1951 Allard K2 Roadster

The year 1950 brought out an improved version of Sydney Allard's road-going K1 sports car. Logically designated the Allard K2, it retained a live rear axle with a transverse leaf spring and a split front axle, now on twin coil springs instead of the single transverse leaf. Also new was a smoother, two/three-seat aluminum body with cut-down doors and a tail treatment not far removed from that of the Jaguar XK120.

From there forward, however, the K2 was its own car, sharing a style with nothing but other Allards. The front fenders were what some designers call the 'clamshell' type and carried flush headlights. The front bodysides, with three portholes a la Buick, joined to a rounded nose with a squarish, vertical-bar grille. Set well back from this was a small flat hood panel. Typical of Allard practice to date, stamped-steel disc wheels were standard, and short bumperettes protected the easily dented body front and rear.

Inside, the Allard K2 was fairly stark, yet more 'luxurious' than any previous two-seat Allards; it was more like the four-passenger L, M, and P models, with full instrumentation and a choice of right- or left-hand drive.

Allard built 119 Allard K2s through 1952, and 79 of them were sold in the United States. This K2 has been raced on numerous U.S. road courses.