The Ace was an American-assembled car made in Ypsilanti, Michigan by the Apex Motor Car Company, which was reorganized as the Apex Motor Corporation in 1921. The initial batch of cars assembled was sent to Seattle, Washington dealer F. E. Earnest, who had the idea for the Ace after he was unable to secure a steady supply of new cars for his dealership.
The most interesting feature of the Ace was the Guy Disc-Valve motor, created by engineer Fred M. Guy, and Otto W. Heinz. Initially, it was prepared as a four-cylinder engine for production in the Hackett, but the company folded before it was ready.
In April, 1921, Guy and Heinz left the Apex Motor Corporation, with the support of Apex, to found the Guy Disc Valve Motor Co. in Ypsilanti. In mid-1921, a Model H tourer with a conventional Herschell-Spillman straight-6 was added, with a selling price of $2,000.
Ace automobile production ended with the 1922 model year. Total production was 256 cars.
Ace model overview
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Model name(s) !! Cyl. !! Displacement<br />c.i. / cm<sup>3</sup> !! Power<br />bhp / kW !! Engine !! Wheelbase<br />in / mm !! Coachwork!! Price
|-
| 1920 || Six<br />Model T || S6 || || 57 / 42,5 || Guy Disc Valve || 115 / 2921 || Touring ||
|-
| 1921 || Rotary Six<br />Model G || S6 || || 57 / 42,5 || Guy Disc Valve || 123 / 3124 || Touring ||
|-
| 1921 || Rotary Six<br />Model G || S6 || || 57 / 42,5 || Guy Disc Valve || 123 / 3124 || Coupé ||
|-
| 1921 || Six<br />Model H || S6 || 288.6<br />4730 || 68 / 50,7 || Herschell-Spillman || 117 / 2972 || Touring || US$2050
|-
| 1921 || Six<br />Model L || S6 || 248,9<br />4078 || 59 / 44,0 || Herschell-Spillman || 117 / 2972 || Touring<br />5 Sitze ||
|-
| 1921 || Six || S6 || 248,9<br />4078 || 59 / 44,0 || Herschell-Spillman || 117 / 2972 || Coupé-Sedan<br />4-5 Sitze ||
|-
| 1922 || Pub Model F<br />34-40 || S4|| 192,4<br />3153 || 43 / 32,1 || Gray-Bell || 114 / 2896 || Touring<br />5 Sitze || US$1295
|-
| 1922 || Pub Model F<br />34-40 || S4|| 192,4<br />3153 || 43 / 32,1 || Gray-Bell || 114 / 2896 || Roadster<br />2 Sitze || US$1295
|-
| 1922 || Pub Model F<br /> || S4|| 192,4<br />3153 || 43 / 32,1 || Gray-Bell || 114 / 2896 || Coupé-Sedan<br />4-5 Sitze || US$1295
|-
| 1922 || Scout Model L<br />30-60 || R6 || 248,9<br />4078 || 59 / 44,0 || Herschell-Spillman || 117 / 2972 || Touring<br />5 Sitze || US$2260
|-
| 1922 || Scout Model L<br />30-60 || S6 || 248,9<br />4078 || 59 /44,0 || Herschell-Spillman || 117 / 2972 || Roadster<br />2 Sitze || US$2260
|-
| 1922 || 35-70 ||S6 || 288.6<br />4730 || || Herschell-Spillman || 117 / 2972 || Coupé-Sedan ||
|-
| 1922 || Combat Model C<br />35-80 || S6 || 340,6<br />5582 || 77 / 57,4 || Continental || 120 / 3048 || Touring<br />5 Sitze || US$2975
|-
| 1922 || Combat Model C<br />35-80 || S6 || 340,6<br />5582 || 77 / 57,4 || Continental || 120 / 3048 || Roadster<br />2 Sitze || US$2975
|-
| 1922 || Combat Model C<br />35-80 || S6 || 340,6<br />5582 || 77 / 57,4 || Continental || 120 / 3048 || Speedster<br />3 Sitze || US$3150
|-
|}
The 1921 Model L and 1922 35-70 are mentioned by a single source. While the L appears a smaller companion to the Model H, the 35-70 possibly was nothing more than a renamed 1920 Model H Coupe-Sedan.
There is no existing Ace automobile known, however the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum offered a $5000 reward for evidence that directs to such a car. Although the museum continues to search for a surviving Ace, the reward expired in 2003 with the death of museum co-founder Skip Ungrodt.
Gallery
<gallery>
1921_Ace_Model_G_Coupe-Sedan.jpg|1921 Ace Rotary Six Model G Coupé
1921_Ace_Model_H_Touring.webp|1921 Ace Six Model H
1922_Ace_Model_F_Pup_Touring.webp|1922 Ace Pub Model F 34-40 Touring
1922_Ace_Model_F_Sedan.webp|1922 Ace Pub Model F Coupé-Sedan 4-5 Sitze
1922_ace_combat_touring_front.jpg|1922 Ace Combat Model C 35-80 Touring 5 Sitze
1922_Ace_Model_C_Combat_Speedster.jpg|1922 Ace Combat Model C 35-80 Speedster 3 Sitze
1922_Ace_Model_L_Scout_Touring.jpg|1922 Ace Scout Model L 30-60 Touring 5 Sitze
1922_Ace_"Six"_Sedan.webp|1922 Ace 35-70 Coupé-Sedan
</gallery>
See also
- Vintage car