Private Sales
With many years’ experience in conducting private sales of special cars, our team will work with you to sell your car using the most appropriate and effective on- and offline channels available.
Whether you prefer a discreet, off-market approach, or demand maximum global reach, we will devise a suitable sales and marketing strategy to ensure a successful sale.
For buyers, we work with clients and partners across the UK, Europe and Rest of World who can help locate that rare off-market car. We talk to our contacts on a regular basis, so if you are seeking something in particular there is a very good chance we will be able to find it.
Contact the team for an initial conversation at enquires@drmotoring.com
1958 aC ACE bristol
BEX406, an Bristol-engined Ace, rolled off the production line bound for the dealer British Columbia Sportcars in Canada, arriving in early February of 1958. Originally finished in Svecia Red with a black leather interior, the Ace was used on the road for a number of years before in the late 1980s being acquired by RM Classic Car Investments Inc. of Chatham, Ontario (later to be incorporated into RM Auctions). The Ace later returned to the UK in 1990 via legendary dealer and AC specialist Brian Classic. Originally LHD when exported, the Ace was converted to RHD specification, shortly after being purchased by a Mr C. Cadogan-Rawlinson of Suffolk, an AC Owner's Club member. At around this time the engine was rebuilt by specialist TT Workshops of Wiltshire, with a reground and nitrided crankshaft, also new fresh liners, pistons, valves, timing chain, oil pump and camshaft bearings.
Mr. Cadogan-Rawlinson kept the Ace for a further 18 years before ownership passed in 2009 to a Mr. O'Connell. At which point we understand BEX406’s engine, clutch and gearbox were rebuilt again, this time by respected engine specialist Nick Finburg, primarily to compete in the 2010 Spa 6 hours, Dijon-Prenois and Sir Stirling Moss Trophy for pre-1961 sportscars at the Silverstone Classic. In 2013, the car was purchased by its previous owner, being enjoyed on road rallies and at the 60th anniversary ACOC race at Silverstone in 2014.
Around 10 years ago the Ace was treated to mechanical overhaul, which included work to the suspension, rear axle, brakes, and steering. To improve fueling, a high-performance pump, regulator and filter were fitted. Cooling was improved with a thicker aluminium radiator and Kenlowe fan, meanwhile at the time a competition tuned electronic ignition system, new starter motor and alternator were installed. Now finished in silver, the Ace usefully comes with a removable hard top.
Understood to be a very original car, the Ace is fitted still with its original 'D' series engine, original gearbox with overdrive, also original body stampings to be found on the bonnet and boot. Eligible for a number of historic racing, rallying and hillclimb events in the calendar, the Ace is equally happy on the track or blasting around fast A- and B-roads. BEX406 is offered with a history file, registered on a UK V5c and comes with a newly issued UK MoT certificate to August 2026.
For more information call the team on (01903) 495090 or email enquiries@drmotoring.com
1961 AC Aceca BRISTOL
This matching numbers Aceca Bristol was acquired in May of 1961 directly from AC Cars Ltd. by Patrick Eggar from South West England. The third from last RHD Bristol-engined Acecas, BE817 was ordered from the AC stand at the 1960 British Motor Show for Mr. Eggar’s wife Angela, to be finished in Guardsman metallic blue with black leather upholstery. The Eggar’s appear to have kept the car for some 18 years before passing to its second local owner in late 1979 at 35,000 miles. A year later the Aceca was sold to a new keeper in London, then in 1981 the car went to Scotland and to the ownership of a Reggie McSpadden, who traded the car two years later with an Isaac Agnew of Darlington. Four years later the AC was sold by Paul Michaels of Hexagon in London to a Michael Peckitt of Cheltenham. Mr. Peckitt undertook a number of jobs on the car over a 7 year period, then after 6,000 or so miles of enjoyable driving sold the Aceca to Graham Brice of Maidstone in Kent. There are two further owners recorded before BE817 joined our current owner’s collection in 2007.
Other than routine maintenance (including chassis/steering lubrication every 500 miles), all recent major servicing work since 2008 has been undertaken by leading UK specialist Spencer Lane-Jones of Warminster. In current ownership the Aceca has benefitted from a rebuilt engine to fast-road specification. The work was entrusted to Stanton Motorsport with the brief to improve power and torque. The crankshaft was balanced and nitrided, then built up with new Cosworth pistons and rings, a high torque cam, ceramic coated cam followers, pushrods, valves and guides, vernier cam wheel, oil cooler, and uprated clutch. A future keeper is advised that new and stronger pushrods are now fitted, they have a different co-efficient of expansion than the standard Bristol pushrod and the tappet clearance (on a cold engine) is now to be set at 0.005 inches rather than 0.001 specified in the Owners Manual.
Once reassembled, the engine was dyno tested for 8 hours, now showing a peak power of 154 bhp at 5,700 rpm, with 144 lbs of torque at 4,500 rpm (a healthy improvement over a standard 125 bhp 100D2 motor). The engine is now lubricated by Castrol Edge 10/60, with 20/50 multi-grade for the gearbox/overdrive unit. Other sensible modifications include replacement uprated lights, the fitting of an overdrive unit, and an Aldon electronic ignition system.
An original and well sorted matching numbers example, this well prepared Aceca is ready to be enjoyed for long distance touring or light competition work.
For more information call the team on (01903) 495090 or email enquiries@drmotoring.com