1948 Allard M-Type Drophead Coupe

Sydney Allard cut his teeth in competition prior to World War II using Ford mechanicals and lightweight construction. After the war, Allard graduated from auto manufacturing to support his racing efforts. His cars combined lightweight European construction with American V-8 power, a formula that would be widely copied in years to come.

For a brief period in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the name Allard was one of the most revered of all motor car manufacturers. The company's road cars were exceptionally popular among wealthy enthusiasts, especially in the United States. The racing versions were extremely competitive on the tracks, and the company's founder, Sidney Allard, was a well-known and capable driver, considered among Britain's best. He would win the 1949 British Hillclimb Championship in 1949, and also the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally in 1952.

Introduced in 1947, the M1 Drophead Coupe was the first postwar Allard model with substantial bodywork, complete with full-length doors and a folding convertible top. Seating for four and more elaborate trim than the more competition-oriented Allard models rounded out the more civilized M1. The M1 was quite successful, with Allard producing 500 during a four-year run. The Allard Model Company of England only produced a total of 1,900 cars from 1945 - 1958. Sidney Allard loved two things: speed and the Ford flathead motor which the M1 combined. With an all-aluminum body, it has a 250 horsepower 337 cubic-inch Ford V8 engine with three carburetors and dual exhaust. The car sports a three-speed manual transmission, independent swing-axle front suspension, beam-type rear axle with torque tube and transverse leaf spring, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

This rare M1 has just completed a body-off frame, nut-and-bolt concours restoration of the highest standards. It is powered by a 337 cubic-inch Ford V8 that produces 250 horsepower, which propels the lightweight all-aluminum body with style and grace. It also features a three-speed manual transmission, independent swing axle front suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.