1967 AC 428 Frua Fastback
AC Cars built the AC 428 (AC Frua)
was produced from 1965 through 1973 with 81 examples produced. 49 were fastback
coupes, 29 were convertibles, and three were given special bodies. The cars
were built on an AC Cobra 427 Mark III chassis that was extended by 6 inches.
The chassis's were built by AC Cars and then sent to Italy where they received
their coachwork by Frua.
After that work was completed, they were sent back
to England where they were given their power train and trim. Power was from a
big-block Ford FE engine that gave the car a top speed of 141 mph and a
zero-to-sixty time of just 6.2 seconds. The transmissions were either a fully
synchronized 4-speed Ford Toploader close-ratio transmission or a three-speed
Ford C6 gearbox. Four-wheel 'Girling' 3-piston disc brakes with dual remote
servo assistance were fitted at all four corners.
The AC Frua was
designed by Pietro Frua, rather than Caroll Shelby, like most AC cars. The
'Frua' name was chosen accordingly and featured a huge seven-liter big block V8
from the current Ford Mustang. A British 'GT' car of the 1960s and early 1970s,
the Classic AC Frua was also known as the AC 428. Only eighty-one models were
ever built from 1965 through 1973, 49 of them fastback Coupe's, 29 Convertibles
and 3 special bodied.
The Italian bodied AC 428 was built on the classic
AC Cobra 427 Mark III race-bred coil spring chassis elongated by 6 inches. The
428's chassis were constructed at the AC plant in England before being shipped
to Frua's Italian workshop. The body was fitted before returning back to
England where the power train and trim were added. Unfortunately the cost
behind this was extensive and cars couldn't be sold at a competitive price. Due
to lack of financial means the AC Frua was never fully developed. One of the
biggest disadvantages of the Frua was the V8's tendency to bleed heat into the
cabin.
The
chassis construction featured square and rectangular tubing that connected the
steel body to the frame. The tubular chassis was 4-inches in length and made
both the coupe and convertible quite rigid. The intricate design was
unfortunately susceptible to rust. Both the hood and trunk lid was constructed
from aluminum. The transmissions were either a three-speed Ford C6 gearbox or a
fully synchronized 4-speed Ford Toploader close-ratio transmission. Fitted to
all four corners were four-wheel 'Girling' 3-piston disc brakes with dual
remote servo assistance.
The AC Frua was powered by the big-block Ford FE engine, which
featured larger capacity, more power and more torque when compared to
comparable Italian cars. The Frua was built over a stretched AC Cobra 427
chassis. The snappy little sports car was recorded with a maximum speed of 141
mph and could achieve 0-60 mph in just 6.2 seconds. It was estimated to have an
overall fuel consumption at 15.6 mpg, which was around 15% better than the
Aston Martin DB6.