1980 AC 3000ME Turbo Coupé
Registration no. PPR 735W
Chassis no. ME301R/90000128
Engine no. S33

Although first mooted in 1974, AC's mid-engined (ME) coupé did not appear until 1979. Seeking to produce a smaller, more affordable model, AC boss Derek Hurlock had bought the rights to the Diablo, a mid-engined GT coupé designed by Robin Stables and Peter Bohanna, which had been displayed at the 1973 Olympia Racing Car Show. By '79, the prototype's Austin Maxi engine/transmission had given way to a 3.0-litre Ford V6, which was mounted transversely amidships and drove via a chain-driven five-speed synchromesh gearbox of AC's own design. Some 70-or-so examples of the pretty two-seater 3000ME were constructed at AC's Thames Ditton works before manufacturing rights passed in 1984 to AC (Scotland) Limited, the latter building another 30 cars.

Originally registered as 'FCA 200', this rare post-war AC was delivered new to one David Hescroff in April 1981 and is offered for sale by its second owner. The accompanying service booklet shows that the AC had covered a little over 25,000 miles by the end of 1981 and been serviced on no fewer than five occasions (the current odometer reading is 47,935 miles).

'PPR 735' has been fitted with one of the turbocharger conversions developed by Silverstone-based Robin Rew's Rooster Turbos, a firm that also successfully eliminated many of the production version's recognised shortcomings in other areas. In standard trim the Ford Essex V6 produced a maximum of 138bhp, which the turbocharger boosts to 200 horsepower. Sports Car Monthly magazine tested a Rew-turbocharged 3000ME back in the 1980s: "A short burst of acceleration through a couple of sweeping curves showed us that this car had finally learned some manners. It behaves just like a low, mid-engined sports car should.

"The turbo installation is excellent. There is no appreciable throttle lag... and plenty of torque low down, with a steady surge of power to the upper rev limits..."

It was also stated that at that time Rew had turbocharged around 30 cars, while in its October 1987 edition Classic & Sports Car reckoned that over half the entire production run of 3000MEs had been so converted.

The car is offered with a handbook; manufacturer's brochure; magazine articles; some expired MoTs; and a V5C Registration Certificate. It should be noted that there is an issue with the chain drive to the gearbox, although this may have been rectified by time of sale (refer department).