It’s not often you see a carmaker today who’s been in business for more than a century. I can think of a couple right at the top of my head; Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, and Peugeot. But, if you’re familiar with the British auto industry, one name stands out as Britain’s oldest active car manufacturer – AC Cars. Not many know them, since they’re more of a niche brand.
But, it’d be a disservice not to celebrate the recent 123rd birthday since AC Cars was founded back in 1901. A creator of some of the finest sports cars history has seen, they currently make the AC Cobra GT, both in Roadster and Coupe form. You could think of it as a continuation of sorts to the old Shelby Cobra from the 1960s, intertwined with a bit of 21st-century tech.
What Used To Be Old Is New Again
It’s an exciting time to be alive, as AC Cars have recently started production of the Roadster at their new 100,000sq-ft facility located on the UK’s south coast, and deliveries are expected to be sometime later this year for the first few examples. On top of that, the Roadster will soon be joined by a Coupe model, as AC Cars expands its historic Donington Park headquarters.
There’s a lot of engineering and R&D in these revived classic sports cars, too. Whether you’re looking at the Roadster or the Coupe, the AC Cobra GT features a pretty unique and bespoke aluminium chassis, alongside a throaty 5.0-litre V8 engine. Lightweight and supremely rigid, but still retaining the classical design of the old AC Shelby Cobra, it’s certainly appealing.
Modern-Day Tech In A Classical Shell
Another cool feature of the new powertrains is their modularity. You can get it as a naturally aspirated motor, or opt for a supercharged variant. Either way, you’re looking at 454bhp and 420lb-ft of torque, or 654bhp and 575lb-ft with that aforementioned supercharger; the latter should be able to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds. There are even two gearboxes.
If you’re old-school, a 6-speed manual is available, but if you’re looking for an easy-going GT car, AC Cars offers a 10-speed automatic option, with paddle shifters! While it might look like an old car from the outside, it uses modern sensors and electronics underneath the bodywork for a more reliable experience. It’s just a shame that AC Cars is only making 250 examples.
