...the "AC Mk IV" has been previously available here in the USA as a fully certified automobile. BTW, the company is not "AC Bristol", Bristol is an independant company that built an engine that AC used in some cars, the engine is based on a pre-war (WW II) BMW design, ACs own "light 6" engine is also pre war....WW 1!!!!!
The ACs powered by the Bristol engines are refered to as "AC Bristols" but really carry the Ace or Aceca name.
Autokraft built the MK IV cars under license to AC using the originall AC jigs and fixtures. In the mis 80s Brian Angliss, principal in Autokraft bought AC Cars from the Hurlock family and then sold a portion to the Ford Motor Company during Ford's "drunken sailor" auto company buying binge period. Ford built a large new facility for AC/Autokraft (they remained individual companies with different boards and objectives) and designed as new Ace model. Ford grew tired of the investment and time required to develope a new small volume car and decided to retain Aston Martin whilst closing AC. Angliss fought Ford and won! FoMoCo sold their share to Angliss and he went it alone until such time as the money ran out due to his spending more time collecting motorcycles and WWII airplanes than running the business.
While this was going on they were building the AC Mk IV an updated version of the Mk III (427) chassis/body and found a ready market. These cars are finished to a very high standard and are far above the older AC p[roducts in quaility and fit/finish.
The US certified cars were all delivered with 5.0 Mustang engines with the T5 manual. Some were sold as rollers and have other powertrains.
I imported and sold these cars as a franchised "Autokraft" dealer. The cars are not 427 fast but are pretty quick and with some bolt on stuff....watch out! As far as I know, I personally sold more AC Mk IVs than anyone other than the factory.
If anyone is interested I can post some original documents including factory invoices, MSOs and other stuff.
Rick
