To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
£180,000 - £240,000
- The only Allard JR constructed by Allard Sports Cars Ltd
(holder of worldwide trademark)
- Completed to 1953 Le Mans JR specification by Lloyd Allard and
Alan Allard
- Brand new example offered with test mileage only from Allard
Sports Cars Ltd
- Designated with period and sequence-correct chassis number 3408
from Allard factory records
- Offered with FIA accreditation (GB12826)
Please note that this lot will need to be collected in Chobham,
U.K.
THE ALLARD JR - FROM THE LEGENDARY SYDNEY ALLARD'S ALLARD MOTOR
COMPANY
British motorsport legend Sydney Allard built his Allard Motor
Company into a fabled British car manufacturer from pre-war grass
roots motorsport and engineering in London in the late 1930's. Best
known for his 'J' Series sports racing cars, Sydney achieved iconic
status with the 1950 J2 followed by the J2X and J2X Le Mans
utilizing V-8 engines from Cadillac and Chrysler.
The J2 led the field in American sports-car racing in the early
1950's, forcing major manufacturers such as Ferrari and Jaguar to
take stock after a renowned East Coast Allard J2 won eight major
races in a row. Carroll Shelby drove a J2 with great success, and
this fundamental idea of mating a British chassis with an American
V-8 engine inspired Shelby who further advanced this hybrid concept
in developing the Cobra -- a fact he readily acknowledged.
In 1952, U.S. General Curtis Le May (the youngest four-star General
since Ulysses S. Grant) was the commander of the Strategic Air
Command, with all U.S. Air Force facilities and airfields at his
disposal. Being an avid sports car enthusiast, General Le May
loaned out select airfields for competition use by the Sports Car
Club of America. His associate General Griswold was an Allard owner
who shared Le May's racing passion. The pair formed a racing team
and ordered three Allard JRs to campaign in the USA.
At the same time in the U.K., engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov had joined
the Allard Motor Company and was chosen to drive a factory team JR
at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 1953. That same year, Duntov
left Allard for the USA and a development role at Chevrolet, where
he helped to introduce the small-block V-8 to the Corvette and
revolutionized the American sports car industry earning the
nickname "Father of the Corvette".
AN ALLARD JR FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
This new authentic Allard JR heralds the rebirth of the Allard
marque in the modern day over sixty years since the last car rolled
out of the factory in London in 1959. Seven JR's (ranging from
chassis number 3401 to 3407) were built between 1953 and 1956 with
chassis number 3408 naturally given to this car by archivist and
first grandson to Sydney, Gavin Allard.
Chassis number 3408 is built very closely to the specification of
the 1953 Le Mans JR chassis number 3402 that ran at the 1953 24
Hours of Le Mans, and in doing so is accredited by the FIA. This
opens the door to eligibility for racing events around the world.
With its removeable FIA safety cage and other safety features, this
JR is eligible to race at prestigious international events
including the Le Mans Classic or the Grand Prix de Monaco
Historique.
At its heart is a 5.4-litre (331 cu. in.) Cadillac OHV V-8 engine
sourced from a K2 with original Edmunds intake manifold and dual
Carter carburetors, mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. Clothed
by hand-formed all-aluminum bodywork and finished in the iconic
shade of British Racing Green, this JR was constructed using many
correct, original Allard components in addition to the engine.
These Allard parts include a Marles steering box, 'Vertex' Magneto,
Lucas dynamo, a modified J2 De Dion axle, front spindles and hubs,
brake back plates front and rear, and an Allard speedometer and
tachometer. With over two decades of experience in motor racing,
motorsport fabrication and restoration of historic Allards, this
example was largely constructed by master builder and second
grandson Lloyd Allard, with assistance by his father (Sydney's son)
Alan, himself retired from a motorsport career.
Historical input and technical basis of the JR design were driven
by the original designer Dudley Hume. At the age of 93, Hume
supplied his experience, support, and some 120 drawings to this
project which he held close to his heart. David Hooper, chief
engineer and draftsman at Allard Motor Company also gave support
and advice. With Hume's original and contemporary input, this team
joined forces to produce a superb car of stunning quality
throughout utilizing the same construction methods and materials as
the original JR.
This stunning example is unique, given the fact it was completed in
2019 and prepared by the second and third generations of the Allard
family working together with the original Allard designer and chief
engineer - all dedicated to seeing this cherished project reach a
stunning conclusion. The JR is ready to be campaigned by its first
owner in historic racing, with the assistance of Allard's extensive
knowledge and consultation. On and off the track, this would be an
exciting opportunity for any historic racer or vintage sports car
enthusiast as an investment into the rebirth of one of the most
celebrated manufacturers of the 1950's, offered directly from
Allard.
Please note that this lot is currently on display at CARS in
Chobham at Alpha 319 Chobham Business Centre, Chertsey Road,
Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8JB and can be viewed on appointment on
Thursday October 29th and Friday October 30th between 9am and 5pm.
Please contact our office at
+44 (0) 20 7851 7070 or email
Britta Buchmann at
[email protected] to
secure your appointment. Should you want more information on this
lot, feel free to email
[email protected]To view
this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please
visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf20.
