With sharp lines that pair elegance with sporting purpose, this former factory demonstrator AC 16/80 was born for competition
WORDS MICK WALSH PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES MANN
It’s remarkable to think that British customers during the inter-war years would often take a newly purchased sports car straight from the showroom and enter it for a trial. There seemed to be no concerns about subjecting an expensive SS100, Frazer Nash or AC to some spirited green-lane motoring, never mind a rough section over a Cornish mine.
Other than Brooklands and Shelsley Walsh, there were few permanent motorsport venues in the UK at the time, so classic trials were by far the most active competitive events for wealthy enthusiasts. The challenges of Simms, Darracott or Beggar’s Roost were more talked about than The Fork or Railway Straight. As well as the rewarding road miles around the country, often through the night, huge local crowds turned out for the more dramatic special sections.
As a result, a distinctive English body style became almost universal, with a slab petrol tank plus twin spare wheels mounted behind the tub, and none were more elegant than AC’s short-chassis Competition Sports, better known as the 16/80. Although somewhat overshadowed by its more flamboyant, faster and cheaper rival from Coventry, the elegant 2-litre from Thames Ditton had a loyal clientele of discerning buyers looking for a less flashy machine. With styling input from Freddie March, the Duke of Richmond, the 16/80 cleverly utilised the best components from outside specialists around its trusted 2-litre straight-six. In spirit, it had parallels with the fabulous Brough Superior motorcycles and, unusually, both SS Cars and AC shared the same chassis, supplied by Rubery Owen. Marketed as ‘The Outstanding Cars of their Class’, just 42 16/80s were handbuilt in the workshops of AC Cars between 1935 and ’39, of which 28 were ‘slab-tank’ designs.
The second built was chassis L358 pictured here, now freshly restored. Finished in British Racing Green with matching leather, it had a colourful early life as the factory demonstrator. Rather than be a polished attraction at AC’s Park Lane showroom, the new car was immediately loaned to customer WE Kendrick to compete on The Motor Cycling Club’s Exeter Trial, staged just after the Christmas holidays. The green beauty drove through the night to the West Country on 27-28 December, where it stormed some of the toughest sections, including the legendary Simms Hill, to win a coveted Gold Medal on an impressive debut. The Hurlock brothers, who had acquired AC in 19
