Allard Production Heading to SoCal

Before there was the Cobra, we had the Allard J2X: a two-seat British roadster fitted with a healthy American V8. Back in the day, popular J2X powerplants included Hemis, flathead Fords and 331-cubic-inch Cadillacs. A few years back Roger Allard reintroduced the famed J2X, and this summer production will move from Canada to Southern California.

“Our move to the U.S. and California in particular is driven by our desire to move closer to our main market, to increase our production, and to benefit from recent U.S. federal legislation that recognizes the potential contribution of low-volume classic car manufacturers to the hobbyist segment and to the economy,” Roger Allard said in a press release.

The move to California will coincide with the launch of Allard’s updated J2X MkIII. “High on our list of options will be a full windshield and wipers, because the small Brooklands windscreens are not everyone’s cup of tea, although this popular configuration will still be available,” Allard adds.

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Comments
Gary
Gary Dork
7/28/16 3:44 p.m.

I've seen original examples of these cars with Hemi, flathead Ford, and Cadillac engines at vintage races over the years. Compact, basic, raw, minimal cars, and quite a handful to drive as I've been told and have read. Randy Riggs (VM editor) kindly let me sit in Syd Silverman's (VM publisher at the time) Allard race car at Coronado where Randy was racing it 15-or-so years ago. I've had that picture framed and subsequently had both Randy and Syd sign it when they were at Lime Rock the following year. Sitting in that original Allard (on it is a better description), I felt extremely exposed. I couldn't imagine racing one on a primitive road course at speed. At the VARAC vintage races at Mosport in 2002 I saw the new edition J2X (prototype, I think) on display and talked to Roger. It is completely modernized, quite plush in fact, and only somewhat resembled the original. It might have been my imagination, but it appeard to be 30-40% larger. At the time I thought he should call the new one the J2X "Limo." Anyway, the new company is obviously still making replicas, and I hope they continue to make a go of it in CA. But this car is not for me.

jr02518
jr02518 Reader
7/28/16 8:48 p.m.

Earlier this year I attended VARA University at Buttonwillow raceway, and one of the cars on track was a Chevy powered Allard. The new owner was getting some seat time and did a great job of making the thing very wide coming out of the corners.

After the event I called my dad and told him he would never guess what I was able to pass on a race track. My dad had spent a number of years as a crew member in the '50's and had very fond memories of the "British Hot Rods".

http://www.msd-photographyandvideography.com/Sports/VARA-University-2016/Yellow-Group/i-GkT3wFs/A

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
8/2/16 4:10 p.m.

We have a feature on the new Allards on the way, too. Neat backstory.

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