1969 AC 428 Fastback Coupe (by Frua)
Italian coachwork wrapped around American muscle power defined this ambitious grand touring car from AC Cars. Pietro Frua’s elegant fastback design clothed an extended Cobra 427 chassis, creating a sophisticated alternative to the raw sports car that established AC’s reputation.
The sleek steel bodywork bore resemblance to Frua’s Maserati Mistral, featuring flowing lines that emphasized luxury credentials.
Under the hood sat Ford’s 428-cubic-inch FE big-block V8, producing around 345 horsepower, most often paired with an automatic transmission, though a few were fitted with manuals. Despite weighing about 3,120 pounds (1,415 kg), the 428 delivered impressive performance with 0-60 mph times in the low six-second range and top speeds exceeding 140 mph.
The complex manufacturing process involved shipping chassis to Turin for body installation, then back to England for final assembly. This expensive procedure, combined with a price higher than the contemporary Aston Martin DB6, limited production to just 81 cars between 1965 and 1973. Only 51 fastback coupes were built, making survivors exceptionally rare.
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