by Mike Gulett
The AC 428 has a British chassis, an Italian body and an American V8 engine; so international. It is related to the AC Shelby Cobra, both with European style and American muscle similar to an Iso Grifo.
The one pictured here is up for auction on Bring a Trailer. I expect an AC 428 Frua will sell for less than an Iso Grifo GL and certainly much less that a Bizzarrini GT 5300. We will know in a few days.
This is one of the rare left-hand drive versions that was originally shipped to the US market. The BaT write up states that “approximately a dozen (were) built in left-hand drive”.
As Wallace Wyss wrote in an article here on My Car Quest,
But AC cars sort of liked the Cobra, with all its excess power. They had been selling the big block body style with the tamer 428 engine. When Shelby stopped ordering Cobras, they went to an Italian coach builder Pietro Frua and put in an order to design a body for the Cobra, and body some of their chassis. They chose to offer it in big block form. And to use wire wheels which looked more traditional sports car, though Shelby in the 427 Cobra had chosen to go with mags, having had a bad experience in the GT40 with snapping spokes in wire wheels.
Some say the car bears a strong resemblance to the Monteverdi and the Maserati Mistral. Ironically all three were bodied by Frua and all three share some body or trim parts.
Why do you think that the AC 428 Frua has not appreciated to the same level as the Iso Grifo GL?
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Photos compliments of Bring a Trailer.
Mike, these are such beautiful cars and as you pointed out, an American V8 hybrid along the lines of the Iso Grifo, or for that matter, a DeTomaso Mangusta or Pantera. The chassis were built by AC in Thames Ditton, shipped to Piero Frua to be clothed in his Italian coachwork, then shipped back to England on open trucks and then finished with installation of the drivetrains, and other mechanicals and trimmed in the finest leather and other bespoke materials. A 427/428 AC Cobra, stretched 6” and wearing a fine Italian suit. A grand touring car as compared to its Cobra brethren and most came with automatic transmissions. Also rare in left hand drive making this car more suitable for U.S. roads. I’ve always admired these AC 428’s and if I were to ever sell my AC Mk. IV Cobra (built on the same 6” stretched round tube chassis), this would be a neat car to own. I believe this previously sold in the past year+ in the $170,000 + range and it will be interesting to see the result of this auction.