Beschreibung:

331cu OHV Cadillac V8 Engine Single Carter 4-Barrel Carburetor 230bhp at 4,400rpm 3-Speed GM Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission Independent Split Axle Coil Spring Front and deDion Rear Suspension 4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes *One of only 62 Allard K3s built *Powered by the legendary 331 Cadillac ohv V-8 *One of few Allards equipped with the GM Hydra-Matic transmission *Lovingly restored by Allard historians and carefully preserved THE ALLARD K3 Sydney Allard at a young age began to put Henry Ford's flathead V-8 into specials for what the British call "trials". After the Second World War Sydney Allard seized upon even larger American engines, putting Cadillac and Chrysler V-8s into his own chassis with deDion rear suspension and a split Ford beam front axle with coil springs and radius rods that gave a semblance of independence to the front wheels. Housed in slender torpedo bodies with cycle fenders, Allards – and particularly those powered by the new 331 cubic inch Cadillac overhead valve V-8 – thundered around American race tracks driven by an elite corps of eager speed demons. Proving that Allards' performance was not confined to North America, in 1950 Sydney Allard and Tom Cole drove a Cadillac-Allard J2 to third overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1952 the A.C.F. changed its regulations to handicap the cycle fenders of the J2 and J2X (extended wheelbase) and Allard commissioned a new envelope body that showed the way for future Allards. Allard joined with Zora Arkus-Duntov to race the new envelope bodied Allards at Le Mans in 1952 and 1953. The new full-envelope body on the high performance 100 inch wheelbase J2X chassis warranted its own model designation. Intended for touring use, it succeeded the earlier pontoon fendered, flathead V-8 powered K2, becoming the K3 upon introduction in 1952. The steel tube ladder frame copied the J2 and J2X suspension with coil spring deDion rear suspension and Allard's split beam front axle with coil springs and tube shocks. The bodies were constructed of aluminum looking very contemporary and sleek. K3s exported to the U.S. usually arrived with their engine compartments empty and the open space would be filled upon arrival with the American overhead valve V-8 and transmission of the first owner's choice, usually Cadillac or Chrysler. THE MOTORCAR OFFERED Allard K3 s/n 3261 was completed on September 16, 1953, only sixteen chassis numbers from the end of K3 production of just 62 examples. Dispatched from the UK, it was taken up by dealer Kirk Motors and it was presumably Kirk that fit the 190hp 331 cubic inch 1952 Cadillac Series 62 V-8 which powers it today. Finished in Powder Blue over Red leather with a black cloth top, its first owner is was D. Sanderson, believed to have been an engineer involved in development of the Nike air defense missile project at the White Sands Joint Guided Missile Test Range near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The next owner known to the Allard Register was Gary Peacock who acquired it in 1977. A decade later, in the late 1980s, he commissioned a complete restoration, then kept his prize Allard K3 until his passing in 2009. Bob Lytle, Allard Register historian, bought it from the Peacock estate and started to freshen its condition, work that was completed after his death by his Allard-owning friends. It was acquired by the Evergreen Collection in 2012 and was maintained by Evergreen's staff in a climate controlled environment. The most recent owner has held the car since 2015 and has properly maintained the vehicle in his tenure. Allard K3 s/n 3261 is unusual in several respects, notably its GM Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, a practical and enjoyable alternative to the standard Allard 3-speed manual gearbox that is more than capable of handling the 230hp of the stock Cadillac V-8. It also rides on a set of chrome wire wheels with all season narrow whitewall radial tires that beautifully complement the Peacock Blue paint, Red leather upholstery and Black cl