LINKS
(Suppliers and Services)
for AC 2 Litre owners
These businesses are located in the U.K. unless otherwise stated.
Aaron Radiator - vintage/classic radiators reconditioned and/or upgraded. Based in London, they have a collection service for UK customers.
AC Engine Project - An engine specialist for the 2 Litre AC engine. Including uprated and strengthened parts (even new blocks) for those wishing to get more power from Weller's old masterpiece.
The Automobile Trimmings Company
Autosparks - New wiring looms with authentic cotton-braid. They show options for 2 versions of the AC's harness, but ACs actually had several versions. You might need to get them to make a harness to order.
Bilt Hamber - for polishing, cleaning and painting. Includes epoxy-mastic paint, which is the best protective paint I have use for steel.
Classic Car Services - upholstery repairs and restoration. Based in Leicester, UK.
Classic Dynamo & Regulator Conversions. Not only electronic upgrades for the battery charging system, but an impressive selection of LED light conversions for old classics. Including a self-flashing LED for Trafficators - and bright too, unlike the old 3 watt "glow-worm", as I used to call them! Also an amber flasher/sidelight combined LED, thus avoiding the need to add external flashers.
Coker Tire (USA) - they have radials in vintage sizes/tread patterns including the Excelsior Stahl 550R17.
* John Craddock - Land Rover specialist. Some brake components (80 inch Landrover) are shared with the AC 2 Litre.
* E. H. Smith - for timber supplies in the east midlands of England (I purchased my birch plywood here).
Fire Safety Stick - an amazing compact fire extinguisher with no mess or maintenance. Known as "Element" in USA and Canada.
* Frost - among the tools and materials are flock kits and materials, although I would recommend also obtaining an electro-static flock applicator (not available from Frost). "Demerara" is a close match for AC's original brown flock trim.
* Gateros Plating - Includes replica chrome plating that is safer to apply than chrome-plating. I've tried their brush-plating kit on some brass fittings with good results. Their website is a mine of useful information.
Holden Vintage and Classic - Lucas spares and other parts.
JEL Bearings for casting new white-metal bearings.
Jetex Exhausts including Jetex catalytic converters for classic cars.
Jotun - paints for severe environments. Their Jotamastic range looks ideal as a primer for chassis, and steel brackets, inner wings, etc.
* LAS Aerospace Ltd. - for aluminium-alloy sheet (alloy 2024-T3 is one of the successors to Duralumin), albeit alclad (i.e. pure aluminium on the surface, unlike the AC's panelling). They also supply crack detection kits (handy for checking axles etc. during overhaul), plus thin BSF self-locking nuts as used on mechanical rear brakes. And plate nuts and floating plate nuts (to rivet to panels) with imperial threads.
Lincon Batteries. I'm often amazed at how many classics, including show cars, I see fitted with modern batteries. Period styles are available, although I've not found any with mounting flanges, as ACs (and other cars) had back in the 1940s/50s.
* Longstone Tyres
* Marine Store - a useful supplier of 'International' polyurethane paint for chassis, etc.
* Mesh Direct - for stainless wire mesh (may be a good alternative to the aluminium mesh used for the AC's stone/splash guards).
* Metal Polishing Supplies UK Ltd - metal polishing wheels, compounds, etc, ideal if you are plating parts yourself, as pre-plating prep.
* Namrick - Speedy and efficient supplier of bolts including BSF. Also thread inserts kits.
North Hants Tyres and Wheels - even includes 5.50 x 17 radial tyres.
* Paul Beck Vintage Supplies - Trim, brightwork, electrical components etc. Quite a few minor components for the AC including bonnet-hinge bracket, mechanical brake rubbers, budget locks.
Pilkington - windscreens for classic cars, including flat screen made to order from your template, for those ultra rare screens.
* PowerTrack Ltd. - Brake parts and repair kits.
Quickfit Safety Belt Service
Seals Direct - some of their seals may be a close match for the AC's window rubbers.
* Severn Valley Sailplanes - This is where I get my Prefere (formerly Aerodux) wood glue.
* Smith and Allan - for paints and lubricants.
* SML Marine Paints - stockist of Jotamastic epoxy mastic paints for protecting steel and 2 part polyurethanes which are my choice for hard wearing top coats.
SNG Barratt - Jaguar spares which may include ENV rear axle parts shared between early post-war Jaguars and the AC 2 Litre (although part numbers quoted are different). Possibly Moss gearbox parts too?
Sound Deadening Shop - not that our ACs require much extra sound deadening, but if you are retrimming the car, then this site gives some useful technical information as well as their range of products.
* Spalding Fasteners - includes stainless steel imperial screws, etc.
Stafford Vehicle Components - accessories and parts including flexible wiper racks.
Stainless Automotive Fastenings - Big range including left-hand threads.
Stainless Exhaust Specialist
* Stainless Parts - useful supply of BSW and BSF nuts and bolts in stainless steel.
* Stainless Steel Centre Ltd. - for stainless steel woodscrews, washers, etc.
Steering Wheel Restoration - marbled finish Bluemells Brooklands steering wheels available or to get yours restored.
* Stig's Stainless Fasteners - Efficient service for obtaining your stainless steel BSW, BSF and UNC bolts etc.
* S.U. Carburettor Company - formerly listed as "Burlen Fuel Systems", repair kits and parts supplied for the SU fuel pump and carburetters. I've used them successfully, although some minor parts differ from my originals.
* Tools-Paint (Avenue Group) - I got my olive green paint colour-matched here to perfection! Supplier of Tekaloid and HMG coach enamels and many other paints.
Vintage Motor Spares - Electric parts, light bulbs and other accessories.
* Vintage Screw Company
Vintage Tyre Supplies
Viper Performance - specialist hoses including fuel filler hoses.
Woolies Trim - trim materials and fittings.
* Wych Bearings Limited - imperial sizes of bearings and oil/shaft seals.
"Wooden-Bodied Vehicles" by Colin Peck (The Crowood Press - 2013). Buying, building, restoring and maintaining coachbuilt cars, woodies and other wood framed road vehicles. Very well researched and well written. It includes some small contributions from this webmaster (including photos of my AC).
"AC Two-litre Saloons and Buckland Sports cars" by Leo Archibald (Veloce Publishing - 2002). The first book devoted to the 2 Litre. It includes: In depth advice on tuning the engine; details of the story behind the Buckland Tourer; rare archive photos and stylist's artwork.
"How to Restore Wooden Body Framing" by Alan Alderwick (Osprey Publishing Ltd. - 1984). This concentrates more on small open sports cars, and how to build a new wood frame, but still has plenty of useful tips for restoring coachbuilt classics.
"The Classic ACs - Two Litre to Cobra" by John McLellan (Motor Racing Publications Ltd. - 1985). A detailed history of various models of AC, from the 2 Litre up to the 428.