1927 AC Royal Drophead Coupé with Dickey
Registration no. YT 748
Chassis no. 13910

AC's famous John Weller-designed six-cylinder engine entered production in 1922, helping to secured the marque's place in motoring history when in 1926 a 2-litre AC driven by Victor Bruce and W J Burnell became the first British car to win the Monte Carlo Rally. Indeed, the company was then engaged in an active competitions programme under the stewardship of that formidable motoring personality S F Edge, and the policy had already born fruit the previous year when an AC six broke the 24-hour world record for its class with a speed of 82mph.

Its overhead camshaft and 'wet' cylinder liners marked out Weller's engine as an advanced design and the unit would enjoy an unprecedentedly lengthy production life, being catalogued until 1963 by which time maximum power had risen from 35bhp to over 100 horsepower. The six-cylinder AC chassis followed the lines of its four-cylinder Anzani-engined contemporary, featuring quarter-elliptic springing front and rear, three-speed gearbox in unit with the rear axle, and worm final drive. Front wheel brakes were optional at first, standard issue from 1927.

This rare Vintage-era AC was purchased by the vendor in 2008 from
Mr G Thornhill via dealer David Wall of Wroxham. The advertisement stated that the car had not been used since 1968: "Six cylinder, runs and drives. Body requires restoration, but very sound and original." Documentation on file records that the Royal was retailed by AC (Acedes) Cars Concessionaires of Pall Mall, London SW1, while owners are listed from 1936 to 1961 when Mr Thornhill acquired the car. Some restoration had been carried out by the previous owner and the rebuild has been completed by the vendor with the result that the car is now in excellent condition throughout. Notable features include a new rare 2.0-litre cats paw cylinder block (hence no engine number); additional strengthening to the front wings/chassis; upgraded lights and indicators within original fittings; and all original panels apart from the boot skin, the original ash framework has been retained. A new radiator was fitted in 2019. A recent AC Owner's Club concours winner, the accompanying history file contains restoration invoices; an original handbook; a V5C Registration Certificate; a selection of old photographs from the 1960s; and the aforementioned ownership details.