1953 Allard J2X
Forerunner to the American Muscle cars of the 1960s & 70s
First post-WW2 British import fitted with an American Hemi V8 engine
Racing success laid the groundwork for the V8 Corvette & Shelby AC Ace
Allard was one of the first British sports cars after World War II to target the American sports car market. The original J2 version was a top motorsport competitor on courses like Pebble Beach in the 1940s. Allards were imported as a light chassis and body, then fitted here with Cadillac 331 or Chrysler FirePower (Hemi) V8 engines, creating a high power-to-weight ratio. This set the groundwork for the Sunbeam Tiger and AC Cobra of the early 1960s and helped set the groundwork for the high horsepower cars of the late 60s and early 70s.
Allard Motor Company Limited was a London-based low-volume car manufacturer founded by Sydney Allard. The company produced approximately 1,900 cars from 1945 through 1958. Allard produced hill climbers, sprint cars, sedans, racing cars, and even dragsters. The J2X (“X” for extended) was introduced in late 1951 as the next evolution of Allard’s highly successful J2. Allard produced just 83 J2Xs from 1951 through 1954, including five full-bodied examples to compete at Le Mans.
In the early 1950s, race car drivers Carroll Shelby and Zora Arkus-Duntov drove for Allard, with Zora driving a J2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1952 and 1953. Their experiences with Allard encouraged them to create, with Duntov engineering the first V8 Corvette test mule in 1955 for GM, and Shelby developing the 1962 AC Ace.
The Allard J2Xs featured a revised front suspension to improve handling and a relocated engine position, creating 5″ of additional legroom in the cockpit. By relocating the spare wheel to the rear deck or as an optional side mount, Allard was able to fit the J2X with a 40-gallon fuel tank. This improved the car’s range, as well as its front-to-rear weight bias.
This J2X, chassis 3161, was completed on January 25, 1953, and shipped to Shawnee Motors in Topeka, Kansas, where it received its Chrysler Hemi engine. It was sold to its first owner on May 2, 1953. The custom safety roll bar was added during its race history.
Specifications:
Current Engine: 1955 Chrysler Hemi 354 cu in V-8 with twin Holley 4-barrel carbs
Horsepower: 455 bhp at 5,200 RPM
Torque: 500 ft-lbs at 4600 RPM
Transmission: Muncie 4-Speed Manual Gearbox
Suspension: Front independent split-beam, rear De Dion both with coil springs
Brakes: 4-Wheel finned aluminum drum brakes