1962 AC Ace - RSX 5010

This ex works car (09.03.1962) car was imported into Switzerland by the agent Patthey in Neuchâtel and was the show car on the stand at the Geneva Motor Show Salon in 1962.  It was black pearl with red trim. Engine number S247769E. Raymond Mays Cylinder Head number 28706. Curved screen, weber carburettors and chrome wire wheels.
Patthey lent it to his friend C. Berger with whom he had raced at the 1958 Le Mans 24 hour race in an Ace Bristol finishing a creditable 9th. Berger then competed with it at the Le Tourne Hill Climb although the engine was not then fully run in. The car was then sold to Georges Schneider, a well known slalom ski champion who died not long afterwards in a hunting accident in 1963 aged 38.
It was then used by a relative of his who crashed it, damaging the body badly following which it was sold in 1964 to Jacques Langel, a Swiss Moto Cross champion. He removed the damaged body and decided to construct and fit one of his own design.

The car was then used by Langel in some competitive events, but clearly the aerodynamics were if doubt? The car remained unknown to the AC Owners’ Club until 2019 when it was discovered by Club member, Antoine Prunet, in Switzerland. After some negotiation he managed to purchase the car from Jacques-Andre, seen standing beside the car, whose elderly father Jacques, is now in poor health. They had owned it for about 55 years.
Antoine’s aim was to have the car restored to its original Geneva Salon condition by the Belgian restorer Frederick Deleare but his subsequent death and also with his own health problems he decided in 2023 to sell it to a French gentleman who intends to have the car professionally restored.

Around the time when Antoine Prunet bought it, a strange thing happened. A Frenchman claimed that he had been sold the car’s remains along with the Portuguese title papers of RSX 5010. These turned out to be two tubes and a cleverly forged document which interestingly quoted all the right numbers. Clearly the fraudster had done his homework but was, as expected, thereafter uncontactable!

Work has started. on the restoration and it is being done by Classic Autos at King’s Langley.
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We would love to hear from anyone has more information on the car or would like to add to the history please feel free to contact us here at Ruddspeed.
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