STYLED FOR THE HILLS

With sharp lines that pair elegance with sporting purpose, this former factory demonstrator AC 16/80 was born for competition

- MICK WALSH

It's remarkable to think that British customers during the inter-war years would often take a newly purchased sports car straight from the showroom and enter it for a trial. There seemed to be no concerns about subjecting an expensive SS100, Frazer Nash or AC to some spirited green-lane motoring, never mind a rough section over a Cornish mine.

Other than Brooklands and Shelsley Walsh, there were few permanent motorsport venues in the UK at the time, so classic trials were by far the most active competitive events for wealthy enthusiasts. The challenges of Simms, Darracott or Beggar's Roost were more talked about than The Fork or Railway Straight. As well as the rewarding road miles around the country, often through the night, huge local crowds turned out for the more dramatic special sections.

As a result, a distinctive English body style became almost universal, with a slab petrol tank plus twin spare wheels mounted behind the tub, and none were more elegant than AC's short chassis Competition Sports, better known as the 16/80. Although somewhat overshadowed by its more flamboyant, faster and cheaper rival from Coventry, the elegant 2-litre from Thames Ditton had a loyal clientele of discerning buyers looking for a less flashy machine. With styling input from Freddie March, the Duke of Richmond, the 16/80 cleverly utilised the best components from outside specialists around its trusted 2-litre straight-six. In spirit, it had parallels with the fabulous Brough Superior motorcycles and, unusually, both SS Cars and AC shared the same chassis, supplied by Rubery Owen. Marketed as 'The Outstanding Cars of their Class', just 42 16/80s were hand-built in the workshops of AC Cars between 1935 and '39, of which 28 were 'slab-tank' designs.