Vehicle Description
Sydney Allard was an engineer and garage owner who caught the
attention of the motorsport world in the early 1940s with his
highly successful Ford-powered off-road trials cars. During World
War II, he kept himself busy servicing British and American
military vehicles, in the process amassing a great deal of
experience with Ford V8 engines, as well as a generous storeroom
full of spares. Following the war, his focus shifted away from
trials and toward road racing, namely with the introduction of the
J2 in 1949. This new car was built lower and leaner than the
trials-oriented J1, and in the process became more elegant and
streamlined. The J2 was designed to take advantage of the powerful
new V8 engines coming out of Detroit at the start of the 1950s and
featured a de Dion rear axle, large Alfin drum brakes, and a
revised version of Allard's signature split front axle, designed by
Les Bellamy. Sydney Allard's timing was impeccable, as the American
sports car racing scene was rapidly gaining momentum and buyers
were hungry for affordable, competitive, race-ready cars. As with
most racing-oriented Allards, the cars were shipped less engine and
transmission but could be prepped to accept any number of V8s, with
the Ford-Ardun and Lincoln units proving popular. While Sydney
Allard had a long-running relationship with Ford, it was the
arrival of the powerful new overhead valve, 331 cubic-inch V8 from
Cadillac that made Allard famous. With 160 horsepower in stock form
and plenty more on tap, the Cad-Allards would come to dominate open
road racing in the 1950s, winning regularly in American and Europe.
In the formative years of the SCCA for instance, Allard J2s were
most often found at the sharp end of the field, battling Jaguars,
Cunninghams, and Ferraris for victory. It took several years for
the Europeans to catch on to Allard's success, and for a brief
time, the J2 was the dominant force in sports racing. The
Anglo-American J2 is an icon of motorsport history, and it stands
as Allard's most successful racing car of all time. Our featured
Allard J2 is chassis number 99J 2124, a wonderfully restored
example with a fascinating history. According to information
compiled by the late Allard historian Tom Lush, this chassis was
delivered to Finland in November 1951 and is one of three cars that
were sent there. Additional information provided by the current
keeper of Mr. Lush's archives reveals the car was likely cream over
a red interior when new. It seems that the Allards were formidable
competitors in sports car events throughout Finland and a photo
exists of what is likely this car, running in the Finnish GP in
Helsinki. Limited race history is known, though a copy of the
Allard Register from 1986 shows this car (along with J.2017) was
still in Finland at the time, owned by H. Sukman. In the early
1990s, 99J 2124 was in the possession of noted collector, restorer,
and historian E. Dean Butler. Butler sold the car as a restoration
project to a fellow collector from Cincinnati, Ohio, who
commissioned Butler's highly respected restoration shop, Zakira's
Garage, to return it to its former glory. The body restoration was
performed in England by craftsmen using the same traditional
methods and even the original bucks originally employed by the
Allard factory. Painting, fitting and finish work was done by the
craftspeople at Zakira's. The fully-built Cadillac 331 V8 and
period-correct Ford 3-speed gearbox were mated with the restored
chassis and the comprehensive restoration was completed in 2000.
Today, this J2 presents as-restored in classic British Racing Green
with body-color wire wheels and a green leather cockpit. The
quality of the paintwork and detailing is exquisite, with
outstanding body lines and straight panels. This car wears a single
side-mount spare wheel, properly mounted opposite the driver for
optimal weight distribution. The paintwork is exquisite, while the
finish on the chassis shows some very light wear, consistent with
the car's careful use in the time elapsed since the restoration was
completed. Lucas King of the Road headlamps are supplemented by
Lucas fogs, and this J2 sits with a wonderfully aggressive stance
on the dark green wire wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilote X tires.
The two-place cockpit is basic and purposeful, trimmed in dark
green leather with complementary green carpeting. Period correct
instruments sit in the engine-turned alloy dash panel, with the
only exception being the fuel gauge for the ATL fuel cell. Accurate
details include the Bluemels four-spoke steering wheel and twin
aeroscreens. The seats reveal some of the careful use the car has
enjoyed over the years, and present with a charming broken-in
character. Period-type lift-latch lap belts with shoulder harnesses
and a forward-braced roll bar are included in the sale, and the car
is plumbed with an on-board fire system. In addition to the
marvelously restored body and chassis, the 1949 Cadillac V8 was
rebuilt with careful attention paid to power and longevity. Major
components were Magnaflux crack-tested, and the balanced crank
fitted with weight-matched 49 Cadillac rods and Ross forged
aluminum pistons. The block is topped with freer-breathing 1961
Cadillac heads and a port-matched intake manifold. Fully detailed
build specs are included in the history file. Detailing is to
period-correct standards, with finned Cadillac valve covers,
louvered air cleaner, correct dark blue paint, and restored
ancillaries. The subtle addition of an oil filter and braided lines
ensure safe and reliable running. Allard owners are genuinely
passionate about their cars, and with only 82 J2s accounted for in
the Allard Register, it is rare to find such a beautifully restored
example available on the open market. Chassis 99J-2124 is a
beautiful machine that is well suited for driving events, or for
historic racing with groups like the VSCCA. It is an excellent
illustration of the car that launched the careers of Carroll Shelby
and Zora Arkus-Duntov while igniting the passion for sports car
racing in America. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7732-1951-allard-j2/
