One out of only 49 AC 428 sports cars made will cross the auction block in Switzerland on July 3, 2022.
UK-based automaker AC designed the original coupe to compete against the Aston Martin DB6. The grand tourer cost more than its rival did. This example sports a coachbuilt body from Italy and has put less than 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) on the odo since 1971. Despite the rarity and great condition, the seller believes the selling price will be rather modest at 70,000 – 100,000 CHF ($72,000 - $102,000 USD).
The model was based on the third-generation Cobra chassis stretched by a further 150 mm (6 inches) to give it an upmarket feel. AC believed a deluxe car like that would attract new audiences. The first examples came to the market under the name ‘AC Frua’, because Italian coachbuilder Pietro Frua handled the bodywork.
A later edition came out under the name ‘AC 428’, referencing the engine displacement in cubic inches. The company decided to outfit these cars with a 7.0-liter Ford V8 capable of 350 PS (345 hp / 257 kW). Buyers could choose between manual and three-speed automatic transmission.
Poorly organized manufacturing processes put a cap on the total production volume. The automaker had to produce chasses in the UK, send them over to Turin, Italy for a body fitment, and ship them all the way back again to install the engine.