We met Sydney Allard not long ago in these pages to discuss the swanky and refined Palm Beach model. The K2 “touring roadster” presented here is on the opposite end of the spectrum: made to pound the ground. Every example was just about ready for the track upon delivery. With only 119 units produced from 1950 through 1952 and far fewer surviving today, today’s Allard enjoys the kind of rarity and pedigree that will garner invitations from concours and vintage race organizations everywhere. Find it here on craigslist, offered for $87,000 in Edmonds, Washington. Thanks, Curvette, for yet another great tip!
This K2 was factory-equipped with a Ford engine at Allard’s southwest London plant. Shipped to Minnesota to meet its original owner, the car underwent an engine swap to a 331 cu. in. Cadillac V8 outfitted with two four-barrel carburetors – a combination that’s typically good for about 250 hp. A floor-shift manual transmission brings power to the rear wheels. The K2 sits on a 109″ wheelbase, and thanks to hand-formed aluminum panels, it weighs only about 2400 lbs. These cars accumulated prodigious race résumés, winning at Watkins Glen, Pebble Beach, even Monte Carlo. This example became part of the Hunholz collection in the 1970s; John and Betty Hunholz raced the car extensively up and down the West Coast for decades.
The interior is simple, with a galaxy of gauges supplying readings from amps to temperatures, revs to fuel. That Ray Dot rear-view mirror has a lightweight aluminum housing; we typically see these on fenders or doors. A vintage “motor minder” gauge measures vacuum, and the steering wheel is a real Bluemel’s Brooklands banjo-type. The top frame is still present, but no top or side curtains are mentioned. The car is running on steel wheels; dog-dish hubcaps are in the trunk. The seat surfaces are spiffy – in fact, other than minor wear from use, this car is in fine condition.
Allard first began installing functional, polished portholes along the bonnet in 1949 when the J2 appeared; this feature became a marque trademark ever after, along with the beautiful pentagonal grille. The K2, like most of Allard’s cars, is styled like a caricature of a contemporaneous British roadster – the swell of the fenders, the stubby rear end, the tiny doors. It’s a hot rod in a Savile Row suit. Meanwhile, prices hover around $50k unless the car is fitted with a hemi, which can double the price. Would an Allard be welcome in your garage?
Well dear, this, and many others would be MORE than welcome in my garage,,,if I had a garage, that is, and then what about the money, oh, right, not a concern, how silly of me. I happen to watch “My Classic Car” in between naps, and I like Dennis Gage, he is a cool guy and has seen his share of neat cars. One episode, he featured a man with an Allard K2, a ’51, it had a Mercury flathead V8 with 3-2bbl. A “Gentlemans Hot Rod”,, sorry, ladies, GentlePERSONS Hot Rod? Apparently, I read this car came with the 255 Mercury motor standard, and wasn’t until later, us Yankee hooligans swapped the Caddy motor along with any other V8. Dennis, whose opinion I value, said it was one of the most exhilarating cars he ever drove. I’ve made peace, of sorts, that I’m happy with all the vehicles I’ve had, okay, no Allard, but not alone there. Very cool cars, like the ultimate British roadster, I can only imagine, to a budding gearhead in England, this was like the Corvette to us, and pre-dated the V8 Corvette by several years.
Howard, I like Dennis too, I have him saved as a favorite on YouTube. He seems like a genuinely nice guy with a great passion for older cars and trucks. I’ll look for that one you mentioned. Thanks!!! -Dave
I will admit. I love cars like this. I can imagine that Cadillac V8 with dual quads and a manual trans in such a light car, it must have been ( well still is) a blast to run through the gears!!! This is a beautiful car, and I’d absolutely keep the wide white walls too, they just add a period “look” that I really like. Curvette seriously has an eye for old vehicles great find!!!! And Michelle, great write up on a beautiful Allard. Thank you!!!
Be still my heart! To me, this is the ultimate classic British roadster. Yes, the Cobra is faster and I still want one. (My next door neighbor has a Factory Five with a 427 small block Ford) But the nostalgia and brute in your face presence is just incomparable.
427 small block?
Yes poked and stroked 351 Windsor.
Unlike the endless pages of run-of-the-mill 50s and 60s era mass-produced heaps, this one here is a legitimate “collectible” car that probably also has some appreciation potential left in it, while also getting huge attention anywhere you go.
You’ll be dabbling in the big boy league here and you’d be welcome anywhere in that scene, for under $100k.
The Allard that was on the other day reminded me of a visitor here 25/30 years ago. He saw my Crosley and asked about the windshield brackets (some boat plexiglass windshield). I’d swear he said his ,Allard was missing one. Obvious it was neither of these Allards. Was it some other low production car and my memory is Failing?
Note to baby boomers…
Bones do break easier!
Plates and pins or screws to be installed in.my leg and ankle soon.
Still intending to race in July.
Ditch the white wall tires.
Agreed!! Totally out of character for this car.
A load of hyperbole as viscous as alfredo from the seller, but a very cool car. Michellle, you say it weighs 2400 lb, the ad says 2,070. Either is light but an interesting disparity.
Might be the difference between the Ford and the Cadillac V8s?
I also remember hearing of Oldsmobile V8s being installed on these back in the day.
Actually, if you read the wonderful book “Red Wheels and White Sidewalls- confessions of an Allard Racer”, and it’s been years since i read it, there was some reason why they were racing on tires with white sidewalls – better quality available tires i recall.
It’s a legit correct look, even though it may not seem that way today. The book is a terrific read written by a racer back in the day.
I’m betting that the white walls added a layer of sidewall protection. It was added on last when the tire is built. And yes, tires are built, THEN the “casing” is placed into the tire mold. Where it is heated (vulcanizing process happens) and pressurized to press the hot casing into the mold. I know, more than you wanted to know. Sorry.
An old friends Uncle Homer had one of these in his collection back in the 70’s
Was in upstate NY
Very Cool
So, I found my copy of the book – author is Bill Pollack – and he says that during the Korean War, pure rubber was in short supply, and most tires were made of synthetic. He and Carroll Shelby found a supply of tires stockpiled from before the war, “pure rubber”, that had white sidewalls and ran those. Clearly, tire technology was simpler then!
For those of you who are curious about what is was like to race in the early days of sports car racing in this country, Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, etc, with the likes of Phil Hill, William Edgar, John Fitch, etc, this book is a great read and the author was in the thick of it.
Sounds like a good book! Burt (BS) Levy wrote a series of fictional (with real life events mixed in) books. Even though fictional, some of the events and most of the history is correct. And the events came at the same time as you are talking about. Burt is a great and fun guy. I’ve rubbed shoulders with him a couple of times at the Monterey Historic Races and always a pleasure to see and give a hard time to. Just good and light reading.
I knew Burt before he wrote “the last open road”. At races and we both frequented Siebkins on race weekends religiously. I don’t have all of his books. It seems that he’s writing them faster than I can mooch them and read them.
Me: “,which book should i steal?”
Burt:”which book do you want?”.
My wife read the first edition of “the last open road” and copy edited and returned it. He replaced the marked up book. On the 2 pages he autographed, he mentioned Porsche drivers and drew squiggly lines. I’ve been wanting to show it to him and ask if it was a premonition? Many years later
…It was a Porsche that put me into the wall in the kink early in the FIRST PRACTICE.
For a time I was fortunate enough to have 2 cars ready to race and they were the featured mark. BURT drove one.
Wow another small world. The last time I was at Monterey. He was there signing books. I don’t remember what the price ofcthe book was. But there was a line at the cash register. So I had him sign the book before I paid for it. When I went to pay for it, the cashier charged me about 70% of the regular book price. So I had to give Burt a hard time about his autograph lowered the value of the book. My ex racecar partner and I always swapped his books. But I have not seen any of his books yet. Unpacking from being stored away for our new home build.
I knew of two Allards in Duluth. One Cad and one Hemi 55 years ago . No idea what happened to them.
Back when I was mere child, I used to see several Cad-Allards race at Palm Springs airport.