Willson's Smart Buy

Quentin on why an AC, a Mercedes, a Lamborghini and, yes, a BL-built Jaguar should all be on the canny buyer’s radar.

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‘When you look at the prices of Cobras and Aces the AC 428 still seems out of step with the market.’ 

I’ve tipped the 428 as a stellar investment before and time has proved me absolutely bang-on. Back in 2012 Bonhams knocked down a mint red 1969 coupé with 35k miles for £77k yet Hexagon Classics has recently sold a restored ’71 in silver for close to £300k. That’s a solid jump in four years but AC built only 80 428s – 51 coupés and 29 convertibles – so they’re actually more exclusive than a factory-built Ferrari Daytona Spider. Beautifully styled by Pietro Frua and good for 145mph with 60mph in less than six seconds, it deserves to be recognised as the sexiest Anglo-American hybrid of them all. Keith Moon owned one along with Rob Walker; and the first prototype, a rare alloy-bodied convertible, starred in early Avengers TV episodes.