The Venezuelan Car, ‘Ottolina’ Specification Racer
Chassis No. AEX 95
UK Registration no. 662 UYO
Accepted for the 2026 Goodwood Members Meeting – ‘Peter Collins Trophy’
Among the most evocative post-war British sports racers, the AC Ace-Bristol occupies a singular position – elegant, lightweight, and competition-bred. Chassis AEX 95 stands apart even within this rarefied company: a car with period Venezuelan provenance, later rebuilt to famed “Ottolina” racing specification, and today presented as a thrilling entrant for the world’s foremost historic events.
An International Beginning
Completed in 1955 by AC Cars at Thames Ditton, AEX 95 was originally finished in ivory with red interior trim and an AC engine fitted. Despatched new to Caracas, it was delivered to Juan ‘Jack’ Fernandez, a central figure in Venezuela’s burgeoning mid-century motor-racing scene. At a time when South America’s road races and endurance events drew global attention, the Ace proved an ideal weapon: nimble, robust, and formidable in the sub-2-litre class.
By 1956, AC’s adoption of the potent Bristol two-litre straight-six transformed the Ace into a giant-killer. Powered by this sophisticated, BMW-derived engine, the Ace-Bristol could challenge far larger machinery from Maranello and Modena with poise and reliability.
Venezuelan Competition Heritage
In period, Fernandez imported four Ace-Bristols to Venezuela, with each being subtly modified for improved aerodynamics and high-speed stability. This included distinctive details such as faired-in headlamps and revised air intakes. The most celebrated of these cars was campaigned by the charismatic broadcaster and racer Renny Ottolina, whose exploits cemented the Ace’s reputation in the region. With it’s Ferrari inspired streamlined bodywork and powerful Bristol engine, the car was later crashed, destroyed and disappeared from the scene completely.
AEX 95 was very much part of this vibrant scene, competing amid exotic opposition and benefiting from the same performance-focused ethos that defined the “Ottolina” car. In an era when Caracas hosted world-class endurance events, including rounds attracting international factory teams, such machinery represented the cutting edge of privateer competition.
Restoration and Rebirth
After decades abroad and a period of dormancy, AEX 95 returned to the United Kingdom in 2014. Though time-worn, it retained its key structural elements and presented an ideal basis for sympathetic restoration. Factoring in its rich Venezuelan history, a decision was made to create a tribute to the streamlined “Ottolina” racing car, incorporating the correct Bristol two-litre engine and period-style competition features, while preserving the integrity and reversibility of the original chassis and inner body structure.
The result is a striking and purposeful Ace-Bristol, visually and mechanically aligned with the most desirable competition examples of the type. Since restoration, the car has been exercised at prominent historic meetings, including the renowned Goodwood Revival, where Ace-Bristols continue to demonstrate their balance, agility, and enduring competitiveness against European exotica.
The Ace-Bristol Legacy
The Ace-Bristol represents the definitive evolution of the Ace lineage before its transformation into the legendary AC Cobra. Lightweight tubular construction and exquisite hand-formed aluminium coachwork combine in a package of timeless purity. In Bristol-engined form, the model achieved class podiums at Le Mans and distinction in international sports-car racing, attributes that today make it one of the most coveted British competition cars of the 1950s.
An Invitation to the World’s Great Events
With its compelling Venezuelan provenance, evocative and unique specification, and eligibility for a wide array of premier historic races and static gatherings, chassis AEX 95 offers its next custodian a rare opportunity. Equally suited to the lawns of top concours or the grids of Goodwood, it embodies the romance of mid-century international motorsport – when British craftsmanship met South American passion on sun-baked circuits and open roads. Whilst this car hasn’t seen the streets of Monte Carlo, we certainly feel it would be welcomed with open arms to a future running of the Monaco Historique.
In summary – An Ace-Bristol of distinctive character and documented history, this is a motor car to be driven, displayed, and celebrated at the very highest level. UK-registered with a current V5c document, FIA papers valid to the end of this year and a file of paperwork including copies of period images and registration documentation from its time overseas.
