The Winding Road of the AC 3000ME: A Rare British Mid-Engine Sports Car

Steel Tenacity - The history of British sports cars is often shaped by familiar legends—sleek roadsters, thunderous V8 engines, and badges that became global icons. Yet between those celebrated names lies a far more winding narrative, one driven by ambition rather than scale. The AC 3000ME, built by AC Cars, belongs to that quieter chapter.

The AC 3000ME is started its life story as a sports car prototype called Diablo was engineered by Peter Bohanna in collaboration with Robin Stables back in 1973. (Picture from: AROnline)

It never reached the fame of the company’s collaboration with Carroll Shelby on the AC Cobra, but its story is no less compelling. The 3000ME represented a bold attempt to redefine what a small British manufacturer could achieve in the 1970s. Today, its rarity only adds to its mystique.

The Bohanna-Stables Diablo concept looked impressive enough to convince AC Cars top brass to put it into production. (Picture from: AROnline)

Long before it carried the AC badge, the car began life as a prototype conceived in the early 1970s. It was developed by Peter Bohanna, formerly of Lola Cars, alongside Robin Stables, an ex-racing mechanic and Lotus dealer. Their shared background in motorsport shaped the project from the outset.  

The AC 3000ME is a two-seater sports car produced by AC Cars during 1979 to 1985, is featured with a wedge-styled, and a unique pop-up headlights. (Picture from: AdrianFlux)

Inspired by endurance racing greats such as the Ford GT40 and the Lola T70, the duo envisioned a compact mid-engined sports car for the road. The aim was to capture racing pedigree in a usable street machine. The result was daring, especially for an independent effort. 

Left side view of the Bohanna-Stables Diablo quarter scale styling model. (Picture from: AutoPuzzles)

Initially called the Bohanna-Stables Diablo (nothing to do with the Italian-made Lamborghini Diablo), the prototype debuted at the 1972 Racing Car Show in London. Its sharp wedge profile and low stance immediately drew attention. Observers even compared it to Italian exotics like the Dino 246GT and the De Tomaso Mangusta.

The AC 3000ME is a 2-door coupe introduced at the London Motor Show in 1973, but did not hit the road until 1979. (Picture from: AdrianFlux)

Beneath its dramatic styling lay serious engineering. The glassfibre-bodied two-seater used a rigid central tub, with front and rear subframes supporting independent suspension on coil springs and wishbones. For a concept that began as a potential kit car, the structure was impressively sophisticated.

The AC 3000ME later version chassis was a perimeter frame whose central tub was made of folded sheet steel with an integrated roll-over bar.. (Picture from: AdrianFlux)

The original prototype ran a modest 1.5-liter Austin Maxi engine mounted in the middle. While not powerful, the layout hinted at greater possibilities. It demonstrated that the platform could handle more substantial performance.

The 3000ME’s interior was so well-appointed by the standards of that era that it even featured a gated shifter for the AC-designed 5-speed gearbox. (Picture from: Silodrome)

When AC Cars encountered the Diablo, company executives saw untapped potential. They believed it could fill a niche in the British sports car market. After testing the running prototype, AC acquired the production rights and began refining the design for series manufacture.

The AC 3000ME weighed about 2,487 lbs and had a 40/60 front-to-rear weight distribution. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Unveiled as the AC 3000ME at the 1973 Earls Court Motor Show, the car appeared more mature. It retained its wedge silhouette but gained a higher roofline, a revised nose, and improved air intakes. Its name referenced the planned 3.0-liter mid-mounted engine.

The AC 3000ME featured an in-house suspension system comprising upper and lower A-arms with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers both front and rear. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Early pricing estimates between £3,000 and £4,000 sparked strong interest, and hundreds of orders were placed. However, development soon encountered setbacks. A failed 30 mph frontal crash test forced structural redesigns that delayed production and strained finances. 

Barry Gale was attracted to the AC 3000ME with aid of Carroll Shelby to sell it in the US under the name of Shelby ME, and powered by Chrysler drivetrain. (Picture from: AROnline)

Interest in rescuing the 3000ME did not come from Britain alone. In the United States, Barry Gale—an importer of the De Tomaso Pantera—explored the possibility of marketing the car with assistance from Carroll Shelby. The proposal envisioned selling it as the Shelby ME, powered by a 2.2-liter Chrysler turbocharged engine. Despite the promising concept, the plan never advanced beyond a single prototype completed at the end of 1980. 

The AC 3000ME is powered by a mid-mounted Ford Essex 2,994 cc V6 engine coupled with 5-speed Hewland gearbox. (Picture from: AROnline)

Engineers ultimately reworked the car to use the Ford Essex 2,994 cc V6, aiming for dependable performance. Yet by the time production began in 1979, the Second Oil Crisis had reshaped the market. Rising fuel prices and recession made selling a niche sports car far more difficult. 

Only 76 examples were built at Thames Ditton before financial pressures led to relocation efforts and eventual closure in 1985. Today, the AC 3000ME stands as a rare symbol of British automotive ambition—its wedge styling and mid-engine layout capturing the spirit of its era, while its turbulent journey reflects both the promise and peril faced by small independent carmakers. *** [EKA [20112022] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ARONLINE | AC3000ME | WIKIPEDIA | SILODROME | ADRIANFLUX | ALLCARINDEX | AUTOPUZZLES ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.