After last weekend’s coronation, it’s rather fitting that we should enjoy a nostalgic rewind back to the year of the previous one in this issue – 1953. But while the fully televised coronation of Elizabeth II was the big news, it was also something of a vintage year for new cars. All manner of temptations were ready to part buyers from their cash, particularly for those after a British sports car, although more family-oriented motorists were catered for, too. Now, 70 years later, the options are just as tempting, so join us as we look back at the greatest hits. Which one would you choose?
AC ACE
AC itself dates back to the beginning of the 1900s but what interests us here is the car that would ultimately give rise to the legendary Cobra. Pretty two-seater bodywork clothed a tubular chassis, and when the Ace arrived in 1953, power was provided by a 2.0-litre straight-six making 100bhp.
That fairly modest output was boosted for 1956 when a Bristol-sourced engine with triple carburettors was installed, the resulting 120bhp making this a sports car that was good for almost 120mph. The disc brakes that arrived the following year were a notable improvement. But the highlight for many enthusiasts was the appearance in 1961 of the Ruddspeed version that featured a larger 2.6-litre straight-six running on triple SUs. Depending
