Monterey 2023 Auction Preview

Three very interesting Allard’s will be crossing the auction block in Monterey this year. Each car has a compelling story and look to be in very good condition. We plan to check out each car prior to their sale so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

J2X 3074 was exported on September 25, 1952 to California Sports Car Company in San Francisco. It was equipped with Chrysler modifications and interestingly shipped in primer (no paint) with black interior. It was equipped with wire wheels, a 3.78 differential, full size windscreen & wipers, and a top. The buyer was noted west coast enthusiast Bob Gillespie who had the car painted red and the wheels painted white. The car was on the October 1953 cover of Road & Track along with being featured in a road test in the December 1953 issue of Auto Sport magazine. The car was entered to race at Pebble Beach in 1953 and Mrs Gillespie raced it to 4th in the Women’s race at Stockton in June of 1953. The car’s most famous owner, Steve McQueen acquired it in 1962 and he kept it until his death in 1980. The car was then purchased by the Imperial Palace Hotel in Las Vegas where it was on display in their museum for many years.

At some point the car was repainted dark British Racing Green. From the photos, the car appears to be in very good condition and the parts appear to be original to the era. The only minor issue we can see are the small Stewart Warner gauges (which can be easily replaced with original Smith’s & Lucas gauges).

The car will sell on Friday the 18th with no reserve and is expected to go for $300-$400,000, although we believe it could go for significantly more if the right bidders are in the room. Honestly the estimate seems low for a car in this condition with such a significant history. To learn more, visit: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28011/lot/88/1951-allard-j2x-chassis-no-3074/

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The second Allard, RHD J2-2121 is another special car. It was delivered to distributor Nunn’s on August 27, 1951 who sold it to Bernard Scott-Wade on March 28, 1952. The car was painted metallic gray with a blue interior. The car was fitted with an Ardun-Mercury V8 which was the engine of choice in the UK since the Cadillac was unattainable. Unfortunately the UK Ardun’s weren’t very reliable and it was soon replaced with a Ford Pilot V8. In 1963, it was purchased by Gerry Belton, Allard’s former promotions manager, and was repainted in British Racing Green.

By 1968, the car was sold to Bob Judd of London. Mr. Judd took his newly purchased J2 to Allard’s Clapham workshop in London and received their blessing to install a new Cobra-specification engine into the car. With their blessing, a 289 Ford V-8 was installed. In the August 1969 issue of Autosport, Simon Taylor wrote, "With identical power and torque and similar weight to the AC Cobra, the (J2) is certain to be as quick as it felt. Once underway it just thunders forward, its snub green nose swallowing up the road and its Wagnerian exhausts seeming to blow everything else off the road."

The J2 was then relocated to the US having been purchased by noted collector Otto Bowden. While under his care, 2121 was featured in a Champion Spark Plug advertisement. In 2008, Dr. Stickley purchased the car and commissioned a significant restoration. The car was sold in 2013 and then again in 2016, where the new owner replaced the Ford Hi-Po V-8 with an Ardun-modified Ford flathead V-8 engine.

The car is in beautiful condition. As for originality, there are a few minor issues such as the tachometer (the other gauges appear correct), the custom armrest and the front brakes aren’t plumbed correctly - all of which can be corrected easily if so desired or left as is since most Concours judges wouldn’t know the difference! Please note the divers pedal box has been modified to allow for bigger feet - a welcome change! The car will be sold as Lot 56 and is expected to go for $275,000 - $350,000 which we believe is a solid price for a beautiful car with an interesting history. Click here to learn more: https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1951-allard-j2-1a/

PS: Previous owner Bob Judd put together the following ‘larger than life’ homage to his old Allard J2-2121 and the Allard Motor Company: http://www.allardregister.org/blog/2010/12/2/the-real-allard-story-hang-on-and-shut-up.html?rq=judd

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The final car, K1-595 was honestly a bit of a mystery to us. Our database noted its status as unknown. The basic details we had stated the car was delivered on July 24, 1948 and was painted light blue with blue interior and a note stating “see export card-purchased S/H in 1953 and shipped to California 12/53. The few details had had on the car though did line up with the write up from the Gooding so we’re just going to plagiarize their description (below):

“This very special K1, chassis 71K 595, was built by the factory in early 1948 as a rally car, and its Engineers Instructions production tag on file features the handwritten note on the reverse: “Special Construction for Alpine Rally…light weight body, 6-7-48.” The tag further specifies 71K 595 as set to receive aluminum wings, cowl, and bulkhead, special radiator and petrol tank, and Girling shock absorbers. It was delivered to the noted Leonard Potter of the UK. Fitted with the renowned Ford flathead V-8 engine, Potter successfully campaigned this K1 over the course of the year, winning the Unlimited Cup in the Allen Trial, the Jeans Gold Cup, and placing 2nd Overall in the prestigious Alpine Rally. Upon the close of the 1948 season, the K1 was sold back to Allard Works and was used as a sales demonstrator. Potter would then run 71K 595 again in the 1949 Alpine Rally for the Allard Works team, winning five separate awards for various stages in the famed event.

Following its campaign history, the K1 would then be relocated to the US in 1953 under the care of A.F.M. Luscombe. Stateside, it enjoyed life on the West Coast for quite some time, including time in Harrah’s Automobile Collection of Reno, Nevada. William Harrah eventually sold the car in 1971 to Allard racer Pete McManus. Throughout its ownership chain, it remained remarkably original, and would not be restored until the mid-2000s by marque specialist Hoffman Vintage Racing. Following the restoration, the K1 would go on to win multiple awards at prestigious concours events at Greenwich, Radnor Hunt, and Lime Rock Park.”

This car also looks to be in very good condition with solid originality. The car will be sold as Lot 147 with no reserve and the estimate ranges from $180,000 - $240,000. This special K1 is definitely worth the estimate, but K1’s are not the most sought after Allards - hopefully it sells well. To learn more, click here: https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1948-allard-k1/

Andy's Allards @ Amelia

This coming March at Amelia Island will mark the end of an era. Andy Picariello, an Allard enthusiast like no other, will be selling his prized Allard J2 and K2 at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Auction on Saturday March 4. 

Allard K2-1704

This early K2 (7th built) was exported on July 5, 1950 R&P Motorcars in NYC. The car was originally painted blue with a blue interior. Andy acquired the car in 2003 in a disassembled state and then worked with noted Allard restorer Barry Parker of Vintage Metalcraft in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania to bring this K2 to concourse condition. To learn more about 1704, click here

Allard J2-1738

J2-1738 was Andy’s vehicular pride & joy since 1963. This J2 was exported to August 25, 1950 to Moss Motors in Los Angeles, arriving October 3rd. The order for this J2 was very unique, likely being a rush order. This right hand drive J2 was painted red with red interior and was shipped in a crate without the engine, transmission, exhaust, wheels, wiring, and gauges. This was odd because many LHD J2’s had already been built and the majority of US bound J2’s were configured for Cadillac engines, while this J2 was configured for Ford/Mercury power. Side note: some may criticize this car because it doesn’t have Smiths/Lucas gauges, however this car was shipped without gauges so Moss Motors had no choice but to install the Stewart-Warner gauges that remain on the car today.

The team at Moss worked quickly, allowing new owner Colonel Steinmetz to race the car at the inaugural Pebble Beach road races in 1950. Unfortunately the car suffered mechanical issues and had to retire, but Steinmetz was back in 1951 finishing 14th. The car then passed on to Dale Duncan, a buddy of Carroll Shelby who also raced Allards. Duncan shoe-horned in a Chrysler 331 and raced the car at least once placing 2nd at Caddo Mills.

Andy acquired the car in 1963 and proceeded to make the car his own. He converted from steel to knock-off wire wheels - ordering the parts directly from Allard! After refurbishing the car for 3 years, he vintage raced the car from 1966 to 2000. In the early 2000’s, Andy commissioned noted Allard restorer Barry Parker to repair the body that had corroded over years of use. At this time, Andy had the car painted this beautiful deep maroon and upholstered in tan leather. 

Since its restoration, the car has earned numerous accolades including Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) National First Junior and First Senior prizes, AACA historic race vehicle certification, an Amelia Award at the 2007 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, and the Road & Track "Car We Would Most Like To Drive" trophy at the Vanderbilt Concours in 2007. To learn more about 1738, click here:

Both of these cars will give their new owners a rare opportunity to show at any top concourse or enter the vintage rally or tour of their choice. These cars reflect Andy’s passion for the Allard marque and we hope that they find new homes that care for and enjoy these Allards as much as Andy has. 

The Cars of Jim Taylor

This coming Friday and Saturday October 14-15, 2022, Broad Arrow Auctions will be offering Jim Taylor’s extensive car and memorabilia collection for sale. Jim has great taste in cars and his love for Allards is notable. His collection contains a J2X, J2X Le Mans, and a JR – all three of which represent the most sought-after cars of the Allard marque. Below is a brief summary of each of the three cars. All three cars will be offered Saturday October 15.

JR-3406, Lot 839

The JR was one of the last JR’s built (fun fact: this car, along with 3407 were both exported on January 1, 1955). It was originally exported to Canada, purchased new by Norman Moffet and was painted black with tan interior. The JR was the brainchild of chief designer Dudley Hume and featured a number of upgrades over the J2X (to learn more, click here). 3406 was the only LHD model produced and it features two doors – other JR’s only had a single door on the drivers side.

J2X-3071 Le Mans, Lot 841

In 1952, the Le Mans organizers mandated that cars with cycle fenders would not be allowed to race. In a matter of weeks, Allards body shop put together the “Le Mans”, no doubt inspired by the Jaguar C Type. Fourteen J2X Le Mans were built, with 3071 being 4th built. The car was exported January 6, 1953 destined for Noel Kirk Motors in Los Angeles. The LHD car was painted red with red interior, Cadillac modifications and 3-piece DeDion axle tube (we are note sure if this is still in place). Most notably, the car was shipped with a standard Allard windshield, but the first owner, Gary Love changed it out to the very attractive curved windshield you see today. Body-wise, the car is very original and has loads of patina including the aftermath of a carburetor fire from 1969.

J2X-3048, Lot 859

This car was exported on April 2nd, 1952 to R/P (Perry Fina) Imported Motors in New York City. The LHD car was painted white with black interior and was configured for Chrysler power. Prior to Jim’s acquisition of 3048 in 2013, the car resided in Australia, where it was converted to RHD. The auction writeup is a bit misleading stating that the car was raced extensively by Tiny Gould – that car was actually Tiny’s J2. As an homage to Tiny, Jim had the car painted white with a red hood and interior to match Tiny’s racing colors – along with converting the car back to LHD.

If you’d like to bid on any of these cars, visit the Broad Arrow web site at https://www.broadarrowauctions.com/events/event/the-cars-of-jim-taylor

The Shelby J2X

In its day, J2X-3146 didn’t do much to boost the interests of the Allard Motor Company, but the car was the cornerstone that transformed sports cars and motorsport. The car was exported on November 20, 1952 to Noel Kirk Motors in Los Angeles where it was purchased by Roy Cherryhomes. It was configured for wire wheels, dual side mount spare tires, and a full windshield. Power was to be supplied by a Cadillac engine and it was originally painted cream with a red interior. 3146 was soon repainted red and prepared for racing.

Roy was not a racer, but he handed the wheel over to a young Carroll Shelby who proved he could handle an Allard, racing J2-2179 owned by Charles Brown in 1952. Shelby remembers 3146’s first race in ‘Carroll Shelby, A Collection of Photos’, “I won the race for Roy Cherryhomes. It was at Eagle Mountain, Texas on October 26, 1952 (correction March 19, 1953). The understanding was that I would drive strictly for expenses, but even so, I was pretty much thrilled. In the Southwest, good rides were mighty hard to come by in the sports car field, especially then. Suddenly there I was with the latest equipment, a car I knew well, and a competent mechanic. Another reason I got a big charge out of the ride was that, by then, Masten Gregory was winning just about everything in our part of the country. Well, I thought, maybe we can put a stop to that, always in a friendly way, of course.”

From there, Shelby won at Mansfield in June, Offutt in July, and Eagle Mountain again in August. The August 1957 race was notable in that it was the debut of Shelby’s infamous striped overall racing suit. From the same book, Shelby notes, “It was hot that Saturday morning and I was working on the farm. I was wearing my striped farmer coveralls. Eventually I realized that if I was going to get in any practice, I’d have to hurry up. So I took off just the way I was. When I got in the Allard, I realized how much cooler the coveralls were than regular driver outfits. Well, seems like everyone got a big laugh out of that and my picture appeared in the papers. I got more publicity because of those doggone coveralls than I did from winning the race!”

Shelby’s last race in 3146 was at the 1000 km Buenos Aires in Argentina. To say the least, Shelby and co-driver Dale Duncan had an eventful race and finished 10th overall and won the Kimberly Cup, a race within a race between four American and four Argentinian teams. The drive impressed John Wyer of Aston Martin who soon signed him to race their new DB3. To learn more about the race, you can read a story my father Charlie Warnes wrote for the Jan/Feb 1997 issue of Vintage Motorsport.

It’s a shame that the J2X did not arrive sooner. The first cars were delivered in early 1952, but the competition was already catching up to the mighty American powered Allards. Many J2X’s were raced, but they never achieved the success that the J2’s saw. 3146 was likely one of the most successful J2X’s raced, and that can largely be attributed to the man behind the wheel. Racing this Allard taught Carroll how to handle big power, save his brakes, and drive fearlessly - traits that would serve him well in later years as he raced Astons, Ferraris, Maserati’s and other marques with great success.

Several years later, Carroll Shelby partnered with AC Cars in the UK to import their Ace sports car into America where he would install potent Ford V8’s. Shelby called these cars COBRA’s and well, you already know about them. I recall reading somewhere that when asked if his time racing Allards with their British chassis and American V8 motors helped inspire the COBRA, Shelby replied, “where the hell do you think I got the idea!?”

Nowadays, 3146 is no trailer queen. The car is largely original for a racing Allard and carries a FIA Historic Passport which enables it to be vintage raced anywhere. The car is quick too - in 2019, J2X-3146 won its race group at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion where it bested a number of very fast California racing specials.

In my opinion, J2X-3146 is arguably one of the most significant sports racing cars of all time. Without it, would Shelby have won Le Mans with Aston Martin? Would there have ever been a COBRA or a Mustang GT350? Would Ford have won Le Mans? The origin of all these questions trace directly back to this car, J2X-3146.

J2X-3146 will be offered by RM Sotheby’s on Saturday August 20, 2022 as lot #354. The estimate is listed as $500,000 to $750,000. To learn more, click here to visit RM Sotheby’s web site.

-Colin Warnes

AOC 2022 Calendar

The Allard Owners Club (AOC) has put together what looks to be a very fine calendar for 2022. Allard don’t get much calendar love, so its nice to have a calendar dedicate to just Allards. The best part is, you can source it from either the UK or USA to keep shipping costs down. I’m going to buy one for my dad and myself! Special thanks to Ben Stevens & Mel Herman for putting this together!

Click here to order the UK version

Click here to order the USA version

Auction: Allard JR 3408

OPINION…I’m honestly shocked that the Allard family’s continuation Allard JR 3408 has not sold yet. It is a faithful nut & bolt FIA accredited recreation of the JR…built by the Allard family. At a time when Jaguar, Aston Martin, and others are selling million dollar recreations of their classic cars, the JR is struggling to find a home. Don’t people understand what a monster this thing could be on the track? With some tuning, you have a car that could easily run at the front of the pack at Goodwood or the Le Mans Classic. Do people forget that Dean Butlers navy blue JR won the Goodwood Earl of March race back in 2003? I wish I had video of that race!. In the mean time, you can enjoy this video of the same car storming up the hill at Goodwood (turn up the volume):

When most people think Allard, they think of the J2 or J2X, which were still largely based on the late 40’s Allards, which used a lot of technology dating back to the ‘32 Ford; the JR however was an all new development from Allard Engineer Dudley Hume (who also had a hand in 3408 before his passing). The JR features a twin tube chassis that was both lighter and stiffer than the old channel ladder frame. The car is also shorter, lower, and far more aerodynamic than even the J2X Le Mans.

If you’d like to bid on this amazing machine, click here: https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/sa077-lot-17310-1953-allard-j2-continuation?el=17310&pn=1&pp=100 . The presale estimate is a very affordable £120,000 - £140,000 ($164,000 - $191,000). If you are a vintage racer looking for something unique and fast…look no further than JR 3408.

-Colin Warnes

PS: If you don’t believe me, go ask Tony Dron what he thinks about the JR. He raced (and won with) Syd Silverman’s JR a few times several years back here in the States.

For Sale: Allard K2-3125 - SOLD!

Allard K2 3125 was ordered July 8, 1952 by Noel Kirk Motors in Los Angeles, Ca. and was exported on September 13, 1952. The car was purchased by the seller’s father in poor condition at the Fall Carlisle meet in 1979. Shortly after the purchase, the K2 was sent to a local shop for a complete restoration. Unfortunately after 3 years into the restoration, the shop went bankrupt and closed their doors. The Allard was brought home 75% completed. The sellers family continued work on the car for a few years, but soon other matters took priority and the car sat untouched since 1985.

In 2018, the seller inherited the car and set about finishing the restoration; quickly learning why the car sat idle for so many years. Just about every task that needed completing was either missing parts or information as to how the car should be completed. Thankfully the Internet came to the rescue and groups like the Allard Register were able to provide technical assistance as well as connecting him with an Allard owner with a very original K2.

The car now runs and drives very well. The engine is a 1952 Cadillac 331 with two 4 barrel carburetors. It is the engine that was in the car when purchased. The K2 also has a fairly uncommon side mounted spare.

[Seller info deleted]

Represent

Any Allard enthusiast can relate that there’s little to no Allard apparel for sale. Frankly the Allard community just isn’t big enough to support much Allard clothing. I’d like to sell clothing ourselves, but frankly I don’t have the time to process & mail orders.

Then one of our “members” (we don’t really have members) Jay Franklin recommended that we check out Land’s End. His local MG car club set up an E-store with Land’s End that let’s anyone order clothes with their club logo.

I happen to know someone that works at Land’s end so I looked into it. The service is pretty neat. For around $30/each, I uploaded two Allard logos (the script and shield) to their embroidery system. With logos uploaded, I created a Land’s End E-store that will enable anyone to order Land’s End clothes with their choice of Allard logos embroidered on them for an additional $6.95. Each logo is 3” wide and you can even change the stitch color/s to suit your preference. The best thing is, I don’t have to do a thing! Granted, the Register won’t make any money from the sales, but we’re not here to make money…we just want to spread the Allard word. Click the link below or image above to buy some cool Allard clothes. We’ve also added a permanent link to the site.

https://business.landsend.com/store/allardregister/

If you buy something from the site, send us a photo!

More on JR 3408

The media blitz has started on the upcoming auction sale of JR-3408 (ready story below). The car is being offered by RM-Sothebys at its London Auction this coming October 31, 2020. The publicity photos by Matt Howell were nicely shot. If you are interested in purchasing the car or having one built, you should contact Lloyd & Alan at www.allardsportscars.co.uk or via email at info@allardsportscars.com.

Allard JR-3408

The list of car companies offering continuation cars seems to be growing every month. So far Bentley, Lister, Cobra, Jaguar, Aston Martin, and even Alvis are offering turn key ‘continuation’ versions of their iconic cars from years ago. The continuation cars from these companies all share a common trait that affects their authenticity…they have nothing to do with the original companies or founders that built those cars. However, there is one company that is different.

In 1929, Sydney Allard built his first special – a Morgan 3-wheeler converted to 4-wheels and started racing it. Sydney went on to create the Allard Motor Company which built a number of significant cars and helped transform the automotive market around the world. From there, son Alan joined his father in drag racing and went on to publish an early guide to turbo-charging in 1982. In 2005, Sydney’s Grandson and Alan’s son, Lloyd joined the family business offering a range of custom fabricated aluminum radiators, fuel tanks, and other components for a range of vintage and modern cars.

Alan and Lloyd stayed in close contact with the Allard community and through that, Lloyds fabrication skills were sought out in 2013 to help bring a variety of tired Allards back to new. Along this time, Alan and Lloyd were urged to bring one of the rarest and sought out Allards back to the market. The car below was been built in part, to test the market for the revival of Allard as a specialist car manufacturer once again, after a gap of some 60 years

What you see here, is JR chassis #3408, the result of over 90 years of automotive experience from a family that has history of building some of the most unique automobiles to ever turn a wheel. The bulk of the car was fabricated personally by grandson Lloyd while son (and father) Alan handled the fine details like panel fitment, trim, and dash assembly. Sydney was a very hands-on car builder and would have be very pleased to see what his progeny have created. The body was the only major fabricated assembly that was outsourced; with that work being trusted to Sean at Historical Motor Works using the original JR bucks.

Sadly, the JR designer, Dudley Hume passed away on May 31, 2019 unable to see the finished product. However, he was instrumental in helping Lloyd and Alan as he had assisted Sydney some 65 years ago. Dudley retained virtually all of the original build drawings which the family used in recreating the JR. JR 3408 was not built from 3D scans or CAD models of donor cars like other ‘continuation’ cars utilize. This car was built from the original velum paper drawings that guided the construction of chassis’ 3401-3407.

The car utilizes as many original components as possible including the spindles, brake back plates, Lockheed brake parts with Alfin drums, Marles steering box, Bluemels steering wheel, Smith’s gauges, and even the spare wheel spigot in the boot. The only modern upgrade is a ‘Period E’ bolt in roll cage to meet FIA regulations.

3408 is powered by a Cadillac 331 V8 producing 300 bhp at 4500 rpm. The engine breathes through two 4-throat Carter carburetors. Drive is transferred through a stout LaSalle 3-speed transmission to a Halibrand quick change differential. The car rides on 600 x 16” wire wheels with Allard knock-offs. 3408 is equipped with only a driver side door, matching the build of the 1953 Le Mans cars (if you want your own JR, it can be equipped with a passenger door as non-Le Mans cars were similarly built).

This JR has been approved by the FIA which means that it is eligible to compete in FIA sanctioned events throughout the world.

We’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes a car a ‘replica’ or a ‘continuation’ and how JR 3408 should be categorized. Really, this car defies attempts to categorize it as it was physically built by the family whose name it wears on the bonnet with the help of the designer that created it. What is JR 3408? It is an Allard.

JR 3408 is being offered by RM-Sothebys at its London Auction this coming October 31, 2020. If you would like to learn more about this car or enquire about having a JR built to your needs, please visit www.allardsportscars.co.uk or email Alan and Lloyd at info@allardsportscars.com.

2019 Monterey Auction Preview

By Colin Warnes

The Monterey Car Week is almost upon us. Last time I checked, there was something like 54 auctions planned for the weekend. I also just read an article online about the 20 most expensive cars expected to sell at Monterey this year, none were estimated at less than $3,000,000. I’m sure you’ll be shocked to hear that none of them were Allards. That being said, there are three Allard’s slated to cross the blocks this year; here’s a brief look at each.

Mecum: Allard J2 #2179, Lot F121

This J2 was exported on October 17, 1951 to Custom Automotive in Dallas, Texas and was sold to Charles Brown of Louisiana. It was ordered with Cadillac engine modifications and was painted black with a red interior. 2179 was the last J2 to leave the Allard factory.

Mr. Brown wanted his car to go racing so he asked an up and coming young driver by the name of Carroll Shelby to drive for him. From what I could find, Shelby is known to have raced it at least twice …running at the Pottsboro hill climb and the SCCA National at Turner AFB. By late 1952, the J2 was struggling to remain competitive, so Shelby moved on to drive Roy Cherryholms J2X-3146 (which will be racing that same weekend). [Ed: As an Allard enthusiast, you are required to know that Carroll Shelby’s legendary Cobra was inspired by his time racing Allards]

From the Mecum catalog…

“Charles Brown sold the car to Wilfred Gray from Indianapolis. During the mid-‘50s, he raced the car in SCCA events at such venues as Elkhart Lake and the remarkable Mount Equinox. What makes Mount Equinox so spectacular is its 3,000-foot elevation change in a span of just 5 miles; it is perhaps the steepest hill climb in North America. The next owner, Dan Saunders, raced the Allard at Wilmot Hills in southern Wisconsin, Wilmot Hills doubling as a ski hill in the winter and serving as a race track while the snow was gone.

In 1972, Chris Leydon acquired J2179. It was about this time that the older race cars, long viewed as uncompetitive, started to be considered part of automotive history. This warranted recommissioning. In the case of J2179, this included period colors of a red exterior and black interior, a full windscreen and wire wheels.

The winning Sir Stirling Moss and J2179 were featured together in a program titled, “The Great Classic Cars.” From there, the car continued to be enjoyed and treasured over the years. The next big event was the 1997 Monterey Historic races, the significance of that event being that Carroll Shelby was the honoree on which the weekend’s festivities were centered. The idea of Shelby being reunited with the car that launched his career is remarkable for any enthusiast of historic racers. In 2005, J2179 was part of the “Gotta Have It” television program. Its most recent event was the 2015 Allard Reunion at Elkhart Lake.

J2179 has been restored to its original color scheme of black with red leather upholstery and is equipped with its believed-original Cadillac V-8 along with the proper transmission. The Cadillac engine is fitted with triple Stromberg 48 carburetors on a vintage Weiand intake manifold, a Crane Competition camshaft and the custom exhaust originally built and installed by a young fabricator who would go on take his own place among the giants of racing, Mickey Thompson. The period-correct wheels and tires are in place along with the numerous other details expected of a racer of this importance.”

J2-2179 is slated to be sold Friday afternoon and should be the ideal addition to any Shelby enthusiasts collection. The car is estimated to sell for $800,000 to $1,200,000. To learn more, visit Mecum’s web site: https://www.mecum.com/lots/CA0819-380994/1952-allard-j2-roadster/

Gooding & Company: Allard J2X Le Mans #3066; Lot 171

This J2X-LM was exported on December 2, 1952 to Captain Leslie who was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base. The car was soon resold to Bob Peterson of Piedmont, California. The car was raced extensively by Carl & Fred Block in California from 1953 through 1955.

3066 was ordered with Chrysler Hemi engine modifications, metallic blue paint, and a red interior. The J2X Le Mans was created in a rush in order to comply with the new 1952 Le Mans regulations that required fully enclosed fenders. In all, our records indicate fourteen J2X Le Mans were built.

From the Gooding catalog, “Around 1953, Bob Peterson of Piedmont, California, purchased the Allard and with drivers Carl and Fred Block, campaigned it extensively in SCCA races across their home state, competing at fabled venues and against the premier sports car racers of the day, including Phil Hill, Johnny von Neumann, and Pete Lovely. At the 1954 race at Golden Gate Park, Carl Block hit a row of hay bales, damaging the Allard’s front bodywork. It has been suggested that renowned car customizer Jack Hagemann, whose shop was near Carl Block’s car dealership, likely sculpted the restyled aluminum front end it wears today, and painted the car red.

In 1958, Bob Peterson sold the car to John Tilton for $2,500, and it has since remained in the Tilton family’s care for more than 60 years. In the mid-1970s, the Tilton children retrieved the J2X Le Mans from long-term storage and persuaded their father to restore it, an operation completed by Vic Russum of Racing Dynamics West in Los Angeles, with paint and bodywork by the acclaimed Eddie Paul.

After its restoration, the car appeared at the 1977 and 1978 Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca and was invited to the 1977 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®. The Allard J2X Le Mans was recently recommissioned by the Tilton family and stands ready to continue its proud legacy as a formidable competitor from the golden age of sports car racing.”

I’ve spent a lot of time inspecting 3066 while restoring our J2X Le Mans. Overall, the car is largely original, which is unique among Allards, especially those that raced. It features what could be the original Hemi engine, including a Ford 3-speed which we assume must have Zephyr gears. Some may balk at the modified body, but it’s a unique and integral part of the car’s history.

It looks like 3066 is slated to be sold on Saturday afternoon. The car is estimated to sell for $450,000 to $600,000 and has a reserve. To learn more, visit the Gooding & Company web site: https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1953-allard-j2x-le-mans/

Gooding & Company: Allard K2 #3127, Lot 132

This car was exported to Noel Kirk Motors in LA on October 7, 1952. It was fitted with Cadillac engine mounts and painted Beige with Brown interior. From the catalog, “Presenting in black paint with a red interior, this K2 was owned by William Avery of Pennsylvania, who hardly drove the car but commissioned a light restoration in 2012. He assigned Lamborghini of Orlando to repaint the bodywork and refurbish the interior, renew the electricals, and install a roll bar. In 2012, the Allard was purchased by the consignor, a private East Coast collector, who has used the car sparingly. Never raced and always meticulously maintained, this Allard comes with the promise of a great motoring experience.”

3127 will be sold Saturday without reserve; the price is estimated at $100,000 to $130,000. To learn more, visit the Gooding & Company web site: https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1952-allard-k2-roadster/

For Sale: Sydney's GT - SOLD!

Chassis 7102 was the first of two GT’s built. The swept tail coupe was built for the 1957 Earl’s Court Motor Show and then would serve as Sydney’s transport afterwards. The car gathered much attention at the show, including Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother. The car shared the Palm Beach MkII chassis, but was later converted to a DeDion rear suspension to improve the handling after Paul Frere had an exciting demonstration drive at Goodwood with Tom Lush. The car features a Jaguar drivetrain with a XK140 motor, 4-speed transmission, and Salisbury differential. The Allard family retained the car after his death, where it passed through a few owners in the UK, including a stint in the now closed Stondon Motor Museum. In 2012 the car was exported to the USA by the late owner.

7102 comes mostly original except for the installation of a roll bar, racing seat and internal fire suppression system; all of which can be removed.  The car sustained damage to the front right suspension under carriage when a wheel came off at speed at 2016 Monterey Motorsport Reunion.

For Sale: 1951 J2-2123

Chassis 2123 was special ordered by Delvan Lee on 7th. June, 1951 through for Wood Motors, Detroit, MI. Wood Motors only imported one Allard, which was done as a special favor to Mr. Delvan Lee. Del had raced Allards previously at Sebring and Giants Despair so he knew what he wanted. He ordered the car specifically to be similar to Sydney’s 1950 Le Mans mount, including silver wire wheels, left hand spare mount, Lucas lamps with stone guards, and a special metallic blue paint job with bright red interior.

Delvan raced the car on the ice at Lake Orion and then Bridgehampton and Thomson speedway in 1952. In 1953 & 1954 the car was raced at Watkins Glen. In 1953, the car won the Giants Despair Hill Climb.

In 1954 Fred Lavell acquired the Allard and took it to the Bonneville, Utah speed events. He drove the car to a speed of 127 mph. After the 1954 event, the J2 body was removed and a Sorrell streamliner fiberglass body with a stock DeSoto V8 and TorqueFlight transmission were installed. It ran this setup in 1955 and 1956, attaining a top speed of 150.75 mph on gas. 2123 was featured in its Bonneville Sorrell configuration in the December 1957 issue of Motor Life magazine.

The car led an uneventful life after Bonneville until the current owner acquired the car over 25 years ago. The aluminum Allard body was not installed and a Chevrolet small block mated to a Moss 4-speed provided the drive. 2123 was restored by Tivvy Shenton who installed a 390 in3 Caddy engine, three Stromberg 97 carbs, a Muncie transmission, and Harden safety hubs. The car retains the Halibrand quick-change rear that was installed before the Bonneville runs. After restoration, 2123 was vintage raced at Pocono and Watkins Glen.

The seller is the 5th owner of 2123 and notes that the history of the car is fully documented. Included is a 3-ring binder history supplied by Barry Burrell, son of Frank who was the Cadillac engineer who went to Le Mans with Sydney Allard in 1953. The car is also pictured in Joel Finn’s book titled, “Bridgehampton” on page 99. 

The J2 is located in Naples, Florida and is being offered for $275,000 OBO. Interested parties should email us at allardregister@outlook.com.

Auction Alert: J2X-3161

Chassis 3161 was exported on May 2, 1952 to Shawnee Motors in Tokepa, KS.  It was specially ordered with Chrysler engine modifications, a Pat Warren quick-change differential, Alfin drums oil temperature gauge, 6 wire wheels, and dual side mounts for the spare wheels (most J2X’s only had a single spare mount). The car was painted red with a blue interior, which has been tastefully changed to black. The car was then delivered to its original owner Warren Turner.

In 1954, the car was sidelined by an electrical fire. In 1975, Allard enthusiast and future Allard Register Historian Bob Lytle found the car. The J2X was purchased by Allard racer and collector Duncan Emmons, who restored the car and installed a Cadillac engine. In 1992, it was purchased by Seattle-based collector and racer Ken McBride, who campaigned it in vintage events. In 2002, the seller purchased the car from Mr. McBride, and later sent it to Donovan Motorcar Service in Lenox, Massachusetts, where a period-correct Chrysler Hemi was built and installed. The consignor has successfully campaigned the J2X at some of the most celebrated vintage racing events in the US.

Having been cared for by a succession of Allard aficionados, the condition of this J2X has been lovingly preserved and improved over the decades. It is presented with fascinating period correspondence, receipts, and logbooks. With a powerful Chrysler Hemi and lightweight aluminum bodywork, the J2X is a rare and powerful sports car that will be warmly welcomed at vintage races and touring events throughout the US and abroad.

This car is listed as Lot #30 at the upcoming Gooding Scottsdale auction. The estimate ranges from $350,000 to $450,000 which we believe is reasonable for this car. Click here to learn more.

A portion of this text was taken from the Goodings writeup.

For Sale: Allard K1-165

We are pleased to present Allard K1-165 for sale. This car was one of the earliest Allards exported to the US. This K1 was one of three cars exported on August 8, 1947 – these were cars 3, 4, and 5 that entered the US.  Our records indicate it was originally painted red with a brown interior.

The seller, John Miauccoro has owned the car for 12 years now, having raced it competitively with the VSCCA for 10 of those years – the owner before had raced it for 7 years prior starting in 2005. It has been raced up front at lime Rock, Watkins Glen New Jersey, and New Hampshire.

Back in 2015, the seller received an email from a gentleman by the name of David Ward he originally found the car in the late 50s and ended up purchasing it in 1960. Dave states that the car has always been green and has always had the small mouth grill.  He first saw the car in Michigan.

The car was on display at the Watkins Glen Auto Museum in the mid-70s where David Ward was the manager of the museum. Mark Perlmen was the previous owner to John and over the past 20 years it has been maintained to pristine condition. All documentation of each owner since Dave Ward will be passed on to the purchaser. 

The engine is a 390 Cadillac and was built by John Harden/Chris Campbell of The Vintage Connection in Oklahoma City. The engine has JE pistons, Eagle forged connecting rods, Competition camshaft, nitrate crank, billet timing gears, ported and relieved heads, high torque starter, and is adapted to a T4 Richmond close ratio transmission. It has custom headers and 350 CFM Carburetors. The engine has been dyno tuned between 362 hp at 6200 RPM and 401 hp at 6200 rpm. Over $23,000 was spent with The Vintage Connection building the motor and transmission. The rear end is a Ford 9 inch with drum brakes. The front brakes are Lincoln drums vintage 1946/48. The suspension has been fine-tuned with special rated springs and revised geometry. The seller states that this is a magnificent handling Allard and that you will enjoy it on both the Road and track.

The car is being offered for $90,000 and it is located in Albany, New York. Interested parties can contact the seller via email.

Allard For Sale M-625

A very nice Allard M Type, chassis 625 has just come up for sale on the car auction web site, www.bringatrailer.com. The auction should be ending around April 6, so click here to visit their web site. Help this nice M find a new home! 

Allard For Sale: J2-1851, #15 - SOLD!

A very special racing Allard has just come on the market. J2-1851, aka #15 is probably best known as the sister car to the famous West Coast racing J2-1850, aka #14 of owner Tom Carstens. You may recall that #14, as driven by Bill Pollack dominated pretty much every race it entered until it was nearly destroyed in a post-race demonstration lap at Pebble Beach in 1953. #15 was owned by Carstens racing partner Dave Fogg and you could say that Carstens drove for Fogg, just as Pollack raced for Carstens! In fact, Carsten’s raced and won in 1851 (original configuration) at the Pebble Beach Novice Race in 1951.

You could say things changed a bit for 1851 after the demise of 1850. Fogg and Carstens had learned a lot about the challenges brought about by front & rear suspensions of the J2, so they set about improving things with 1851. First off was the front suspension, which was converted to upper & lower transverse leaf springs, which eliminated the unfortunate variable wheelbase design of the J2. In the rear, the diagonal trailing arms were replaced with dual parallel trailing arms. The transmission was replaced with a nearly indestructible mid-30’s Cadillac LaSalle 3-speed…and then with a more competitive Jaguar 4-speed. The wheels were changed to Hallibrand’s. Finally, the most visible change was routing the exhausts out of the right side body cowell. These modifications allowed #15 (at the hands of Carstens) to dominate club racetracks and hill climbs in the Pacific Northwest until 1958 when the car was sold. 1851 maintains all its unique features that made it so competitive, which isn’t surprising since it was restored by Tom Carstens and Dave Fogg!

In case you were wondering, 1851 was ordered on December 19, 1950 and shipped on January 30, 1951. It was delivered to British Motor Car Sales in Washington. It was originally painted black with a red interior. 1851 was equipped with Cadillac engine mods, wire wheels, windshield, and top.

Click here to watch an interview on YouTube with Tom Carstens about #14 & #15.

Click here to read about Dave Fogg's early years with #15; "First Remembrances of Allard"

Click here to read Dave Fogg's detailed review of the modifications to #15 (it's very interesting!); "Much Modified Allard"

See below for a few old letters about 1851 from the Allard Register archives.

May-June 1977 issue, letter by Tom Carstens

April-June 1987 issue, Letter by Dave Fogg

The Sphinx has been found!

In 1954, Tommy Sopwith bought an Allard JR chassis (#3405) from Sydney Allard. Tommy had a custom body built and then added an 3.4L Armstrong-Siddley Sapphire straight six. The car was very competitive...regularly beating C-Jags. In  the late 50's, Sopwith sold the Sphinx without engine to Brian Croot. Croot installed a Jag straight six and raced the car through the late 60's. Sometime in the late 80's the Sphinx then went to France and disappeared; resurfacing occasionally, only to go back into hiding.

Well, the Sphinx has finally resurfaced! Manny Dragone has contracted with the Estate to auction the car at their Greenwich Auction on June 4. No estimate has been given, but we'd expect a car with this pedigree to go for no less than $350,000. If you attend the auction please take lots of photos!

Click here to visit Dragone's auction page

Click here to read more about the Sphinx on Motorsport magazine's web page

Number Plates...

As you are no doubt aware, the chassis number plates used by the Allard Motor Company were not the most durable items. For many years we've offered reproductions of the newer brass plates, but we've never had any of the smaller zinc plates. Fortunately one of our members shared their old plate with us so we could have some reproductions made. Instead of zinc plated brass or aluminum, we had these made out of stainless steel. The black portion is etched (recessed) just like the originals. The stainless plates measure 3" square; while the brass plates measure 4" wide x 3 1/2" tall. We've also scoured Ebay to source period correct letter and number punches. Click here to let us know if you need a replacement.

For Sale: Allard K3-3266

We're excited to offer this very nice K3, chassis 3266. Please click here or the photo above to learn more about this car.