Welcome aboard!
I’ve been around these cars since the early 80’s and don’t recall a manufacturer “American Custom Cars” Empress I.
Looking at your pictures, I believe you have a Classic Roadsters Duchess and American Custom Cars was an assembler who badged the cars as their own.
Classic Roadsters is the only kit that has the small bump in front of the rear fenders by the running boards. I also see the bench seat bottom and back, another sign of the Duchess. And I see the brackets/hinges on your engine cover, another Duchess item.
Once you get it done right, you’ll have many years of driving fun in front of you. I built my VW based Classic Roadsters Duchess in 1983, and it’s been running fine ever since.
I hope your garage is heated!
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster
If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)