurry.
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PostPost by: jono » Mon Dec 10, 2018 9:26 pm

Jim's one of those supremely talented guys Mark who does absolutely everything and has been restoring cars and vintage trucks professionally for years - he's retired now so just does it to fill in his time so the money is not an issue for him.

This rear end of the AC - he re made it himself in sheet alloy and painted it all too! It's great how he's still passionate about what he used to do for a living
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PostPost by: Elanintheforest » Mon Dec 10, 2018 10:55 pm

I'm back on restorations now Jon, and finding it huge fun again. But my skills are very basic compared with those of Jim, and his work must be so satisfying. I'm a firm believer that anybody can do anything (within reason) but I don't think that I can find the 10,000 hours required to be a skilled panel beater and fabricator right now!

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PostPost by: nmauduit » Tue Dec 11, 2018 8:33 am

elaninfuture wrote:When I heard rumors of an AC in a barn, this wasn't what I was dreaming of. Still, a very cool old car in great shape, considering it's been sitting for decades. Anyone have a sense of the market on 2-litres?

I don't but a search gave a couple offers for comparison points of two door 2 liter coaches (no affiliation):

https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/ ... ac/2-litre
from 4 grands a 1951 incomplete project
https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/ ... 951/123488
2l-incomplete.jpg and
2l incomplete AC

to about 20 for a better car
https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/ ... 948/141561
2l-1948-ac.jpg and
2l 1948 AC
S4SE 36/8198
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PostPost by: el-saturn » Tue Dec 11, 2018 10:14 am

coachwork........... THE FABRICATOR: only britain has 'em: theyre unique on this planet!! if you ever have to build a car in NO TIME you need two brits who worked in F1 - they're just amazing: part of their equipment is cardboard and a cutter knife (templates) - if they're good you give them tthe points of fixation and an hr later you've got the 1st side finished, just waiting for chrome!! the other chaps are the body "smiths" who can turn sheet metal into body parts; as a matter of fact i once visited the place where a certain mr. hill was an apprentice: i was talking to his "teacher"....................and all of a sudden graham got quick!! sandy
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PostPost by: rgh0 » Tue Dec 11, 2018 11:47 am

Build your car out of fibreglass and resin and they have an infinite future without requiring skilled artisans to form metal panels by hand - but i don't think that was actually Collins plan :lol: He was more interested in it lasting the warranty period rather than 100 years i think

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PostPost by: 10kph » Tue Dec 11, 2018 12:02 pm

july15-007.jpg and
july15-007.jpg and
july15-007.jpg and
As an AC enthusiast I see this car as one to be rescued. At one time the cars were robbed for their engines, like plus 2s. As one photo shows, the body is pure aluminium nailed onto an ash frame and placed on a sustantial steel chassis. The paintwork looks tidy and if the interior in pure leather is intact then you have a luxurious limo.
A friend has one painted in gunmetal grey and he wins shows because of its rarety. Another in cream looks stunning.
So the bad bits relate to the ash frame especially round the boot area and inner wheelarches, but they are made in sections and can be removed and copied and screwed back together. What the car needs is a carpenter with a bandsaw .
Here are some photos of my AC Aceca which at one time was unloved.
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PostPost by: elaninfuture » Tue Dec 11, 2018 4:20 pm

Beautiful car 10kph.

I'm going to do my best to convince the owner of the 2 litre to let me take it off his hands. I'd like to have it in my garage, and it seems a shame for it to spend another several decades lost in a barn. The interior is in excellent shape, and the owner claims it ran when parked, although that was a very long time ago.
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PostPost by: prezoom » Tue Dec 11, 2018 4:47 pm

My friends AC is a 1937. He estimates the found car to be worth $50-60k.
Rob Walker
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1964 Sabra GT
1964 Elva Mk4T Coupe (awaiting restoration)
1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero, 302,AOD,9",rack and pinion,disc,etc,etc,etc
1954 Nash Healey LeMans Coupe

Owning a Lotus will get you off the couch
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PostPost by: nmauduit » Tue Dec 11, 2018 5:18 pm

prezoom wrote:My friends AC is a 1937. He estimates the found car to be worth $50-60k.


Aceca models are much more sought after than 2 litre standard two door saloons I'm afraid

fwiw Hagerty has a valuation tools that gives out similar values as found above (4-20k range)

http://apps.hagerty.com/ukvaluation/ind ... Backlink=1
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PostPost by: elaninfuture » Tue Dec 11, 2018 5:38 pm

I've talked with an expert on the model in England. He says a nearly perfect one can be had for $25. There is little financial upside to buying one that's less than perfect, he says, unless the price is very low. I have no interest in restoring this car, but I'd like to get it running and drive it a bit before passing it on.
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