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AC 3000 ME - The gentle successor to the Cobra

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Created on May 1, 1985

Reading time 6min

Written by:

Volker C. Manz (neu redigiert durch Bruno von Rotz)

Photos:

Archiv

9

Archiv

9

AC 3000 ME (1980) - Silhouette des Mittelmotorsportwagens

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AC 3000 ME (1980) - aufgenommen ungefähr im Jahre 1984

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AC 3000 ME (1980) - Interieur der rechtsgelenkten Version

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AC 3000 ME (1976) - der Mittelmotorsportwagen im Jahre 1976

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AC 3000 ME (1976) - eine frühe Version des Cobra-Nachfolgers

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AC 3000 ME (1978) - klassische Mittelmotor-Coupé-Form der späten Siebzigerjahre

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AC 3000 ME (1978) - ein Testwagen im Jahre 1978

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AC 3000 ME (1980) - auch ein Schiebedach war erhältlich, nicht aber eine Targa-Ausführung

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AC 3000 ME (1980) - in der zugehörigen Presseerklärung wurde dem Fahrzeug eine Spitze von 301 kmh und ein Kraftstoffverbrauch von nur 10,8 Liter pro 100 km angedichtet

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Summary

Even today, 50 years after its creation, the AC Cobra is still extremely popular, as evidenced by numerous replicas from all kinds of countries. The Cobra has hardly lost any of its aggressiveness and appeal. However, AC also built its own successor, the AC 3000 ME. With its mid-engine and compact two-seater design, this AC of the early eighties was in line with the tastes of the time. This report goes into the history of the 3000 ME and shows rare pictures and original brochures

This article contains the following chapters

Difficult birth
British Leyland does not want to
Arrival in America
Individual and personal service
At the steering wheel of the 3000 ME (impressions from 1984)
The end came quickly

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Even today, 50 years after its creation, the AC Cobra is still extremely popular, as evidenced by numerous replicas from all kinds of countries. The Cobra has hardly lost any of its aggressiveness and appeal. But hardly anyone mentions the fact that the AC company presented a modern successor at the end of the seventies and built it well into the eighties. Demand was still rising in 1984 and production was relocated to Scotland on April 5, 1984. The choice of location came at just the right time for the Scots, because after the closure of the Talbot plant in Linwood, qualified personnel were on the streets. AC Scotland was unable to take on many people, but the small plant employed 24 people (other sources cite 18), who were expected to build around 180 ACs in 1985. With 64 employees, as many as 400 vehicles would have been possible.

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