2013 BAC MONO

This BAC Mono is an astonishing road-legal single-seater, presented in excellent condition, which has been driven and enjoyed as intended. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.3-litre four-cylinder Ford Duratec engine, developed and built by Cosworth, coupled to a Hewland six-speed sequential transmission. The odometer indicates 7,233 miles from new.

Described as “a Formula 3 car for the road” by the press, the Mono has bespoke pushrod suspension using race-specification Eibach springs and Sachs shock absorbers. Carbon-fibre composite bodywork clothes a bespoke steel chassis, and the BAC is equipped with powerful AP Racing brakes. With a kerb weight of just 540kg, it has a power-to-weight ratio well in excess of 500bhp per tonne.

First registered in April 2013, this is understood to be the second production car built. It was sold to a private owner who used the car extensively on track, and had it serviced mainly by his own in-house mechanic. It was returned to the BAC factory in February 2017, where it received a partial rebuild, and the engine was fully inspected and overhauled by Cosworth. The car was subsequently stored with little use, before going back to BAC in September 2019 at 7,068 miles for a pre-sale service before it was acquired by the current owner – and it has covered less than 200 miles since then. An enthusiast with a substantial collection, he has not registered the car in his name, so there remains only one keeper on the log book.

Today, the car presents in excellent cosmetic condition. While it originally left the factory finished in a combination of white and black, it has recently been repainted to a vibrant green hue, which has a smooth and even unblemished appearance all over the upper body. The dark grey paint over the lower body also presents very well, as do all of the plastic, metal and carbon-fibre trims. The 17-inch OZ Racing Alleggerita HLT alloys have some minor chips and scuffs in the black paint, but are otherwise in good order.

The cabin features a single lightweight carbon-fibre bucket seat, upholstered in ‘extreme’ waterproof black leather and Microcare synthetic suede. The rim around the cockpit is also trimmed in synthetic suede, while the lower half of the seating area is finished in leather. There is bright red stitching used throughout, and a five-point Willans safety harness is fitted. The leather-trimmed removable steering wheel is in very good condition, and the factory-fitted equipment includes the brake bias controller and master kill switch. All of the buttons and switchgear work as they should.

Mechanically, this Mono is in great shape, benefiting from a substantial overhaul by both the BAC factory team and Cosworth, and having only been driven sparingly since then. Its last scheduled maintenance was the work in September 2019 at an indicated 7,068 miles. This consisted of a full vehicle health check and service, including recalibration of the fuel gauge, adjustment of the handbrake, and a full geometry and corner weight check. A new carbon-fibre diffuser strake was fitted, along with a high-level brake light.

The most recent MOT was on 9 September 2019 at 7,068 miles, which resulted in a first-time pass with no advisories or alerts. The MOT in 2016 noted an odometer reading of 7,420, but the reason for the discrepancy is unknown. It may well have been switched to kilometres for driving on the continent rather than miles. The wheels have just been fitted with semi-slick but road-legal Nankang Sportnex AR-1 tyres, which remain in as-new condition.

This BAC Mono is a stunning single-seater that will thrill its driver, whether being driven on the road, or fully unleashed within the safety of a circuit. These hand-built and beautifully engineered machines remain very rare, and this particular car is one of the very earliest examples built. It will undoubtedly prove to be a great value track toy for the next owner, and would make an incredible addition to any collection of high-performance cars.

All cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.