AC Frua
AC 428 Convertible ( initially with standard wire -spoke wheels )
The AC 428 was offered in open and closed form of the sports car British car manufacturer AC Cars, which was produced 1965-1973.
- 3.1 AC 428 II
- 3.2 AC 429
History of development
The traditional British vehicle manufacturer AC Cars was known for small sports car with a stylish design since the 1950s. These included models AC Ace and AC Aceca that were offered with different engines of British origin. Derived from this arose from the 1959 AC Greyhound, a four-seater Gran Turismo, which was produced in less than 100 copies. This tradition which at the time led by Charles and Derek Hurlock company wanted after it was temporarily passes through the construction of brute AC Cobra to fame and some prosperity, build mid -1960s with a new model. The idea was that known and proven chassis of the AC Cobra - to be provided and the large eight-cylinder engine also used in the Cobra Ford GT with an elegant body and to make the Cobra as it were, grown up - slightly elongated. With this vehicle AC wanted to compete in the market of luxury vehicles and compete with vehicles such as Aston Martin, Bristol or Jensen.
The design
Charles and Derek Hurlock decided early for letting design the body of the new Gran Turismo in Italy. After initial discussions with Bertone finally received in April 1965, the Carrozzeria Frua in Turin in the order. The first prototype, a two -seater convertible ( " Convertible " ), was shown in October 1965 at the International Motor Exhibition in London, followed in March 1967 in Geneva, the presentation of the 428 coupe with a hatchback body ( " Fastback "). Against this background, the AC 428 is often, but not officially called AC Frua.
The body design of the new AC was not independent. Pietro Frua, a master at using his creations several times, repeated here seen the lines of the 1963 Maserati Mistral designed by him, and the somewhat later presented Monteverdi High Speed 375 of the first generation showed significant similarities. On the other hand, there are many design features of the AC 428 already completed in the 1962, designed by AC himself single piece AC MA- 200, which was originally intended as a replacement of the models AC Ace, AC Aceca and AC Greyhound and through contacts of the Swiss AC importer Patthey was also known at various Italian coachbuilders.
How far the matches actually go is unclear. True is certainly that correspond to the basic proportions of the three models essentially; the front design of Mistral and 428 equal to a large extent. There are sources that furthermore claim that all three vehicles were partially related identical body or attachments; This concerns for example the doors, glass panels and bumpers.
The design of the vehicles was sometimes independently in detail; times bumpers and radiator openings were used in the style of the Jaguar E-Type, sometimes varied the position of turn signals, mirrors or similar. Here some of it was tailored to customer requirements. The Berlin-based designer Luigi Colani dressed in the 1980s, one a 428 Convertible own ideas.
The technique
The AC 428 took over the chassis of the AC Cobra Mark III. The only change consisted in the extension of the wheelbase by 15 inches. The chassis also corresponded to that of Cobra: there were independent independent suspension front and rear, coil springs with internal shock absorbers and wishbones.
Drive end of 6997 cc eight-cylinder engine from Ford was initially installed, the 427 was known from the AC Cobra and 390 hp SAE gave. This engine received the first five Convertible and some coupes. As of March 1968, the engine on the 428- Galaxy - engine Ford has been changed, a 7014 cc big engine with an output of 345 hp SAE (motor version "Ford Police Interceptor "). All vehicles manufactured in the aftermath received this engine. As power transmission, there was either a manual four-speed transmission of Muncie or - far more frequently ordered - Three -speed automatic Ford (Type C6).
The production
Series production of the AC 428 Convertible began in late 1966, half a year later, the manufacture of the coupé was added.
The production process was cumbersome. AC presented in Thames Ditton ( UK ) first prepared rollable chassis. They were then shipped by rail to Pietro Frua in Turin, where the body was prepared and connected to the chassis. The vehicles were then dressed turned back. AC took over the "Finish", ie, the installation of the interior and the paint job. The production process was time consuming and responsible to a great extent for the high price of the AC 428.
The AC 428 was offered until the summer of 1973 as a new car. During this period 29 and 49 Convertible Coupes; In addition, three more vehicles have been created whose shape is unknown. The original price for a coupe was 1968 4,050 British pounds, the convertible was £ 200 more expensive. Priced corresponded to the AC 428 so that the Aston Martin V8 I, at the end of its production period exceeding its price, it is significant.
The production of AC 428 ended in the summer 1973. Reasons for this were many. On one hand, the AC was very expensive; On the other hand, the market for large and fast sports car broke in the face of looming oil crisis increasingly closer together, so that competitors such as Aston Martin and Jensen had a hard time to survive. In addition, there were difficulties with Ford, as the contract for the purchase of engines limited to the end of this year, and Ford was not interested in an extension. Finally, various strikes were the production of the bodies repeatedly hindered in Italy and led to repeated delays in the delivery, which was not conducive to the image of the car and the brand.
After 1973 there were at AC initially no direct successor to the 428, the next new model, the AC 3000ME, was only in 1979 series, but spoke with mid-engine design, 3.0 Ford V6 engine and a slightly lower price another group of buyers to. Conceptually similar was the AC Ace ( Brooklands ), a two-seat convertible, the AC Cars Group Ltd.. built under the direction of South African Alan Lubinsky after leaving the owner family Hurlock in a small series of about 59 vehicles from 1996 to 1999 with American Ford technology.
Most AC 428 still exist today; Only the whereabouts of five and six Convertibles Coupes can no longer be resolved.
Special models
AC 428 II
In the spring of 1973 Pietro Frua designed a revised AC 428 Convertible, which was given by Charles and Derek Hurlock in order and may have been intended as a successor to the previous model. The convertible differed from the version produced so far mainly by a redesigned front end. She pointed instead of round headlights standing on a sloping line, were housed in the pop-up headlights. The front bumper was now in one piece, and blink and parking lights were located above the bumper. Other changes are not evident from the few known photographs. Series production of the vehicle did not materialize; the family Hurlock still introduced during the development phase of the modified model, a production of 428. The 428 II Convertible single piece was not completed until some ten years later and received a red finish. There is still privately owned.
AC 429
Another special model is the AC 429, it is - unlike the AC 428 - a four-seat coupe. In this model, it is not strictly speaking an AC and a technical relationship to the AC 428 initially was not. Rather, it was technically a Monteverdi, which was introduced under the name AC 1969.
The starting point for the development of this unique was a dispute between Peter Monteverdi and Pietro Frua, who designed since 1967 bodies for the Swiss automobile manufacturer and produced. In addition to the mass-produced two-seater Monteverdi 375 / S High Speed Frua presented on behalf of Monteverdi's 1968 first as a single piece of a long 2 2- seater coupe with hatchback body forth, the 375 / L High Speed was named Monteverdi. The vehicle was picked up by the public, with some enthusiasm. While Pietro Frua began shortly thereafter with the production of a second 375 / L, occurred in regard to outstanding payment of royalties to the dispute with Peter Monteverdi and ultimately to the dissolution of the business relationship. While Monteverdi, the Carrozzeria Fissore turned, Frua was left with the second, not entirely completed 2 2 chassis in-house. A year later, the AC - owner Charles and Derek Hurlock interested in this model and Frua contracted so to complete it and equip as AC. Frua installed some changes - including half covering pop-up headlights in the style of the Iso Lele - as well as some AC flag emblems. Further modifications did not exist.
Passed in place of the original drive unit from the house of Chrysler received the AC 429 that of the AC 428 In order to angedachte series production vehicle with AC in Thames Ditton was also gradually converted to chassis components of the AC 428, so that eventually no technical similarities more to Monteverdi.
The car was first approved on Derek Hurlock, but had a handmade unique piece shortcomings, so there were leaks around the windows and the body. A series production did not take place for reasons of cost. The single piece, but there is now privately owned and extensively restored for several years.
The AC 428 today
Prices are high, but are in some cases significantly below the amounts that are paid for Italian or British competitors. In addition, the AC does not begin to prices of a classic Cobra with comparable engine achieved. In May 2010, the 428 coupe was sold with the chassis number CF065 for the price of € 100,800.
Known driver of AC 428
The AC 428 was an elite vehicle that some members of the - spoke to prominence - especially British. These were:
- Luigi Colani
- Keith Moon, drummer of the band The Who
- Rob Walker, the owner of British motorsport racing team
Trivia
A red 428 Convertible was used in the sixth season of the British television series The Avengers and melon in a total of eight episodes as a company car in the agent John Steed (Patrick Macnee ) and Tara King ( Linda Thorson ). The vehicle used were made to the 1965 prototype.
Competitors
- Aston Martin V8 I
- Bristol 410 and 411
- Jensen Interceptor
- Lamborghini 400 GT
- Maserati Mistral
- Monteverdi High Speed 375