How The AC Cobra Was Born

How The AC Cobra Was Born

AC is the oldest British car manufacturer with continuous production of cars since 1901. When car enthusiasts hear the name AC Sports cars, the first thing that might come to mind is amazing speed, performance and stylish bodies – the AC Shelby Cobra. But you may be surprised to learn that prior to 1970, many cars built by AC were anything but sexy speed demons.

In 1904 the founder, John Weller, named the business Autocar & Accessories Limited and started production of a small delivery vehicle called the Autocarrier. It was a 3 wheeled vehicle with a 5.6 hp air cooled, single cylinder engine and became very successful as a delivery van for commercial businesses. The Autocarrier was a common sight on the streets of London; almost a “must have” if you wanted your business be seen as fashionable. The company eventually changed its name to Autocarriers Limited and used the abbreviation, AC.

Like all car manufacturers, AC saw its ups and downs due to WWI, WW2 and the stock market crash of 1929. But they still managed some great success stories with their light weight, four wheel vehicles like the AC Ace and Aceca. Surprisingly, the cars they produced in bigger numbers from 1953 to the early 1970’s were their three wheeled vehicles, the "Invalid Carriage" for the Ministry of Health.

It wasn’t until 1961, when Carroll Shelby entered into negotiations with AC Cars with the backing of The Ford Motor Company, that big changes started happening with AC’s four wheeled models. It was the proposed installation of a large Ford V8 engine in the current lightweight AC Ace that resulted in the AC Cobra; arguably one of the fastest and most brutal sports cars ever produced.