1949→1951 Allard J2

Sydney Allard was a experienced English racing driver who raced cars at LeMans and the Mille Miglia bearing his own name. Of all the cars he built, the J2 of 1950 received the most attention and reflected his racing background.

J2 was a limited production racing car, and since Allard didn’t manufacture their own engines, many were fitted with American V-8s. The standard unit was the Mercury V8, which was bored and stroked to produce 140 bhp. However, many cars came to US with out engines to take any combination of engine and transmission. When combined with the 331 cu. in. Cadillac or Chrysler 331 Hemi Firepower the J2 was a particularly potent contender.

These powerful American engines combined with a rigid chassis and a small, cycle wing body to give an exceptional power to weight ratio. Contributing to good handling was a chassis constructed using small diameter tubes, a de-Dion rear axle to help keep the rear wheels connected to the road and the large aluminum Alfin drum brakes.

The J2s best moment came at LeMans, when a 5.4 liter, Cadillac-engined car placed third at the 1950 Lemans behind the winning Talbots

According to the Allard Register, around 90 J2s were made, and a later J2X version featured an all-enveloping body for LeMans.

Story by Richard Owen for Supercars.net

In Detail

submitted by	Richard Owen
type	Racing Car
production years	1949 – 1951
production	90
price Â£/td>	Â£1000
engine	Mercury 90 Degree V8
valvetrain	Twin Solex Carburettors
displacement	3917 cc / 239.0 in³
bore	81 mm / 3.19 in
stroke	95.2 mm / 3.75 in
power	104.4 kw / 140 bhp @ 4000 rpm
specific output	35.74 bhp per litre
body / frame	Ladder Frame
wheel type	16 Inch
front brakes	Drums
rear brakes	Drums
steering	Marles
f suspension	Split Axles w/Radius Arms, Coil Springs, Dampers
r suspension	De Dion Axle w/Radius Arms, Coil Springs, Dampers
dry weight	772 kg / 1700 lbs
wheelbase	2540 mm / 100 in
front track	1422 mm / 56 in
rear track	1321 mm / 52 in
length	3759 mm / 148 in

Auction Sales History

1951 Allard J2 99J2121 – sold for $330,000 Named as the “Ultimate Allard” by Simon Taylor. Shelby Cobra 289-Specification Engine. Featured in Numerous Automotive Magazines. Award-Winning 2011 Restoration An Exceptionally Well-Documented Example. One of the Finest of the 43 Surviving J2 Allards. Single Ownership for 39 Years.
Auction Source: The 2013 Amelia Island Auction by Gooding & Company

1951 Allard J2 J2089 – sold for €175,392

According to the factory production records contained in Tom Lush’s book Allard: The Inside Story, this car, chassis number J2089, was despatched on 31 July, 1951 to Cuba. As an illustration of the worldwide reputation of the Allard marque, surrounding chassis numbers in the list went as far afield as Australia, Singapore, Malaya, Japan, Finland and the USA.

Auction Source: 2011 London Auction by RM

1951 Allard J2 1912 – sold for $308,000 Fully Sorted And Ready For Touring, Races And Shows. Very Original Example Complete With Many Of Its Rare Original Options. A Fully Documented Allard Works Team Car.
Auction Source: 2008 Monterey Preview

1951 Allard J2 Le Mans Race Car 02223 – sold for $313,500

During the mid 1980s, Glen Shaffer began a search for an Allard J2 with racing heritage and found the example offered here in Lima, Peru. When discovered, it was complete and had the correct 1951 Cadillac OHV V8 engine, but the chassis was in need of a full restoration. The car included features not commonly round in other J2s, such as a 55-gallon fuel cell, an aluminum-reinforced body, and vented front fenders. With growing excitement, Shaffer suspected that he had found the “missing” 1951 J2 Le Mans race car. Once back in the United States, Allard experts using original documentation confirmed that it was indeed the J2 Le Mans car driven by Hitchins and Reece in the 1951 race.

Auction Source: 2006 Monterey Preview