I just got off the phone with David John of Duncan Hamilton & Co., a UK dealer of rare, vintage, ex-racing and exotic cars. (www.duncanhamilton.com) John reports that Lubinsky's AC Cars Ltd. (now defunct) owed DH 60k pounds for a car they never delivered. He also says the Inland Revenue shut down AC's factory ("a wooden hut") for not paying its employees' income tax, throwing some of England's finest panel beaters and artisans out of work. Lubinsky's intended loan agreement with Connecticut requires him to hire 141 people by 2011. John says that "even when AC was a going concern, the company never employed more than 40 people". Mr. John does not support Connecticut's intention to loan Lubinsky $1.5m to build Cobras in The Constitution State. "I've got three quid in my pocket," John said. "I wouldn't give it to him."

At the MPH `06 show in London, this month, Clive Sutton, the "only Official AC Cars Dealer in the UK" debuted the AC MkV on their Prestige vehicles stand, and stated that:
A.It was not the same vehicle that has been seen previously in 'Top Gear' magazine.
B.They are taking orders.
C.Aluminium versions will be available.

But what of the Connecticut venture, or 'AC' badged Smart cars....????
Watch this space, as they say.