Vehicle Description
Allard Motor Company was founded in the aftermath of WWII by Sydney
Allard, a London garage owner with a reputation as a bold and
courageous racing driver. Before the war, Allard constructed a
handful of trials cars using bespoke chassis and cheap American
horsepower, including the Flathead Ford V8 and even a Lincoln V12.
His earliest cars were successful enough to sell about a dozen
examples. After the war, Sydney wasted little time getting back to
motorsports. 1946 marked 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, the ubiquitous Ford "flathead" V8
was the obvious engine choice, with the option of a more powerful
Mercury version coming later. Some cars featured ARDUN
overhead-valve conversion, as its creator, Zora Arkus Duntov,
served as a technical advisor and works driver for Sydney Allard
before going to General Motors, where he famously saved the
Corvette. The J2 marked Allard's arrival on the international
motorsport scene, particularly in the United States where Cadillac,
Buick, Oldsmobile, or Chrysler V8-powered J2s dominated the lairy
open road racing scene of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Soon,
large manufacturers caught the sports car bug, pushing development
along at such a pace that small firms like Allard struggled to keep
up. Undaunted, Sydney Allard persevered and continued developing
new cars like the 1952 Palm Beach, with its fully-enveloped body
and four or six-cylinder Ford power from the Consul and Zephyr.
Allard built just 80, but the body lived on to clothe the new K3.
While the Palm Beach was a boulevard cruiser, the K3 was little
more than a mildly civilized, road-going version of the brutal J2
in a handsome new suit. Hidden beneath the attractive alloy body
was a massive American V8, usually a Ford or Mercury - though
Cadillac and Chrysler engines were also offered, as was the Jaguar
XK inline-six. Sadly for Allard, the K3 sold in small numbers -
just 62 examples were built, and today they stand among the most
collectible of all the Allard road cars. This 1953 Allard K3 is an
outstanding example of this rare and exciting Anglo-American
hybrid. Out of the 62 K3s produced, this car is one of 57 delivered
to the US market and one of just six originally equipped with
Chrysler's mightyFirePowerHemi V8 and a four-speed manual gearbox.
According to records supplied by the Allard Register, Sports Car
Inc sold this K3 on March 14th, 1953, to Mr. Leonard D. Henry of
New York City, and it was finished in silver gray with fawn weather
equipment and a green interior. Subsequent owners included several
prominent collectors and marque enthusiasts, and the ownership
history is well documented in the accompanying file. In the
mid-1990s, the car received a concours-quality restoration by RM
Restorations of Ontario, Canada. Their typically outstanding work
is evident on this K3, which is now presented in dark green over a
tan leather cockpit with silver painted wire wheels. Its slab-sided
alloy body is exceptionally straight, with precise panel gaps, fine
quality detailing, and high-quality paint. The overall presentation
is outstanding, having matured slightly since the restoration yet
remaining in lovely condition throughout thanks to a string of
attentive custodians. Inside, the quality of the restoration
continues to impress. Lovely biscuit-tan leather graces the seats,
door cards, and transmission tunnel. Originally equipped with a
three-passenger bench seat, the most recent owners updated it with
Aldridge bucket seats trimmed in matching biscuit leather. These
new seats are considerably more comfortable, supportive, and
provide superior legroom. For the purist, the original bench is
available. The instrument panel is trimmed in the same tan leather,
housing a full array of recently restored Smiths instruments. Tan
Wilton wool carpets and a full array of weather equipment in tan
Stayfast canvas round out the finely presented cockpit. As with the
exterior restoration, the interior is beautifully finished and
detailed to a very high standard, displaying minimal signs of use
since. Once in the driver's seat, you grip a classic four-spoke
banjo-style steering wheel, its delicate rim belying the brutish V8
just ahead of you. Chrysler's FirePower Hemi is well-detailed and
tidy. Topped with dual four-barrel carburetors on an aluminum
intake, it makes upwards of 325 horsepower and sounds utterly
fantastic, breathing through dual side-exit exhausts. Weighing in
at just over 2500 pounds, there's little doubt this K3 can thrill
all occupants. In recent ownership, service work included the
fitment of proper Alfin brake drums, restored gauges, new carpet,
and general sorting and fine-tuning to ensure it looks and performs
its best. Allards have always been exciting cars to drive, and this
superb K3 is no exception. It would be a fabulous choice the
Colorado Grand, Copperstate 1000, or any similar event. It is also
a veteran concours participant and proven award winner, appearing
in numerous prestigious shows through the years, including
Meadowbrook, Cranbrook, Cobble Beach, The Elegance at Hershey, and
the 2018 Hilton Head Concours, where it won Best in Class against a
class of all Allard cars. This very special Allard K3 is a gorgeous
example of a rare breed, a worthy addition to virtually any
collection of sporting cars, and a fantastic machine that's sure to
absolutely thrill its next custodian. Offers welcome and trades
considered For additional details please view this listing directly
on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6899-1953-allard-k3-roadster/
