1952 Allard JR

The Allard Motor Company Limited was founded in southwest London in 1945 by Sydney Allard, a British Ford dealer and racing enthusiast. During the mid-1930s, he built a successful trials machine using Ford and Bugatti parts, and his post-war vehicles were equally innovative and creative. The company was in business for a relatively short period, lasting until 1958 with approximately 1,900 cars produced. In the immediate post-World War II era, Sidney installed the numerous available surplus Ford engines into purpose-built sports and racing cars. Many of his creations straddled the worlds of hot rods and sports cars, intended for spirited driving, whether on the street or the track.

The Allard Model J was a competition short-wheelbase two-seater sports car, the Allard Model K was slightly larger and built for road use (mostly two- or three-seat tourers or roadsters), and the Model L was a four-seater. All three used a Ford Pilot chassis and were powered by a side-valve 221 cubic-inch, flathead V8 with a single carburetor, 6:1 compression, and developed 85 horsepower. Later, the new overhead-valve V8s would give these cars its competition prowess, with power that neared 200 bhp. The engines were backed by a three-speed transmission, a low-geared rear-end, a Leslie Ballamy-developed swing axle front suspension, and a Ford solid rear axle. The aluminum bodies were created by Allard's friend Godfrey Imhof.

All Allard models were built in limited numbers, however, some models were rarer than others. Seven examples of the JR Allard were built in the very early 1950s, with the first two serving as factory race cars for the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans. One JR Allard was driven by Sidney Allard and the other by Zora Arkus Duntov. Both cars retired early during the race, with the Allard/Fotheringham-Parker (chassis NLN 652) suffering from a cracked brake drum. Sidney had led the first lap of the race before he had been forced to retire after three-quarters of an hour of racing. The Duntov car (chassis NLN 650), co-driven by Ray Merrick, raced until 1:00 am before it was withdrawn due to engine problems. During the race, the car clocked 145.35 miles per hour by the Automobile Club de L'Oust on the Mulsanne Straight. This would be the Allard marque's final appearance at Le Mans.

The remaining five cars were sold new to privateers.

The JR Allards had nearly identical mechanical components and configuration to the J2X, but with a unique full-envelop body, devoid of the J2X's cycle fenders. The slim, aerodynamic, lightweight alloy body improved the car's overall top speed. The overhead-valve Cadillac engine had a 365 cubic-inch displacement and, depending on configuration, produced an estimated 350 horsepower with dual four-barrel carburetors. The wheelbase measured 100 inches, the braking was by Lockheed four-wheel hydraulic brakes, and the front suspension was semi-independent with a split axle. The rear suspension used a de Dion axle with coil springs and tubular shock absorbers.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2020