Fantasy Junction

Description

1951 Allard J2 Cadillac V8
s/n 91J 1788
Blue with Red Interior

History of Allard Motor Cars

With characteristically unique British charm, alloy body, and a stout American V8 engine, the low-slung Allard arrived on US shores a full decade before the Shelby Cobra, inspiring leagues of upstarts to build performance cars with similar sporting features. Founded in 1945 by race car driver Sydney Allard, the fledgling south-west London establishment survived for just thirteen years, but in that brief period produced a remarkable 1,900 cars while attracting drivers like Carr0ll Shelby and Zora Arkus-Duntov, both of whom drove Allards competitively. Having spent time developing more conservative cars, the J2 was a significant departure for Allard tapping into the growing market for sports and competition cars, especially in North America. Early examples were shipped to the US with Mercury flathead V8 engines but eventually Allard built cars without engines and shipped them to the states where a wide range of American V8 engines were installed. Highly competitive in 1950, a Cadillac powered J2 took third place at Le Mans. In nine years of competitive racing, Allard earned 40 1st place victories, 32 2nd place wins, 30 3rd places, and numerous other top five placements in premier races.

The J2 Allard was assembled with hand formed alloy bodies shaped around robust steel frames featuring coil-spring Bellamy split I-beam front suspension with telescopic dampers, De Dion coil-spring rear axle, and inboard Alfin rear drum brakes. Under the hood, Cadillac power delivered 265bhp breathing through three Ford carburetors while sending power to the rear wheels via a 3-speed manual gearbox. The combination of powerful and reliable American engines mated to lightweight alloy bodied cars would prove to be a desirable pairing, unleashing a torrent of further competition sports racers following in Allard’s footsteps.

History of Allard 91J 1788

Rare by any measure, a factory-built Allard J2 exemplifies the best of independent 1950s era sports car manufacturing. With just a handful of examples built between 1951-1954, according to research gathered by previous and current owners, chassis #91J 1788 departed London November 21, 1950, and was dispatched to E. Alan Moss, the Allard Distributor, Hollywood, CA. Finished in black with red leather interior, the car was sold without an engine or transmission, though it was configured at Allard with mechanical provisions for fitment of a Cadillac V8 engine, which was installed once in the states. Uniquely identified by the six round porthole engine vents on the side of the car, Colin Warnes of the Allard Register suggests that, unlike the more common oval vents, these round vents were in place when the car was delivered – a feature that has helped document the car as it participated in important period races.

The first known owner was Douglas Aircraft test pilot Jack Armstrong. Eager to prove his driving skills, Armstrong first entered this Allard at the 1951 Palm Springs Road Races where he finished 2nd to Marshall Lewis piloting Jim Kimberly’s Ferrari 166MM. Latching his travel luggage to the trunk of the car, Armstrong drove 350 miles north to Pebble Beach placing 4th in the first race (May 27th) with his luggage still atop the rear of the car. With the luggage removed, Armstrong then proceeded to complete the second race of the day at Pebble Beach finishing second, behind Bill Pollack, who would take first place also driving an Allard J2. Of note, that same race would find Phil Hill trailing Armstrong’s Allard at 4th place in his 2.9 Alfa-Romeo. Armstrong’s 2nd place and subsequent notations of driver and car are noted in Road and Track magazine (July 1951) as well as referenced in the Pebble Beach book, page 42. Of note Armstrong achieved these results in an essentially stock car which, he frankly commented when interviewed after his successful outing at Pebble Beach, “needed to get me back to Los Angeles in time for work Monday morning.”

According to reference notes supplied with this car, after Armstrong raced this Allard, it was sold to the next known owner, Road & Track Editor, Tony Hogg (1963) followed by Robbie Hunt (1967), Roy Anderson (1969), and renown collector Ron Kellogg, who purchased the car in 1986 and retained it for more than two decades. The car was sold to the next owner in 2007 through Dragone Classic Motorcars. The owner retained the car for the next fifteen years before selling it to the current owner in 2022.

Condition and Operational Features

Today, this famous Allard presents in beautiful condition still displaying fine finishes from the comprehensive now lightly mellowed restoration performed some years ago under prior ownership. Given the history and import of this particular J2, it is particularly rewarding to see it finished in the original colors when delivered new to the adventurous Jack Armstrong. The beautiful black paint has been expertly applied to the hand formed alloy body panels resulting in glossy finishes, deep luster, and even coverage. Though some areas show signs of age, the finishes are still quite nice overall. The various plated and polished trim parts are in excellent condition with proper fit to the alloy coachwork including the unique round porthole vents just below the hood line. The body integrity is also quite good, with consistent shut lines and closures on the single piece bonnet and doors. The painted wire wheels are correct per the period, finished in red with chrome plated knockoffs and Dunlop Racing tires. Front aluminum Alfin drum brakes are finished with matching black backer plates while the rear brakes are mounted inboard on the rear axle, hidden from view.

The red leather interior is in excellent condition overall with gently relaxed seatback leather seating surfaces, black lap belts, and lightly aged carpet. Correct materials and trim, correct dash, instruments and switches with excellent clarity on the faces and glass, complete the sporty interior. Every aspect of the interior is very nicely resolved including twin Brooklands style windscreens, engine turned dashboard, purposeful black rim steering wheel, and an upright 3-speed gearbox lever. Storage in the rear of the car is accessible via a removable rear panel.

The engine compartment has been restored to a high level with correct finishes applied to all components, hardware, hoses, and lines, all of which display lightly heat aged hues to the otherwise fine finishes. The Cadillac engine is painted the correct stock blue with red Cadillac logos across the valve covers. A famed Edelbrock intake manifold is topped with triple chrome air cleaners over three Ford carburetors. Under the hood, a convenient divided storage tray area is offered aft of the engine, ideal for travel tools and smaller spare parts. The undercarriage reveals quality consistent with the restoration however some of the formerly restored components now show signs of road use.

This car is accompanied by a spare set of four chrome plated wire wheels with Dunlop Racing tires, a spare V8 long block on an engine stand, and copies of period articles featuring Jack Armstrong and the earliest races, reference articles about Allard, a copy of Tony Hogg’s 1963 article about Allard, a copy of a handwritten letter from Jack Armstrong, and other reference information on the history of this car.

A wonderful example of an historically important Allard J2 featuring known ownership, period racing history, and excellent presentation, this Allard J2 is sure to offer the next owner exciting performance on vintage tours, participation in premier concours shows, or enjoyable club event outings. Please note that this car is titled using the serial number 8M536 affixed to the firewall.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608