The Ultra Rare British Beast You Never Heard Of!
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- Опубликовано: 18 янв 2025
- The Ultra Rare British Beast You Never Heard Of!
Journey back to the 1970s and discover the fascinating story of the AC 3000ME, a unique British sports car that represented AC Cars' ambitious attempt to modernize their lineup. While AC Cars was famous for the legendary Cobra, this documentary explores their lesser-known venture into mid-engine sports car territory.
Starting with two talented engineers, Peter Bohanna and Robin Stables, we trace the car's evolution from the Diablo prototype to its final production form. Learn how these former Lola Cars employees created a design that caught AC's attention, leading to a development process that would span nearly a decade. The story involves interesting characters like young aristocrat Piers Weld-Forester, AC owner Derek Hurlock, and Ford's Essex V6 engine replacing the originally planned BMC power plant.
We explore the technical details that made the 3000ME unique, from its steel perimeter frame and glass-reinforced plastic body to its sophisticated suspension system and custom-built transmission. The documentary covers the challenges faced during development, including the crucial crash test failure that sent engineers back to the drawing board. You'll learn about the car's specifications, performance figures, and how it compared to competitors like the Lotus Esprit and Mazda RX-7.
The story takes unexpected turns as we discover the various attempts to enhance and reinvent the 3000ME. From Robin Rews' turbocharger conversions to AC Scotland's brief production run and plans for an Alfa Romeo-powered version, each chapter adds depth to this compelling automotive tale. We also explore fascinating offshoots like the sleek AC Ghia concept, the futuristic Lincoln Quicksilver, and the unrealized Shelby ME 2.2 Turbo project that could have brought the car to America.
Through period photographs, technical drawings, and detailed explanations, we piece together why this ambitious project that began with such promise in 1972 ended after producing just 106 cars. Despite its commercial challenges, the AC 3000ME represents an important piece of British automotive history, showcasing the creativity and determination of a small manufacturer during a transformative period in car design.
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Selection of stock footage is hilarious! "In 1968 . . ." (street scene from about 1920 is shown)
I know.....what the heck is that about!?
Hilarious. Cheers
Miss matching picturies and text calls into question the authenticity, accuracy, integrity of all the informationt. 10:12 @stoolpigeon4285
Lived in Hampton and used to cycle past ac every time on our way to box hill, used to see all the body shells lined up against the fence, loved AC since those happy days of the 70s when life seemed a lot better
As soon as I saw the thumbnail, I was transported back it time to my youth when the object of my desire was an AC 3000ME in red. I had to make do with a BMC MG 1100 instead...
I have car 118.
I built the last 28 rolling chassis.
Lucky people….. my neighbour has an Aceca….
I have a Triumph, a
BMW & a Honda
- 2 wheels - not 4 😂 and
If it's got tires or tits, it's going to be a problem at some point.
I have car 186
Saw one of these at the South Mimms services on the M25. Had a chat with the owner. Fabulous thing (the car, not the owner). What the video can't get across is how tiny these were compared to modern bulky 2-seaters. Great video.
Something about the Lincoln Quicksilver styling shouts Citroen to me.
What have pictures of VW Beetle production lines or Morris Minor lines have to do with this car?
It was in the Observers book of Automobiles 1972. Impressive spec and undoubtedly beautiful design.
Very informative. Thank you.
Years ago, I always purchased the latest Observer's Book of Automobiles in the UK. My favourite car from the 1972 edition was the AC 3000ME, which I recognised immediately.
Me too 👍🏻
Good content, especially given the utter irrelevance of many of the selected visuals.
I saw the prototype in AC Cars at Brooklands, walked through the door and had a chat with the engineer who was working on it, had a long chat before he realized I was a travelling flooring salesman, he was suprised but regognised a fellow petrol head .
"The Plank" instantly came to mind! Various scenarios going through my mind!
Wow this cars awesome I love it!
wow ! thank 10/10 😀
Very interesting, but the choice of images and video clips is VERY random!
Beautiful from every angle amazing that they used a 2.2 Land Rover engine and then a maxi engine when there was a Rover V8 aluminium engine available from the same factory Ford V6 cast iron weighs tons
Having worked on several AC's over the years I can tell you that the engine bay in a 3000 is tight, even with the relatively short and narrow 60° V of the Essex engine, the 90° RV8 is a much bigger engine dimensionally. Incidentally my track car,a MK3 Capri has in place of the original Essex V6, a BV HC RV8,and even in the capris capacious engine bay once you start fitting decent flowing exhaust manifolds,intake pipework,airboxes,coolers,radiators etc. it starts to get tight, to the point that the O/S exhaust manifold has a seperate bolt in runner on cylinder six to allow the column to run through it😊 plus a cast iron Essex V6 would have been considerably cheaper than the aluminium RV8,which would also require a much better cooling system.
Not only that I knew the AC me 3000 but also worked with Robin Stables in a fibreglass company in the mid eighties
6:20 Well, that license plate is legit. The car is from 1981 with 137hp and imported to The Netherlands in 2006. It drove there until 2022 and then it was exported.
They had space initially for a BMC transverse straight six... Which eventually, on the more than twice as heavy princess barge, was no slouch...
Ac 3000,me what do you mean we never heard of them?
We don't all live under rocks
Fascinating video. Such an interesting history.
I remember this car, a guy near me used to own a yellow one back in the early 1980's a replacement for his Bond Bug.
I'm gunna convert my Fiero into one!
For all of the eventual failures of these British marques, the names involved often went on to great success within the industry...
The Ford 3.0 Litre was a fine engine choice. With it, and the rather attractive body and layout of mid-engine. This is looking good so far.
Ford Essex V6 = boat anchor.
Interesting. I hope to see one in person some day. Thank you.
Great video , totally new to me , but what a great looking car.
I think a lot of car enthusiasts will have heard of it. Have seen a few at shows but hardly ever nowadays.
Ah … but car enthusiasts would well know the AC range of cars… always loved the ME 3000 but never saw one on the road
I have heard of it.
5:51
"By the early 1980s" (shows footage from about the 1940s)
5:55
"and the global economic situation was challenging" (shows images of VW Beetles from the 1950s or earlier)
I think you will find that was a Morris 1000, you can see the Morris badge on the bonnet.
One of these with a k motor swap would be fun.
Somehow, I was thinking, "I didn't know Bricklins were British!" ;-)
I saw a red one parked next to me in Birmingham Poly car park, back in the late 80s.
Similar to a Clan Crusader 😊
Debut price £3 - 4000 in 1973. I saw a red Daytona about that time, in a London garage, £4500. It's a tough one.
If you want a car very few have ever heard of try an Argyle, an early eighties mid engined two seater, the fibreglass bodyshell was made at Solway Marine in Dumfries, not many made unfortunately.
05:49 I didn't realize how primative cars looked in the 1080s. Those women must have been in a sub culture I"be never heard of, like a 1930 revival!
9:15 That is an interesting transmission, with the differential bolted directly to the rear of the gearbox. Is it proprietary components or specially made? It looks just the ticket if you want to mount the transmission at the rear with a front engine.
Really nice design, more coherent and sensible than the triumph and better looking than the fiat.
Had a 1982 car in red. Lots of design issues especially the A.C made gearbox. Underpowered
and heavy but the body is very stylish.
Didn't the AC gearbox for the ME 3000 feature BL Maxi internals ?
@terryjacob8169 The lnternals were Hewland gears.Supply was a problem as was the gearbox. Hewland made a batch to cater for these cars and a specialist garage in Hampshire were experts in rebuilds.
Saw a red one on the road not so long ago, i new what it was but none of the other guys i was with did.
A good job they ditched the Austin Maxi engine and gearbox i think.
Very interesting story,but dome strange choices of illustrations at times
The Essex engine in my opinion was far too heavy for the power output. Shame the Alfa V6 didnt work out so well.
The AL lets it down
7:34 Peter Stevens is the man! 7:40 IT'S URBOCHARGED!
I saw one once, I'd love to have one, but that'll never happen.
OMG! A Pontiac Fiero! LOL! Cool cars. There have been many limited production and experimental models that are interesting and legendary. It's a fun area of car history to look into. Of course, you can just pick up a Fiero and drop a V8 in it and go have insane fun. Back in the 80's I put a 911 engine in a 914. Insane fun.
....i had friends who did all sorts of those kinds of motor swaps......one guy did a 911 motor/trans into a late Karmann Ghia that was shockingly good....another guy put a 4 71 supercharger on an Citation X11. it looked funny with the blower sitting sideways out of the hood. had a HUGE blind spot for the driver and he got pulled for THAT and his antics....it didnt last long.
Bob and Karl are the wrong way around.
I had a true love for the AC ME 2.2 - I had a 1986 Omni GLH Turbo - and to have had that 150HP 2.2 (or more) in a mid engine car was a true dream. Seeing the pix of that car in SantaFe Blue and Silver was just amazing.
Ive heard of it. Nearly bought one many moons ago, but I was too slow off the mark.
Similar to the Saab Sonnet.
I’ve heard of it
Looks very similar to a tr7 if you squint
If I have never heard of it, how come I have 2 very rare, 1/43rd models of it. Don't judge everyone by your own ignorance. What models, of cars, do I have that YOU have never heard of?
what's a k motor
The Honda K series of engines are a high revving DOHC motors.
@Jamiecbailey who is find 4 cylinder supercars a bit boring they don't make the right noise maybe the Stratos did was the right decision to use twin cam Italian 6 cylinder engines but too late
A lot of text-to-speech errors/unusual pronunciation
Really think a real person might be better(?)
But otherwise interesting video
I'd heard of it...?
Dead wrong; they were manufactured about 10 miles from where I live!
a beast ?
Ford engine with 138 horsepower (turbo 200). Just a nice sportscar, not a beast.
Fiat x 1/9 Toyota MR 2...
Lost interest at "three point zero litre".
AC Ghia and Lincoln Quicksilver are horrible looking cars ! Just my opinion! dx
Thought the Quicksilver looked very Citroën, interesting motor, but very Citroën,
Looks Italian
Never heard of, again? B/S. What a presumptuous thing to say. 🤦
Welcome to the internet
Fiat x1/9