Vehicle Description
Allard Motor Company was founded in the aftermath of WWII by Sydney
Allard, a London garage owner who was also known for being a rather
bold and courageous racing driver. Prior to the war, Allard built a
handful of cars for trials competition on bespoke chassis that
utilized cheap American horsepower in the form Ford's V8 end even
the Lincoln V12! His first cars were successful enough to sell
about a dozen examples before the war. After the war, Sydney Allard
wasted little time getting back to building cars. In 1946 he
announced the arrival of the K1, a 2-seat roadster with a
box-section chassis, live rear axle, transverse leaf springs and
the signature split-axle front suspension designed by Les Ballamy.
As a natural by-product of Allard's war-time business repairing
Ford military vehicles, power came from the ubiquitous Ford
"flathead" V8, with the option to fit the more powerful Mercury
version following suit. Many cars would be equipped with the ARDUN
overhead valve conversion, as its creator, Zora Arkus Duntov served
as a technical advisor and works driver for Sydney Allard prior to
going to General Motors where he became the savior of the Corvette.
Allard had indeed found an ideal formula, as 151 customers came
knocking to buy the K1. Other models would follow suit, in either
road or racing versions, as did and improved coil spring front-end.
The J2 marked Allard's arrival on the international motorsport
scene, particularly in the United States where Cadillac, Buick,
Oldsmobile or Chrysler powered J2s would come to dominate the heady
early days of open road racing in the �States. Allard's proudest
moment came in 1950 when Tom Cole and Sydney Allard drove a
Cadillac-powered J2 to an impressive 3rd overall at the 24 hours of
LeMans, despite having only top gear at their disposal! Large
manufacturers caught the sports car bug and development was moving
at such a pace that Allard struggled to keep up. The Palm Beach of
1952 featured a modern fully enveloped body and Ford Consul or
Zephyr engines of four or six cylinders respectively. Just 80 were
built in all, but the body design of the Palm Beach reappeared for
the K3, which was in essence, a slightly civilized, road-going
version of the brutal J2. Hidden beneath the attractive alloy body
was a massive American V8, usually an overhead valve Cadillac. Just
62 were built, and most came to the USA sans-engine, allowing
buyers the choice of power. Whatever the choice, the V8 powered
Allard K3 is a thrilling machine from the early days of the sports
car revolution in America. This 1953 Allard K3 is an outstanding
example of this rare and exciting Anglo-American hybrid. �While
most customers opted for Cadillac's proven OHV V8, a few buyers,
including this car's first owner, Mr. Leonard D. Henry of New York
City, would select the mighty Chrysler FirePower Hemi topped with
dual Carter WCFB carburetors, good for at least 325 horsepower.
According to records from the Allard Register, the car was
originally delivered in silver gray with fawn weather equipment and
a green interior. Subsequent owners included Emil Cermelt of Ohio,
and later Mel Belovicz. In the mid-1990s, the car was treated to a
concours-quality restoration by the renowned RM Restorations of
Ontario, Canada, before changing hands again to join another
prominent collection. RM's master craftspeople performed their
typically outstanding work on this K3, finishing it in a beautiful
shade of dark green over a tan leather cockpit with silver painted
wire wheels. The quality of the restoration is outstanding, and
despite the time passed since its completion, it remains in
beautiful condition throughout. The slab-sided alloy body is
exceptionally straight, with precise panel gaps and fine quality
detailing. Deep green paintwork suits the shape very well, and the
quality is truly outstanding, having matured slightly but remaining
in lovely condition since its restoration. The fully enveloped
bodywork is simple and clean in its design, with only chrome
bumpers, a polished grille and minor chrome details used to
highlight the shape. The aggressive bonnet bulge was necessary to
clear the dual Carter WCFB carbs, and louvers help keep engine bay
temps in check. It's all very purposeful, yet clean and
understated. Inside, the quality of the restoration continues to
impress. Lovely biscuit-tan leather graces the seats, door cards
and transmission tunnel. The dash is covered in complementing
material and displays an array of fully restored original
instruments. The driver grips a wonderful banjo-type steering
wheel, and the shift lever for the 4-speed manual gearbox falls
easily to hand. As with the exterior restoration, the interior is
beautifully finished, detailed to a very high standard and shows
minimal use since it was completed. Tan Wilton wool carpets and a
full array of weather equipment in tan Stayfast canvas round out
the finely presented cockpit. Chrysler's classic FirePower Hemi is
wonderfully presented in the engine bay with correct wiring,
hardware and fittings in very tidy order. It sounds fantastic,
breathing through dual side-exit exhausts and weighing in at just
over 2500 pounds with a thumping 325 horsepower, there's little
doubt this K3 has the capacity to thrill all aboard. Allards have
always been exciting cars to drive, and this wonderful K3 is no
exception; a fabulous choice for events such as the Colorado Grand,
Copperstate 1000 or similar. This is a gorgeous example the breed,
a wonderful machine that is a thrill to drive and a worthy addition
to virtually any collection.