1948 Allard M-Type

Many of the automobiles created by Sydney Allard, both in the pre- and post-war era, combined lightweight construction, American V8 power, and an independent front suspension. The Allard cars quickly established a formidable competition record including Allard himself finishing 3rd at LeMans in a J2 two-seater and winning the Monte Carlo Rally outright in a P2 saloon.

After World war II, Allard was left with plenty of engines and parts but no government contracts. The k1 two-seater was introduced in 1946 and it rested on a box-section frame with transverse leaf springs and Leslie Ballamy's independent front suspension. Power was sourced from Ford and Mercury flathead V-8 engines and coupled with lightweight construction, the K1 had excellent acceleration and performance. A longer wheelbase version soon followed, called the L-Type, which offered seating for four occupants.

In 1947, Allard introduced the J1, a shortened K1 intended for sprints and time trials, and a four-seater dubbed the M-Type (retrospectively the M1). The M1 was a more civilized version of the contemporary L Type and once again used an independent suspended 'split' front axle and transverse-leaf rear end in a chassis that was six inches longer than that of the K-Type. It used Ford components with power sourced from the Ford 3,622cc 'flathead' V8. During its production lifespan, lasting from 1947 through 1950, approximately 500 examples were built with most going to overseas customers.

The torquey American V8 engine was backed by a three-speed manual gearbox with high overall gearing, resulting in the M1 being very fast and exciting to drive.

In 1951, the Allard Motor Company introduced the M2, often called 'the Whale' due to its new front design with its integrated wings, one-piece bonnet, and 'A'-style grille. The four-seater convertible continued to use the same Ford 3.6-liter engine as its predecessor, with a three-speed gearbox, and a body formed from aluminum panels. Production was brief, lasting until the end of 1951, with just seven examples built before the introduction of the M2X.

The M2X was essentially a convertible version of the P1 Coupe with a new front suspension sourced from the J2. It continued to use the 3.6-liter Ford engine or an optional 4.4-liter V8. Production continued through 1952 with a total of 25 examples built.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2020