CF 41. Fastback. Automatic. Reg. No. WNV 964 H Status: Active 2010. UK Ex. Haynes Motor Museum, Dorset, UK. _____________________________________
Coys Auction Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire. 23rd May 2010 Lot 138
"The AC 428 made its debut at the London Motor Show in 1965. Derived from its cousin the Cobra, it shared a similarly excellent chassis and unbeatable 7-litre Ford V8 engine, the latter endowing it with quite formidable performance. Coachwork was in the Grand Touring style, courtesy of Frua in Italy, and was offered in coupe or convertible form. The 428 aimed, of course, to steal customers from Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martin. Had it not been so costly it may well have done so, for in terms of speed and comfort it certainly outshone its rivals. Unfortunately its price put it in the same bracket as these thoroughbreds, and since the AC badge did not hold the same prestigious mystique, sales were very slow in coming. Eventually, after a mere 58 coupes and 28 convertibles had been sold, this highly exclusive model bowed out of production under the onslaught of the oil crisis.
John McLellan said in his book 'Classic ACs, Auto Carrier to Cobra', 'I like the 428 because it fits my image of a true GT Car'. He also quoted the magazine Autocar which said the following about the AC 428: 'Like anything exclusive, especially from craftsmen, it costs a lot of money. For this you get one of the fastest cars on the road, guaranteed to make an impression anywhere, and backed by a small company that cares. This AC joins that select company of very fast, very luxurious touring automobiles which moved effortlessly from current model to collector's piece'.
Unexpectedly, they are extremely reliable and maintenance is easy and relatively inexpensive compared to other exotics of the period partially because of the Ford power train and also the AC Cobra suspension and chassis. A few of the coupes have been destroyed in the past and converted back into Cobra replicas but as the Frua’s pricing has been rising steadily in recent years, this practice has all but stopped.
This quite superb example was purchased by its current owner in 2001 from the curator of the Haynes Motor Museum. The car was then mechanically overhauled by well regarded specialists Robert Thredder Engineering as it had remained unused during its residency at the Haynes Museum. Having been dry-stored and only used sparingly since, the vendor describes CF 41 as in good condition. Furthermore, the vehicle is currently undergoing a service at Robert Thredder Engineering and will be supplied with a new MoT test certificate. With recent 428 prices increasing rapidly, this example represents excellent value for money in a climate that sees very few coming onto the open market."
