1951 Allard J2

Sydney Allard was a successful rally and hillclimb driver in cars of his own manufacture. He was born in London, England, and grew up in a family who owned a substantial Ford dealership named Adlard Motor (yes, correct spelling). He earned a class victory at the Brighton Speed Trials in 1935 driving an unsupercharged Ford V-8 sports car. In April of 1936, he won a 50-mile handicap race at Southport in a V8-powered racing special. He had taken a crashed Ford V8 coupe and grafted the body of a Grand Prix Bugatti, creating one of the most unlikely of all pre-war trials specials. This would set the tone for many of his future creations, incorporating lightweight construction and relatively powerful American V8 power. Carroll Shelly would later acknowledge Allard's influence on the Cobra. During the early 1950s, both Carroll Shelby and Zora Duntov (of Corvette fame)raced J2s.

England was decimated during the war by years of aerial attacks and war-focused production. Due to a government decree and as England was desperate to rebuild its domestic economy, only enterprises that produced hard currency revenue would receive the scarce resources. Sydney Allard, like so many others, was faced with limits on the supply of parts and materials needed to return to racing. So he adapted his V-8-powered pre-war trials car to circuit racing and tailored it for the lucrative U.S.-based customer.

His greatest achievements, however, came with the arrival of the J2 sports car in 1949. It was bestowed with many aspects of its trials-oriented J1 sibling but was considerably lighter, lower, and more streamlined for road racing. Its engine bay was designed to house the plentiful and cheap Detroit V-8s, and the robust chassis featured a de Dion-style live rear axle, a revised version of Allard's signature split beam swinging arm front suspension with coil springs (designed by Les Bellamy), and large Alfin inboard drum brakes. The brakes had come from the Jaguar XK120 but were better suited for the 700-pound lighter Allard. Sydney had a long-running relationship with Ford, but it was the 331 cubic-inch overhead-valve V8 from Cadillac that would cement the J2's competition reputation during the early 1950s. In stock form, the Cadillac-powered Allards produced 160 horsepower and were regular winners in Europe and America, becoming a dominant force in sports car racing.

Allard J2 models that were shipped to the United States were devoid of engines, leaving that decision up to the buyer to have installed locally. The use of American components made it easy to find parts.

The J2 was a Spartan race car that was easily modified and maintained, and there was no shortage of speed equipment geared to the L-Head V8. It offered a brutal balance between torque and control, and its simple two-seater coachwork with cycle fenders complemented the engine's thunderous performance. It had vents, fairings, and louvers with small cowlings in front of each occupant's seat where they crouched behind a pair of Brooklands aero screens.

Between 1949 and 1957, the J2s competed in 313 documented starts in major races, achieving first-place on 40 occasions, with 32 seconds, 30 thirds, 25 fourths, and 10 fifth-place finishes. A Cadillac-powered Allard J2 was driven by Bill Pollack to victory in 1951 at the Pebble Beach Road Races. A Cadillac-powered J2 was driven by Sydney Allard and Tom Cole to third place at the 1950 24 Hours of LeMans, an impressive accomplishment considering the 3-speed gearbox had broken first and second gears.

The J2 was built from 1950 through 1951 with ninety examples built during that time.

After the J2 came the J2X, produced through 1952 with 83 examples built. The J2X received modifications to its front suspension with allowed the engine to be positioned about 7 inches further than the J2 engine, improving the vehicle's handling, weight distribution, and overall performance. Additionally, it provided more legroom for its occupants. Thus the 'X' in the name represents 'extended.' Its longer nose protruded further beyond the front wheels and was different than the J2's nose which stopped even with the front of the front tires. Additional distinguishable features included side access panels for the engine and model examples wore a wide flat hood scoop, unlike the J2s which had a different custom-built hood arrangement. To accommodate various racing scenarios, a larger fuel tank and a differential with quick-change ratios were optional.

Sports car racing had matured by the time the J2X arrived and they were not as successful in international competition as the J2. Between 1952 and 1960, out of 199 documented major race starts, the J2X finished in first place on twelve occasions, 11 times in second, 17 thirds, 14 fourths, and 10 fifth places.

Mechanical Specifications
The Allard J2 was produced in 1950 and 1951, and the J2X was built from 1951 to 1954.

The Allard J2 had a 100-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 155 inches, a width of 68 inches, and weighed just over 2,000 lbs. The standard engine for the J2 models remaining in Britain was the 3.6-liter flathead V8 engine from the Ford Pilot, producing 85 horsepower. A 4.4-liter Mercury V8 engine with 110 horsepower was also a popular option. Many of the J2s sent to the United States (all sent without engines) received Oldsmobile, Cadillac, or Chrysler V8s.

The front suspension was a swing axle with coil springs, and the rear relied on a DeDion tube with coil springs. The J2X had a redesigned front suspension arrangement which resulted in the engine moving forward by about 7.1 inches. This resulted in better weight distribution and gave the occupants more legroom. The J2X has a longer nose than the J2, sticking out beyond the front wheels. The J2's nose stops even with the front of the front tires.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2021