Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, AC Cars is celebrating its 123rd anniversary this year with three milestones that include the production of the all new AC Cobra GT Roadster, the expansion of the company’s Donington Park Headquarters and finalising the design of the marque’s next model, the AC Cobra GT Coupe.
It was on the 8th March 1901 that the Weller brothers established their company as engineers, repairers and manufacturers of motor cars and motorcycles in West Norwood, London. A date that is forever set in AC Cars’ history and the company that would later change its name to AC, following the launch of the popular Autocarrier in 1904.
Fast forward 123 years and AC Cars is set to deliver the first examples of their stunning AC Cobra GT Roadster this year. The cutting edge new sports car is being produced in a 100,000sq ft facility located on the south coast of England, with room for expansion on top of the already completed bespoke studios, additive manufacturing and tailor-made assembly halls.
Now that the first year’s production is all allocated, AC Cars’ expanded Headquarters and Research and Development centre at the Donington Park makes the ideal base for demonstrations of the AC Cobra GT Roadster as well as client test drives, where the full performance of the V8 sports car can be truly appreciated. The new facilities at Donington will also provide a brand centre and eventually house the company’s archives.
To celebrate its anniversary, AC Cars has released the first details of a new addition to the AC Cobra GT range, the AC Cobra GT Coupe, which is based on the same novel vehicle architecture as the roadster. Designed as a coupe, the new model retains the same aesthetics as the GT Roadster but with the practicality of a fully enclosed cockpit and is just one part of the marque’s exciting plans for the future.
David Conza, Chief Executive Officer of AC Cars, commented on the latest announcement, saying:
“With UK production growing rapidly, our expansion at Donington Park underway and the first clients scheduled to drive cars, AC Cars is looking ahead. I’m delighted to announce our next model, the AC Cobra GT Coupe, a car which has already been incredibly well received by clients. Our continued investment plan has allowed us to place the people, equipment and facilities needed as we further commit to future models.”
AC Cars have taken a clean sheet approach to the new cars, inspired of course by the original automotive icon. It has a unique aluminium chassis and a powerful 5.0-litre V8 engine, with the sports cars’ looks drawing on the original but incorporating modern design techniques and technology that has evolved over the last 50 years.
The AC Cobra GT Roadster and GT Coupe are extremely light and have exceptional torsional rigidity utilising advanced construction and fastidious production techniques so as to meet the high standards of both AC Cars and today’s supercar collectors.
The new coupe is available to reserve and includes the same performance and hand-finished interior as the Roadster but with a fixed head-design. For more information about the AC Cobra GT Roadster and GT Coupe, and to place an order, please visit: www.accars.eu.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is Editor of Our Man Behind The Wheel, a member of The Guild of Motoring Writers, professional photographer and former saloon car racing driver.
Photographs courtesy of AC Cars
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