Lydia gregoret@cgl.ucsf.edu asks:
>
> TeriAnn Wakeman writes:
> > Saterday saw warm ups by class followed by an Allard paeade on the track.
> > Estimates were that approx. 80% of all Allards still in existance were
>present
> > at Laguna Seca for this event.
>
> Chuck and I saw an Allard on a trailer going north on our way up 101
> from LA last Wednesday. (It had "ALLARD" plates, so that's how we knew
> what it was.) It must have been going to Laguna Seca.
>
> But what is an Allard? Why is it so rare?
One cannot ask what is *an* Allard, because there are so many various models
of Allards. I'm only responding, since I happen to have some information
about Allard and their cars in front of me, including old B&W photos and
plenty of specs. However, for now, I'll just share with you all the brief
background of the Allard marque.
Copied from "The Complete Catalogue of British Cars", Culshaw
and Horrobin (1974):
"It is sometimes forgotten that the post-war production
model Allards were preceded by a dozen or so 'specials'
between 1936 and 1939, some of them V-12 powered [others
were V-8 -Garry]. All made a lasting impact on the trials
world of the day. This competition background was always
evident in the appeal of this marque to the motoring public.
"There was quite a wide range of models from 1946
onwards, and one could always arrange to have a non-standard
power unit fitted if required. The chassis was designed to
allow such versatility so as to cater for customers in the
American market where many cars were sold. This wide range
had a complicated nomenclature which requires some explana-
tion. Initially, models were prefixed J, K, L, M and P
[e.g. J1 3.6L, J1 3.9L, J2, J2X, etc, etc -Garry]. J indi-
cates a two-seater sports, K a two-seater tourer, L a four-
seater tourer, M a drop-head coupe and P a saloon.
"The original basis of Allard success was the ubiqui-
tous side-valve Ford V-8 unit in a lightweight frame,
differing in length of wheelbase and other appointments.
With the demise of this particular engine in the mid-
fifties, Allard had to look around for other engines for the
home market (other transatlantic vee-eights [sic] could
still be fitted of course). This situation led to the
introduction in 1956 of a smaller range known as the Palm
Beach. In Mark I form this used Ford Consul and Zephyr
engines in their original 1508 cc four-, and 2262 cc six-
cylinder variations. In Mark II form the Palm Beach range
was to use the later 2553 cc Zephyr engine (the four-
cylinder Consul engine being dropped). A Jaguar XK-powered
variation was added at the top end of the range instead.
"These models continued until 1960, when Allard stopped
making cars bearing their own name and, instead, began pro-
ducing specialised versions of the type 105E Ford Anglia
which had appeared in 1959. These were marketed as the
Allardette 105, 109 and 116."
The text is supplemented with photos of:
1947 Allard J1 (British licence HXC 578)
1947 Allard K1 (British licence AKS 747)
1948 Allard 3.6-litre P-type with special Lea-Francis body (no licence)
???? Allard P1 (British licence MLO 312) [built 1949-52]
1957 Allard Palm Beach II roadster (no licence)
Garry Archer Esq. {yale, uunet}!hsi!archer -OR- archer@hsi.com
3M Health Information Systems, Wallingford, Connecticut, U.S.A.
"An Englishman never enjoys himself, except for a noble purpose." - A.P.Herbert
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