Pics of the AC factory in Thames Ditton UK

[marcocsx3121]

I made a pilgrimage to Thames Ditton while on one of my business trips to the U.K. in 2000. It's a quiet, picturesque little village on a bend in the river, replete with ducks and water lilies. I had to ask three people where the AC works had been before a gent pointed me to a nondescript red brick structure. I did find a small, bronze plaque on a wall telling of the site's glory days.

[Nedsel]

Mark, I'm curious - did you happen to see a "bunch of winos under a bridge" that Carroll says used to build the Cobras, or would they all have relocated by this time?

[marcocsx3121]

Ned:

As you can see from the photo, the bridge is still there, but I have to believe that the winos have passed into history.

[Murky781]

That's a great site. Thank you for posting that.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

Mark, I'm curious - did you happen to see a "bunch of winos under a bridge" that Carroll says used to build the Cobras, or would they all have relocated by this time?

Were there any piles of aluminum beer cans in the area?
First 100 Cobras - Shelby - YouTube

[KevinW]

Originally Posted by marcocsx3121

I made a pilgrimage to Thames Ditton while on one of my business trips to the U.K. in 2000. It's a quiet, picturesque little village on a bend in the river, replete with ducks and water lilies. I had to ask three people where the AC works had been before a gent pointed me to a nondescript red brick structure. I did find a small, bronze plaque on a wall telling of the site's glory days.

Marco - your pic is, erm very british!


To give the AC factory story a bit more depth, the AC R&D department was (please correct me if Im wrong Trevor) located at Tagg's Island.

Here is the modern website of the island, named after Tagg's boat building business about a century beforehand....

TAGGS ISLAND

and some interesting stuff here if you scroll down.....

Tagg's Island 2

- which is now largely residential, but if visiting the UK you can indulge yourself with Bed & Breakfast on the island if booked in advance.

As for the Thames Ditton factory, here you go:

Thames Ditton Virtual Village - ac2Towards Post Office

and the pre-Ace tojeiro special here

Thames Ditton Virtual Village - AC Showroom forecourt

with more AC Thames Ditton stuff here
Thames Ditton Virtual Village - AC Factory and Cars

Here is the aforementioned factory plaque

AC Cars Thames Ditton | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

and a photo gallery of the AC lineage

AC_Cars

the Ferry works factory was somewhere near here
KT7 0QJ - Google Maps

by coincidence, I knew this road very well, as a shortcut i used to drive through it everyday as a student in Kingston-upon-Thames in the 80s.

but Giggs Hll Green factory i beleive is now a housing estate.

and finally, i think you'll like this

http://www.automotivearticles.com/up...00andstaff.jpg

taken very shortly before final closure and the disastrous move to Malta.

I hope to attend the Thames Diton AC cars anniversery do later this month. Hopefully i will get some pics then - fingers crossed.

[london]

Originally Posted by KevinW

I hope to attend the Thames Ditton AC cars anniversery do later this month. Hopefully i will get some pics then - fingers crossed.

Are you planning to park the Crendon on Giggs Hill Green? If so, I wish you all the best with the gentlemen of the AC Owners Club!

[Riverside racer]

Originally Posted by marcocsx3121

I made a pilgrimage to Thames Ditton while on one of my business trips to the U.K. in 2000. It's a quiet, picturesque little village on a bend in the river, replete with ducks and water lilies. I had to ask three people where the AC works had been before a gent pointed me to a nondescript red brick structure. I did find a small, bronze plaque on a wall telling of the site's glory days.

I had the same experience. Also found the plaque with difficulty. Chatting to the owner of the Swan Pub which is right besides the factory, he said he would welcome some pics and history of the factory to mount inside his pub. Tried to contact Stephen Grey but never received a return call so left it there. Still feel it would be great if someone could put this together so that visitors and locals could could learn more about AC. Been there, done that but no T shirt ,cap, or book.
Ross