1961 AC Aceca - RSX 5501

This was the second Ruddspeed Aceca to be built, it left the factory on 24 November 1961. It used chassis frame number 780 originally destined to be AC engined Aceca AE 780 before being re-numbered into the RS series.

Its original engine was S191776E and fitted with Raymond Mays head no. 28687 and Weber carburettors. The engine was subsequently changed for an unknown reason to 206E6105 which does not seem the normal letter/number sequence for the 2.6 engine. An overdrive was fitted.

Its original colour was AC’s Vineyard Green with a beige interior. Prior to being exported to the U.S. it was U.K. registered as 660 CGT.

The first owner was Bill Vaughan in New York where it was registered 977 RNN. The next recorded owner was Kermit Al Purdy in June 1981 who paid US $7,800. The next owner was G.A.Schonwald. In 1990 it was re-imported to the U.K. by dealer Chris Drake, re-registered with FSL 359 and advertised at £50,000. Still not sold by 1996, the price had dropped to £25,000. With no takers by 1999 it was entered into the August Coys Silverstone Auction. Without its number plate, the photos of it and its engine with the original chrome rocker cover were taken at the auction.

It was bought by an Austrian, Reinhart Lizt,  for £16,000 and taken there. He subsequently bought a replica Ruddspeed rocker cover. Then it was sold to Joseph Wernberger Jodi. He acquired a spare Mays head, no. 28403 at Beaulieu in 2005. The last known registration is VB AC2.

We would love to hear from anyone has more information on the car or would like to add to the history please feel free to contact us here at AC Heritage.