The Allard Motor Company was an English car manufacturer founded in 1936 by Sydney Allard.
The first Allard cars were built specifically to compete in Trials events - timed events somewhat like rallies but through much worse terrain, almost impassable by wheeled vehicle. The first Allard mounted a Ford flathead V8 in a body mostly sourced from a Bugatti racing car, and used the American engine's high torque to great effect in this slow-speed competition. After the war Sidney had a well equipped workshop with loads of military spares. So in 1946 a new 2 seat model called the K1 was announced with either the side valve 3662cc Ford V8 giving 85bhp or the 3917cc Mercury version giving 95bhp both engines were made by Ford in the UK. The chassis was abasic box section with a live rear axle and Ballamy swing axles at the front. The performance was excellent for that time. 151 of the K1 model were built. Alongside the K1 there was the L1 of which 191 were made. It was a longer chassis designed to accept a 4 seat touring body. The Ford engines were standard but an overhead valve conversion designed by Zora Arkus Duntov was available as an option. These cars could also be purchased without an engine so that customers could fit their own.
In 1947 a shorter and lighter competition model was available called the J1 of which only 12 were made. The M1 was also announced in 1947 as a 4 seat Coupe and it continued in production until 1950 by which time 500 had been made. From 1949 the M1 had independent coil spring front suspension and hydraulic brakes.
The classic Allard J2 was available from 1950 with a De Dion type rear axle on coil springs and located with radius arms. The majority of the 90 cars produced went to the USA without engines. The customers choice was usually Oldsmobile or Cadillac. These cars were quite competitive and a J2 enter by the works finished 3rd at Le Mans in 1950 in spite of only retaining top gear.
1950 saw the refined K2 of which 119 were made. It used coil spring front suspension and was a development of the K1.
The most popular Allard was the classic P1 of which 569 were made. It was developed from the J1 and M1 models and Sidney Allard won the 1952 Monte Carlo Rally in one which was great publicity and hes was the only car manufacturer to win this event driving one of his own cars.
A long chassis version called the MX2 was made in 1951-52 but only 25 were sold.
The classic J2X was introduced in 1952 with a chassis made from small diameter tubes stiffened with side plates. It retained the De Dion rear axle and coil spring front suspension. Only 83 were made of which the majority went to the USA for competition use. Some were made with all enveloping bodies. After the introduction of the Jaguar XK 120 and the Ferraris the Allards were outclassed.
From 1952 onwards sales of Allards declined rapidly and only 132 were sold. The P2 Monte Carlo saloon only sold 11 and the Safari station wagon ten. The Allard K3 sold better but again only 62 found buyers. By then the build quality was a source of criticism.
Allard tried to compete in the smaller sports car market with the Allard Palm Beach model 21Z with the Ford Consul and Zodiac engines in an all enveloping body built on the X chassis but it had to compete with the new Triumph TR2 and Austin Healey 100 which it could not do on price or performance. A prototype was fitted with a 4.4 litre Dodge V8 but nothing came of this.
The 1953 Allard J2R was the fastest of all the Allards and as a concession to the American market was available with automatic transmission. It featured a De Dion rear axle located by an A frame and all enveloping coachwork. It never took off and only 11 were built.
In 1955 a three wheeler with a 346cc engine was available called the Clipper but this was dropped after about 50 had been sold
The last Allard was a revised version of the Palm Beach for 1956 with a choice of engines including Jaguar but only 7 were made before production of Allards ceased in 1956.
For more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allard and the Inside Story of Allard by Tom Lush, Motor Racing Publications 1977.
