Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 117
c.1953 Allard Motor Works J2X MkIII Chassis no. J2X9035 Engine no. CLS3A0509
Estimate: US$100,000 - US$140,000
Lot 117
c.1953 Allard Motor Works J2X MkIII
The Audrain Concours Auction|4 October 2024, 17:00 EDT|Newport, Rhode Island, International Tennis Hall of Fame
c.1953 Allard Motor Works J2X MkIII
Chassis no. J2X9035
Engine no. CLS3A0509
Chassis no. J2X9035
Engine no. CLS3A0509
6,162cc (376ci) OHV Chevrolet LS3 V8 Engine
Electronic Fuel Injection
430bhp
5-Speed Tremec TKO 600 Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension, Adjustable Coil-Over Dampers
4-Wheel Wilwood Disc Brakes
*A superb tribute model built by Allard Motor Works in Canada
*Offered from original ownership
*Finished in Ferrari Rosso Corsa over medium brown leather
*Optional Chevrolet LS3 'E-Rod' power, 50-state compliant
*50-state compliant engine
*Lightweight and breathtakingly quick
*A great combination of classic looks and modern reliability
THE ALLARD J2X
Sidney Allard's cars labeled by the irreverent as "the blacksmith's revenge" got their job done. Like Enzo Ferrari, Allard was a racer and competitor who built a few street cars as a way to bring in revenue to support his true love: competition. He started racing pre-war and was quite successful in the rough-and-tumble worlds of hill climbs and uniquely British "trials." After the war he developed increasingly powerful road racers, culminating in the famous J2 and J2X.
Allard's swing axle front suspension worked great for the early trials as they plowed their way through some of the worst mud holes race organizers could create, but on the road, they required a certain amount skill and a massive dollop of courage to tame. Sidney Allard developed a real appreciation for large American V8's with torque bands as wide as the Thames, so to many, his cars were crude and unsophisticated; hence the "blacksmith's revenge" moniker. But they were also startlingly effective: His was the first British car to break a 21-year dry spell by winning the 1952 Monte Carlo Rally. An Allard placed 3rd at Le Mans in 1950, won the British Hill Climb Championship in 1949, won the Watkins Glen GP in its first iteration as an international race, and took countless trophies during the burgeoning years of the American road racing scene. Sidney co-drove an Allard with a young American driver, one Carroll Shelby, who might have gotten some inspiration for American powered, British chassis cars.
Allard produced just 71 examples of their legendary J2X, which, along with its predecessor, the J2, were the most successful models in the marque's history, and they remain highly collectible. With popularity that outstrips a limited supply of original cars, some enthusiasts took to creating tributes with modern running gear to capture the style and excitement of the original. One such firm is Roger P. Allard's Allard Motor Works in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. While not affiliated with Allard in the UK, the company has been building their high-quality J2X MkIII tributes from the ground up since 1999, offering buyers a wide array of drivetrain options and bespoke details to created their dream J2X.
THE CAR OFFERED
Chassis J2X 9035 is a MkIII model produced by Allard Motor Works in 2019, built from the ground up to the consignor's wishes. Starting with a fully welded square-tube steel chassis, AMW has brings the classic Allard formula into the modern age, with fully independent suspension by double wishbones and coil-overs in front, and a custom independent rear layout based upon the Jaguar IRS design, but utilizing a Ford 9" center section and custom wishbones. The standard engine is Chrysler's 360bhp 5.7 Hemi, but the consignor spiced it up with GM's lighter and more powerful LS3 E-Rod, rated at a healthy 430bhp, and importantly – is 50-State emissions compliant. The engine is backed by a 5-speed Tremec TKO 600 gearbox, and the chassis features Wilwood slotted/ventilated disc brakes all around, and power steering.
Per the owner's wishes, the J2X-inspired fiberglass bodywork was finished in a brilliant shade of Ferrari Rosso Corsa, and the interior trimmed in medium brown leather with optional Wilton wool carpets. Details include 72-spoke Dayton wire wheels, a side-mount spare wheel, sidepipes, and twin chrome roll hoops.
Remaining in superb condition and having seen limited use since it was completed, this wonderful Allard J2X MkIII offers all the thrilling performance of the original (and then some!), with vastly improved handling and braking, in a reliable, finely crafted package. One would be hard pressed to find a better car to go tearing up the backroads of northern New England on a crisp autumn day.
Footnotes
Please note, this Allard is titled as a model year 2019.
Additional information
Looking for a similar item?
Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSpecialist section
Auction Viewings
- 3 October 2024, 09:00 - 18:00 EDT
- 4 October 2024, 09:00 - 16:00 EDT
Bid now on these items
United Kingdom
1911 Delaunay-Belleville 26HP Tourer
£70,000 - £100,000
