2001 AC Cobra 212 S/C - One of Two Factory Cars

According to the original AC advert for this special car, AC Car Group Limited created the AC Cobra 212 S/C as the evolution of the legendary 427 S/C, which dominated the 1960s and has been continuously built to order. The 212 S/C was built on the legend of the 427's awesome performance by combining iconic styling with 21st century technologies and materials to meet targets set by ultimate sports roadsters.

Built to order by the factory in 2000, the 212 features the simply outstanding Type 918 3.5-litre, 350bhp twin-turbocharged Lotus V8 engine mated to a 6-speed Tremec gearbox, housed in a full carbon fibre body, the largest one-piece construction of its type in the motor industry at that time. This specification led AC to claim it to be the fastest accelerating production car to go from 0-100-0 ever produced. With its lightweight powerful engine in a full carbon fibre body, the whole car only weighs 900kg. The result was a power to weight ratio of 390bhp/tonne and a 0-60mph time of four seconds, with 100mph coming up in nine seconds and a top speed around 155mph. Power reached the ground via a 6-speed Tremec gearbox and BTR Hydratrack limited-slip differential. Other noteworthy features included power steering as standard and AP Racing dual-circuit servo-assisted disc brakes all round. With its title derived from its engine capacity in cubic inches and the S/C standing for Street/Competition, only two of these cars were ever produced, a red press car and a black, privately purchased one, this being the latter.

The red example, X577 HRD was the fairly well documented press car, being driven and featured by the likes of by Car, Evo, Octane and Top Gear magazines. It also made an appearance on the Top Gear television show and was driven by Jeremy Clarkson, Mark Blundell and Damon Hill along with a further appearance on Jeremy Clarkson's video, Top 100 Cars.

TAZ 212 was the only privately purchased example ever made and to this day has only had two owners, covering just 4,500 miles from new. Finished in the sinister colour combination of black on black, this Cobra looks as menacing as it sounds and stands above the crowd as being a genuine factory-built AC Cobra at a fraction of the price of a 1960s example. When new, TAZ 212 cost £70,000 and nearly didn’t make it out of the factory as AC was going bust at the time and there was a high risk the car wouldn’t make it off the production line, but thankfully it did and it remains in totally original condition today. It's has been fully maintained and looked after regardless of cost including a ceramic coating and recent detailing to prepare it for sale.

Although the car has never seen rain, it's accompanied by wet weather equipment, windows, the original tool set, Thor hammers and a tonneau cover. The car presents in exceptional condition throughout. The paintwork is all original and thin enough that the carbon weave can be seen through the paint across the whole bodywork. The interior is immaculate, having only seen dry sunny days on its meagre 4,500 miles and still has that new car feel.

Within the history file, as you would expect of a car of this significance, is a fully documented history and a plethora of invoices for work carried out over the years. Additionally there is an original AC Cobra instruction book with the caveat page stating 'A Handbook for the AC Cobra 212 S/C will be available soon' which, of course, it never was!

This is a truly special piece of AC and British automotive history, a Holy Grail for collectors as a genuine one of a kind. It ticks every imaginable box with rarity, provenance, performance and extremely high quality. We welcome and encourage interested parties to see the car in person at the NEC and if you can’t, you can thoroughly look forward to the moment you do.