AC 3000ME

The AC 3000ME was a mid-engined two-door sports coupe sold by AC Cars. It debuted at the 1973 London Motor Show but sales did not begin until 1979 and lasted until 1984. It grew out of the Diablo prototype built by Bohanna Stables, whose design AC acquired; AC re-engineered the steel tube spaceframe, clothed it in glass-reinforced plastic, and fitted a 3.0-litre Ford Essex V6 mounted transversely behind the seats, rated at 138 bhp, driving through a five-speed transaxle of AC's own design. A prototype failed the 30 mph crash test of the 1976 Type Approval rules and the chassis had to be redesigned. By the time customers received cars it competed with newer designs such as the Lotus Esprit, and reviewers criticised its handling at the limit. After fewer than 80 cars AC licensed the car to AC (Scotland), which built 30 more before receivership in 1985.