Makes › AC › Petite · Rare production · 1953–1958
AC
Petite
AC Petite three-wheeler microcar with a rear-mounted Villiers single-cylinder two-stroke engine.
Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Mighty Antar · CC BY-SA 3.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- Not yet verified
- Years
- 1953–1958
- Engine
- single-cylinder two-stroke, rear-mounted · 346 cc / 0.3 LFactory: 346 cc
- Power
- Not yet verified
- Top speed
- Not yet verified
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Not yet verified
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
A three-wheeled economy car built by AC after the Second World War, when AC was also making invalid carriages. It was made to meet demand for cheap motoring and was produced for about five years from 1953. Built in two versions, it used a small rear-mounted two-stroke engine.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
No production figures recorded yet.
History
The Petite appeared in 1953 as a thrifty answer to the Suez fuel crisis, a two-seat three-wheeler with aluminium body and a rear Villiers engine. Early cars used the 27B engine; a Mark II in 1955 brought minor trim changes, the 28B engine and 12-inch wheels. Sales were poor and production ended in 1958.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Petite.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | single-cylinder two-stroke, rear-mounted1 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 346 cc / 0.3 LFactory: 346 cc2 Independently researched |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | Not yet verified |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | aluminium body3 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry. |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Two versions were built, the Mk I and the Mk II; the Mk II engine was slightly larger. The body is aluminium with a single bench seat for two adults. The engine is mounted at the rear and drives the rear wheels, as a two-stroke Villiers 350 cc single.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
- 1
- 2
-
3
AC Petite Level D Peter Frost (personal website, archived) · 2001-12-14
- The body work was aluminium
Keep exploring
More from AC
-
AC · 1962
MA-200 (1962)
1 Built
-
AC
Ace 2.6 'Ruddspeed'
37 Built
-
AC
3000ME
73 Built
-
AC · 1965–1973
428 (Frua)
81 Built
More from United Kingdom
-
Ginetta
G60
Production not yet verified
-
Aston Martin · 2020–2021
V12 Speedster
88 Built
-
Bentley · 2008
Continental GTZ (Zagato)
9 Built
-
Lotus · 2009
Exige Scura
35 Built
134 other makes from United KingdomAiredaleAlan Mann RacingAllardAlvisArabArashArielArmstrong SiddeleyArrowsAscariAston MartinAtalantaAtlantisAustinAustin-HealeyBedfordBentleyBerkeleyBluebirdBMCBondBrabhamBristolBritish LeylandBroadspeedBrookeBrough SuperiorCampbell-RailtonCaparoCaterhamChevronConnaughtCooperCrayfordDaimlerDavid BrownDawsonDeLoreanDuttonElvaAll makes →