Pete Larsen’s New Liberty ACE Combines Art and Engineering with Retro Racer Style

The new Liberty ACE is one of those projects that makes you stop and stare and then smile and the story of its origins is fascinating, giving us some real insight into what’s involved when someone has a picture in his mind and decides to build it.

After completing 13 of his original Liberty ACE Cycle Cars, what Pete Larsen considered a modern update to the Morgan 3 Wheeler, and after some less than smooth dealings with the Morgan Motor Company over the sale of his design, he was ready for a change of direction.

He had a dream of building another 3 wheeler, a vision of a race car suitable, perhaps, for the (original) Mille Miglia or Targa Florio, and again, like the original ACE, inspired by vintage designs, but with lines reminiscent of the 1938 Auto Union Type D GP racers, very different from the original ACE in every way. It would be a liquid cooled, 1800 cc six cylinder, mid-engine, forward cockpit configuration, with a wider track, less weight and more power. That dream, combined with years of persistent effort became this, the new Liberty ACE.

The new ACE is compact with a 95 inch wheelbase and 64 inch track. It’s light, just 1000 pounds, it’s powerful, 135 horsepower and if you’ve watched the video, you already know it sounds right. From every angle it looks track ready and Pete can attest, it delivers a gentlemen’s vintage racer driving experience on the street. Just the sight of it makes you want to reach for your driving gloves and silk scarf.

So, how did all of this come about? How did Pete take an idea that existed only in his mind and turn it into a 3 wheel beauty? Well, just a few months ago I explained how it’s done, ” … identify a project you would really like to be able to do and commit to doing it. … If you want to prove you can do something, just do it. … nothing beats pointing to a completed project and saying, “I did that.” And that’s exactly what he did, he decided to build this car, committed to it and then did it. Pete is a doer. It’s almost magic.

He began with a small clay model, transforming his mental image into the beginning of something he could see and touch, playing with the shape until it began to match what was in his mind’s eye, then a full size sit-in mockup of the chassis, wheels, engine and all, was constructed to make sure it was possible and yes, things were looking good.

Now, Pete is an old school kind of guy, hand drafting all of the mechanical components. His drawings, with the help of a consultant, were converted to SOLIDWORKS and those files were used for laser cutting the tubes and CNC machining chassis components and that was followed by TIG welding everyting together.

Looking for some assistance with 3D CAD, Pete made an inquiry at Robert McNeel & Associates where he met Pascal Golay, a lead instructor and artist with Rhino 3D software. The two of them hit it off and Pascal took on Pete’s project as a test case for a new software product. He overlaid a highly detailed version of Pete’s clay model onto a virtual chassis and some amazing renderings were the result.

The Rhinoceros 3D software file was used to control the CNC routing of laminated fiberboard to create the male plugs from which composite female molds were drawn and from those, the various composite body parts are molded.

With chassis and body handled, motivating power comes from a donor Honda GL1800, which supplies the engine, transmission, swingarm, final drive and fuel tank. To get the best performance from the flat six, Pete fits a new custom programmable engine management system from Haltech.

According to Pete:

The Honda engine immediately proved to be a super-star: huge torque everywhere off idle and lovely, racy exhaust note. The sequential 5 speed has wonderful close ratios and is a dream to use. The overall gearing is exactly as on the bike.

The first example of the new car was driven for about a year in stealthy primer while a minimum of revisions were made ( custom radiators, large push fans, bigger side scoops, smoother throttle linkage, front spring rates & anti-sway bar ).

Performance and handling are beyond expectation and it does truly impart the impression of a race car driven on the street. As with the original ACE, each car is hand fitted, wired and assembled by me. I crimp every connector and torque every bolt. The only other person in my shop now is my welder of the last 20 years who appears as needed.

He estimates 0-60 mph to be in the 4 second range. The electric reverse gear can be retained, though it was stripped out of the test car.

Cost, options?

So, what does all of this come to if you want one in your garage? Pete notes this is a bespoke vehicle, the all-in cost should be commensurate with a finished Ariel Atom, Morgan3Wheeler or Caterham7. Customers can specify paint color and layout as well as interior color and a few other items. The customer supplies the GL1800. … (If your wife gets suspicious about what you’re up to and why the bike isn’t in the garage, mumble something about a a Gold Wing trike conversion and change the subject 😀 )

Kits?

Pete will not to be offering a kit of any sort. Quality control is of utmost importance and as noted, he hand fits, wires and assembles each ACE. Customers will never have to worry about who did the work, of course, this also means low volume production. It reminds me of a quote I read in an advertisement years ago, “When you do something very well, you simply cannot do it for everyone.”

As someone who was an early admirer of his original ACE Cycle Car, I was hoping he would turn his design and development skills to a new build and the new Liberty ACE does not disappoint, it’s a jaw dropper. I love this car, the appearance, the sound, everything about it. I wish him great success and well deserved recognition.

Pete is proud of his new ACE, as well he should be, and some fortunate drivers will get the chance to put one in their own garage, however, he’s been so busy building and refining the car, he hasn’t yet completed his new website which is coming very soon. Until then, if you understand what a Liberty ACE driving experience is all about and wish to discuss a potential build, serious inquiries can be submitted by email.

Photos above: credit Pete Larsen