| Sports & Classics of Monterey Thursday, August 13, 2009 - Saturday, August 15, 2009 |
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| 1948 Allard M Type Coupe | |||||||||
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Est. 95 hp, Ford/Mercury 59A flathead V8 engine, three-speed manual transmission, independent swing axle front suspension, rear beam axle with torque tube and transverse leaf spring, four-wheel drum brakes. Sydney Allard was born to wealthy parents in South London, England in 1910. When he was 18, Allard began work in a garage as an apprentice mechanic while simultaneously beginning his career as a racing driver. He first specialized in cross-country trials in a Morgan, but just one year later he was racing at such fabled circuits as Brooklands and Donnington Park. In 1930, he built his first automobile; a trials special powered by a Ford flathead V8 engine. The car was both fast and reliable, creating much interest in the fledgling vehicle. An assembly line was established to cope with the increasing demand for Allard vehicles. The company switched to the production of military vehicles during World War II, but quickly came back to market in 1946 with the K1, a simple two-seater convertible powered by a flathead V8 that had been developed by Ford at Dagenham, England for the armed services during the War. Allard had no dealers. It was suggested to contact the factory or one of its local accredited agents as cars were built-to-order. Both two-seat and four-seat models were produced along with both open and closed cars, all resembling the original trials car and all featuring Ford power. Bodies used steel panels draped over traditional wood framing. Allard, much like Enzo Ferrari and Colin Chapman, built more conventional automobiles in order to support the production of sporting automobiles and his desire to go racing. This Allard coupe is one of those rare and unique examples. It is powered by a 59A Mercury 95-horsepower motor and three-speed manual transmission. The two-seat interior features an upholstered rear compartment without additional seating. Trafficator turn signal semaphores are included. Its teardrop front fenders with built-in headlights, curved roofline, and skirted rear wheels offer a “hint of Bugatti” as well as styling elements of coachbuilders Figoni et Falaschi and Henri Chapron. The paint, interior, body, chrome, and interior wood are all in sound condition making this a rare survivor as well as a great driver. Without a doubt, a real attention-getter anywhere it will be seen. When was the last time you saw an Allard coupe? |
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