The 100mph AC Light Car

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Involved in car-making since 1901, by 1904 John Weller was constructing the three-wheeled Autocarrier, which gave rise to AC Cars. By 1914, he had started developing sports cars and racing specials. The famous AC six-cylinder arrived in 1922, but took so long in development that a stopgap engine was needed. Using the 11.9hp, 1496cc Anzani sidevalve four, Weller effected his own improvements to the engine for the two racing cars he was building, converting it to an overhead camshaft so that it ultimately produced 55bhp.

Harry Hawker, of aviation fame, designed a skimpy body, hoping to make it the first light car to crack the ton. It was fast but devastatingly temperamental, suffering one violent breakage after another. However, it won the 1500cc scratch race at the1921 BARC Easter Meeting and Hawker managed 105mph over the flying half-mile.

With S F Edge on the board of directors, AC campaigned left, right and centre, and set 57 track records in 1921 alone. The surviving car is one of a handful further developed for the inaugural JCC 200 Miles race. It served as a development mule for works test driver John Joyce, who was briefed with making the engine more dependable. After much perseverance, it eventually set a flying mile record at 102.92mph and became the first light car to exceed 100 miles in 60 minutes, but that was only the beginning…

Reg Winstone unravels this unique survivor’s rich history in the December issue of The Automobile, on sale now.

Photographs by Stefan Marjoram

Update by owner: The engine is not a modified Anzani but a unique factory designed and built 16 valve - 4 cylinder racing engine

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