Exhibited at the 1971 Earls Court Motor Show

53,000 miles from new

Engine rebuild and mechanical overhaul by Autokraft/AC Cars

By the late 1960s, the combination of Italian styling and American V8 power was well established. AC Cars applied that formula to its Cobra-derived chassis to create the 428, a more luxurious grand tourer. The coil-sprung chassis was lengthened by six inches and sent to Italy, where Pietro Frua clothed it in elegant steel coachwork. The convertible debuted at the 1965 Earls Court Motor Show, followed by the fastback coupé at the Geneva Salon the following year.

Power came from Ford’s 428cu in (7.0-litre) V8. Despite weighing some 1,416kg and, in most cases, being fitted with automatic transmission, the 428 offered formidable performance. Its considerable price limited production to just 51 coupes.

Copies of factory records held by the AC Register show that this coupé was completed in December 1970, finished in Sky Blue Metallic with a black interior and automatic transmission. It appeared on the AC stand, number 108, at the 1971 Earls Court Motor Show. Promotional material from the event accompanies the car, together with a period photograph showing it on the stand.

The car was subsequently sold through H R Owen, and its ownership history is traced from new. It has six former keepers. In 1989, Autokraft—later AC Cars—carried out an extensive overhaul, rebuilding the engine, suspension and braking systems at a cost of more than £17,000. Among the paperwork is a repossession form from the early 1990s, an unusual addition to the car’s history file.

In 2003, the 428 passed to its most recent long-term custodian, an engineer from Lowestoft. He maintained the car himself, calling upon other tradesmen for specialist work, including metal repairs and replacement sills in the late 2000s. A highlight of his ownership was a continental tour in 2018, during which the car covered several thousand miles through Europe without assistance.

Since entering our stock, the 428 has covered more than 200 miles in our hands. This included a four-hour journey into central London and back for a luxury goods photoshoot, during which it performed well in rush-hour traffic. It retains its original engine and has never been fully restored. The structure remains sound, while the cosmetic presentation leaves scope for its next custodian to improve the car to their own taste.

-SOLD-