AC Ace Steering Wheel
The Original AC Ace Steering Wheel was by Blumells. The curled tightening nut was also by Bluemells. This steering wheel was used in many British sports cars but notably the Daimler Dart 250 and the AC Ace. If you are having problems trying to find a wheel or the centre boss and nut you can obtain them new from Daimler Dart spares outlets. We manage to buy a steering wheel that had come out of an original AC Ace but it needed restoring. We had it restored locally in Kent as one of the world's leading steering wheel restorers is just an hour from where we live. Details below. The purchase of the wheel cost £250 and it cost £272 to have it restored. By comparison, a brand new one would cost you £355 + VAT. Steering Wheel Restorations can be found here: We have also sourced an original wooden steering wheel for the ACE that would have been used on the ACE/Aceca/Greyhound and early Cobra. It will be a tough decision which one to use at the final stages. If a wood rim sets it off we'll go with that but personally, I like the look of the black Bluemells wheel. As far as we can tell, the wooden wheel was an option available from the AC Works and is quite a rare find to get an original one.
Below, Daimler Dart next to AC Ace to show comparison. Wheels and centres are identical.
Below, Daimler Dart part numbers and diagram.
Below, original AC Ace steering wheel
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Below, Knurled Bluebells adjusting nut
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Blumels Adjusting NutWe found one at the International Autojumble at Beaulieu 2016. It maybe that we end up with a spare if anyone wants it? Contact Page. Below you can see our Bluebells nut - These are getting harder to find. Ours cost £20 but it did come with a steering wheel we'll sell on.
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Our restored AC Ace Blumels Restored Steering Wheel and Adjusting Nut.
More AC ACE steering wheel reference pictures
AC ACE / Early Cobra steering wheel
The wheel below is a copy of the wooden rim wheel offered by the AC works as an option for the AC ACE instead of the standard Bluemells wheel. The difference is in the bolts. The original had only 6. the copies have 9. On the right is the copy. On the left is the original. The wheel below is in our collection and may very well end up on our finished car. When it arrives from Australia there will be more detail pictures added. The only issue we see with it right now is with the indicator control. This control is available new for the Daimler Dart and Austin Healey 100/4. It will be a matching of parts to get it all working and the stator tube needs adding to make it all work.
AC ACE Steering Wheel References
Below you will find a series of steering wheels I have found attaches to AC ACE original cars.
Bluemells '4 cross' steering wheel.
As far as I can gather, this steering wheel was never offered as an option for the AC ACE. It looks great and they can still be bought new. The important detail on these wheels is the 'Blumells' badge seen here in light blue on the top set of spokes. This badge can be bought new too and they are often seen on EBay.
Homemade attempt at some AC branding!
Below, we see one of the more modern AC Owners Club badges that has been altered to make a steering wheel centre for an original bluemells steering wheel. If you look at the spokes in the 6 'o' clock position you can see what looks like to be an interesting repair.