diff --git a/src/mess/drivers/apple2.c b/src/mess/drivers/apple2.c
index 2bab8b05c38..39243ed877f 100644
--- a/src/mess/drivers/apple2.c
+++ b/src/mess/drivers/apple2.c
@@ -1169,9 +1169,27 @@ static MACHINE_CONFIG_DERIVED( apple2c, apple2ee )
 	MCFG_A2BUS_SLOT_REMOVE("sl6")
 	MCFG_A2BUS_SLOT_REMOVE("sl7")
 
+	MCFG_DEVICE_ADD(IIC_ACIA1_TAG, MOS6551, 0)
+	MCFG_MOS6551_XTAL(XTAL_14_31818MHz / 8)	// ~1.789 MHz
+	MCFG_MOS6551_TXD_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE(PRINTER_PORT_TAG, rs232_port_device, write_txd))
+
+	MCFG_DEVICE_ADD(IIC_ACIA2_TAG, MOS6551, 0)
+	MCFG_MOS6551_XTAL(XTAL_1_8432MHz)	// matches SSC so modem software is compatible
+	MCFG_MOS6551_TXD_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE("modem", rs232_port_device, write_txd))
+
+	MCFG_RS232_PORT_ADD(PRINTER_PORT_TAG, default_rs232_devices, NULL)
+	MCFG_RS232_RXD_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE(IIC_ACIA1_TAG, mos6551_device, write_rxd))
+	MCFG_RS232_DCD_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE(IIC_ACIA1_TAG, mos6551_device, write_dcd))
+	MCFG_RS232_DSR_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE(IIC_ACIA1_TAG, mos6551_device, write_dsr))
+	MCFG_RS232_CTS_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE(IIC_ACIA1_TAG, mos6551_device, write_cts))
+
+	MCFG_RS232_PORT_ADD(MODEM_PORT_TAG, default_rs232_devices, NULL)
+	MCFG_RS232_RXD_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE(IIC_ACIA2_TAG, mos6551_device, write_rxd))
+	MCFG_RS232_DCD_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE(IIC_ACIA2_TAG, mos6551_device, write_dcd))
+	MCFG_RS232_DSR_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE(IIC_ACIA2_TAG, mos6551_device, write_dsr))
+	MCFG_RS232_CTS_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE(IIC_ACIA2_TAG, mos6551_device, write_cts))
+
 	// TODO: populate the IIc's other virtual slots with ONBOARD_ADD
-	MCFG_A2BUS_ONBOARD_ADD("a2bus", "sl1", A2BUS_SSC, NULL)
-	MCFG_A2BUS_ONBOARD_ADD("a2bus", "sl2", A2BUS_SSC, NULL)
 	MCFG_A2BUS_ONBOARD_ADD("a2bus", "sl6", A2BUS_DISKIING, NULL)
 
 	MCFG_A2EAUXSLOT_SLOT_REMOVE("aux")
@@ -1195,8 +1213,6 @@ MACHINE_CONFIG_END
 static MACHINE_CONFIG_DERIVED( laser128, apple2c )
 	MCFG_MACHINE_START_OVERRIDE(apple2_state,laser128)
 
-	MCFG_A2BUS_SLOT_REMOVE("sl1")
-	MCFG_A2BUS_SLOT_REMOVE("sl2")
 	MCFG_A2BUS_SLOT_REMOVE("sl6")
 
 	MCFG_A2BUS_ONBOARD_ADD("a2bus", "sl1", A2BUS_LASER128, NULL)
diff --git a/src/mess/includes/apple2.h b/src/mess/includes/apple2.h
index 2780ce0a392..bba17cf88dd 100644
--- a/src/mess/includes/apple2.h
+++ b/src/mess/includes/apple2.h
@@ -19,9 +19,17 @@
 #include "machine/kb3600.h"
 #include "sound/speaker.h"
 #include "machine/ram.h"
+#include "bus/rs232/rs232.h"
+#include "machine/mos6551.h"
 
 #define AUXSLOT_TAG "auxbus"
 
+#define IIC_ACIA1_TAG "acia1"
+#define IIC_ACIA2_TAG "acia2"
+
+#define PRINTER_PORT_TAG "printer"
+#define MODEM_PORT_TAG "modem"
+
 /***************************************************************************
     SOFTSWITCH VALUES
 ***************************************************************************/
@@ -127,7 +135,9 @@ public:
 		m_kbspecial(*this, "keyb_special"),
 		m_kbrepeat(*this, "keyb_repeat"),
 		m_resetdip(*this, "reset_dip"),
-		m_cassette(*this, "cassette")
+		m_cassette(*this, "cassette"),
+		m_acia1(*this, IIC_ACIA1_TAG),
+		m_acia2(*this, IIC_ACIA2_TAG)
 	{ }
 
 	required_device<cpu_device> m_maincpu;
@@ -143,6 +153,8 @@ public:
 	optional_ioport m_resetdip;
 	optional_device<cassette_image_device> m_cassette;
 
+	optional_device<mos6551_device> m_acia1, m_acia2;
+
 	UINT32 m_flags, m_flags_mask;
 	INT32 m_a2_cnxx_slot;
 	UINT32 m_a2_mask;
diff --git a/src/mess/machine/apple2.c b/src/mess/machine/apple2.c
index 760fb1b8dff..a6250c65dc7 100644
--- a/src/mess/machine/apple2.c
+++ b/src/mess/machine/apple2.c
@@ -345,11 +345,33 @@ READ8_MEMBER(apple2_state::apple2_c080_r)
 	if(!space.debugger_access())
 	{
 		device_a2bus_card_interface *slotdevice;
+		int slot;
 
 		offset &= 0x7F;
+		slot = offset / 0x10;
+
+		if ((m_machinetype == APPLE_IIC) || (m_machinetype == APPLE_IICPLUS))
+		{
+			if (slot == 1)
+			{
+				offset &= 0xf;
+				if (offset >= 8 && offset <= 0xb)
+				{
+					return m_acia1->read(space, offset-8); 
+				}
+			}
+			else if (slot == 2)
+			{
+				offset &= 0xf;
+				if (offset >= 8 && offset <= 0xb)
+				{
+					return m_acia2->read(space, offset-8); 
+				}
+			}
+		}
 
 		/* now identify the device */
-		slotdevice = m_a2bus->get_a2bus_card(offset / 0x10);
+		slotdevice = m_a2bus->get_a2bus_card(slot);
 
 		/* and if we can, read from the slot */
 		if (slotdevice != NULL)
@@ -365,11 +387,35 @@ READ8_MEMBER(apple2_state::apple2_c080_r)
 WRITE8_MEMBER(apple2_state::apple2_c080_w)
 {
 	device_a2bus_card_interface *slotdevice;
+	int slot;
 
 	offset &= 0x7F;
+	slot = offset / 0x10;
+
+	if ((m_machinetype == APPLE_IIC) || (m_machinetype == APPLE_IICPLUS))
+	{
+		if (slot == 1)
+		{
+			offset &= 0xf;
+			if (offset >= 8 && offset <= 0xb)
+			{
+				m_acia1->write(space, offset-8, data);
+				return;
+			}
+		}
+		else if (slot == 2)
+		{
+			offset &= 0xf;
+			if (offset >= 8 && offset <= 0xb)
+			{
+				m_acia2->write(space, offset-8, data);
+				return;
+			}
+		}
+	}
 
 	/* now identify the device */
-	slotdevice = m_a2bus->get_a2bus_card(offset / 0x10);
+	slotdevice = m_a2bus->get_a2bus_card(slot);
 
 	/* and if we can, write to the slot */
 	if (slotdevice != NULL)