The base of the Shelby Cobra was a small roadster from England called the AC Ace. Before the fender flares and the big V8 the Ace was an attractive narrow body car that didn t have a gigantic V8. Alongside the Ace, AC made about 100 Coupes called the Aceca. The Aceca is a delicate coupe, and one of the first hatchbacks ever. It is painfully gorgeous, and only until very recently appreciated.