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1953 Allard J2X Roadster

  • Chassis Number: 3146
Roy Cherryhomes of Texas ordered this 1952 Allard J2X through Neil Kirk Motors of Hollywood, California on November 6th of 1952 and was powered by a 331 cubic-inch Cadillac V8 engine. It was driven in five Sports Car Club of America races in 1953 by an upstart driver and chicken farmer named Carroll Shelby who placed first overall in four of them and second in the fifth race.

The car's first international race was in January of 1954 in Buenos Aires where it was once again driven by Shelby and co-driver Dale Duncan. They completed the 1000-kilometer race in 10th place overall and won the Kimberly Cup as the top-finishing U.S. team.

The car's history through 1970 remains a mystery. When Dr. Richard McKee of Fort Worth, Texas acquired the car in 1970, it was powered by a modified Chevrolet V-8 engine. He undertook a multi-year, frame-up restoration and when the work was completed, he campaigned the car in four vintage races in 1975. It raced with a period-correct 331-cubic-inch Chrysler FirePower Hemi V-8 engine.

Dr. McKee showed it at various events before it was sold in 1989 to Peter Booth of Colorado Springs, Colorado. After refurbishing the car, he campaigned it in 29 vintage races from 1990 through 2010.

The car's next owner was August Grasis III of Kansas City, Missouri who purchased it in 2013 and installed a correct, 331-cubic-inch Cadillac V-8 in 2015. Racing in vintage events, he claimed several first-place finishes.

The current caretaker acquired it in late 2017. It has since been treated to perhaps the most thorough mechanical recommissioning of its life.

In 2019, the Allard won the 2019 Del Monte Trophy in Monterey, California.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022
In the early days of post-war sports car racing, the Allard J2 and J2X ruled the roost with their lightweight aluminum construction and American V-8 power. Sydney Allard produced the chassis and bodies and shipped them to the states without an engine (83 J2X were produced). In the case of #3146, it was ordered by Texas Oilman/Sportsman Roy Cherryhomes, to be configured for the Cadillac 331 CID V-8, the weapon of choice for early 1950's hot rodders.

Cherryhome approached young upstart driver/chicken farmer Carroll Shelby to drive his car in SCCA events in Texas and the plains states. At the time, Gen. LeMay of the Strategic Air Command was organizing races on his airfields, drawing tens of thousands of spectators to each event. Though Shelby wasn't paid, all expenses were covered for a fast car with an excellent mechanic.

Shelby drove the car in five races in 1953, placing first overall in four races and second in the fifth race. In January 1954, the car was shipped to Buenos Aires for the international 1000KM race in Buenos Aires where Shelby and Dale Duncan competed against all the world's top teams and drivers. There, it ultimately finished tenth and won the Kimberly Cup as the top U.S. team to finish.

Shelby's performance in this race caught the attention of John Wyer of Aston Martin and led to a full-time factory ride for Shelby in 1954 through the end of his racing career which culminated with a LeMans win in 1959.

Of course, Shelby later went on to design and build the iconic AC Cobra. He stated on numerous occasions that his experience with the Allard's combination of lightweight British chassis and body with American V8 power inspired him to build the Cobra.
Carroll Shelby, at the time a novice driver, drove this car to victory in every race entered in 1953. In January of 1954, Shelby placed 10th at the 1000 km of Buenos Aires (1st US Car) - caught the attention of the big European teams - and the rest is history.

2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $500,000-USD $750,000 
Sale Price :
USD $626,500

1953 Allard J2X Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Allard J2X

(Data based on Model Year 1953 sales)
1953 Allard J2X Le Mans
Chassis#: J2X 3071
Sold for USD$252,000
  2022 Broad Arrow Auctions : The Passion for the Drive
1953 Allard J2X image  1953 Allard J2X image  
1952 Allard J2X
Chassis#: 3146
Sold for USD$626,500
  2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1953 Allard J2X image  1953 Allard J2X image  
1953 Allard J2-X Little Red
Chassis#: J2X 3142
Sold for USD$280,000
  2018 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1953 Allard J2X image  1953 Allard J2X image  
1953 Allard J2X
Chassis#: 3161
Sold for USD$286,000
  2018 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale, Az.
 
1953 Allard J2X Vintage Racing Car
Chassis#: J2X3162
Sold for USD$297,000
  2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey
 
1953 Allard J2X
Sold for USD$258,500
  2009 The Scottsdale Auction : Gooding & Company
1953 Allard J2X image  1953 Allard J2X image  
1953 ALLARD J2X LEMANS FACTORY LIGHTWEIGHT
Sold for USD$407,000
  2005 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2005
 
1953 Allard J2X Cadillac 'LeMans'
Chassis#: J2X3155
Sold for USD$171,600
  2004 Vintage Motor Cars at Meadow Brook Hall
 
1953 Allard J2X Le Mans Competition Roadster
Chassis#: 3153
Sold for USD$153,544
  2004 Coys - Légende et Passion
 

Allard J2Xs That Failed To Sell At Auction

1953 Allard J2X's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1953 Allard J2X Le Mans30662019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach $450,000$600,000
1953 Allard J2X Replica 2010 Mecum Dana Mecum's Original Spring Classic Auction$30,000  

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1953 Allard J2X

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1953 Allard J2X Vehicle Profiles

1953 Allard J2X vehicle information
Roadster
Chassis #: 3066
1953 Allard J2X vehicle information
Roadster
Chassis #: J2X 3142
1953 Allard J2X vehicle information
Roadster
Chassis #: 2092
1953 Allard J2X vehicle information
Roadster
Chassis #: 3146
1953 Allard J2X vehicle information
Roadster
Chassis #: J3202
1953 Allard J2X vehicle information
Roadster
Chassis #: J2X3144
Engine #: 2350
1953 Allard J2X vehicle information
Roadster
Chassis #: J2X 3071
Engine #: 2S222