[j jones]

The 2.6 English Ford Zephyr engine was installed before C. Shelby came shopping for a lightweight car to modify: This (because I'm lazy) from Wikipedia-

"This" (the BMW derived 2 liter 6) "was replaced in 1962" (September, 1961) "with the 2.6 litre Ken Rudd 'Ruddspeed' engine, adapted from that used in the Ford Zephyr. It used 3 Weber or SU carburettors and either a 'Mays' or iron cast head. This set up boosted the car's performance further, but it was not long before Carroll Shelby drew AC's attention to the Cobra, so only about 40 were made."

So, Yes. AC shoved a Ford engine in their ACE before Carroll Shelby appeared. It was not a well-balanced car, though. It needed suspension work (as did the first 289's).

As for the C6 Police Interceptor 3 speed auto box, C. Shelby used the same transmission on the two "Super Snakes" he made. One he kept (but sold at Barret-Jackson for $5.5 million), the other he gave to Bill Cosby (who gave it back). (Too scarey for him. 800 horsepower)

(The C6 police interceptor trans was the only practical answer for all that power and torque)(Cosby's car was destroyed, I believe)

The Frua's were equipped with either a C6 auto, or a 4 speed toploader.

The differential was generally 2.88 for the auto, different for the manual.

Of course, as the Salisbury diff's were EXACTLY the same as the "Cobra's", the ratios can be easlily changed. I just did it, when I changed my tranny to a manual.

(BTW, You can install a toploader, or a Tremec 5 speed very easily. They fit, and the brackets for the clutch are in all Fruas, regardless of what they were delivered with.)