Britain's oldest car manufacturer, in continuous production since 1901. Best known for the introduction in 1961 of the AC Cobra, which was the result of installing a Ford 289-cubic inch V-8 engine in their light-weight open-top two-seater Ace roadster. In 1964 they decided that very fast wasn't fast enough and exchanged the 289-cubic inch engine for a 427-cubic inch Ford engine. The 427 Cobra held the distinction of being the fastest car in the world for many years.