Beschreibung:

331ci OHV Chrysler Hemi V-8 Engine
Single 4-Barrel Carburetor
Est. 400bhp at 4,000rpm
5-Speed Manual Transmission
Semi-Independent Front Suspension - De Dion Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Alfin Drum Brakes - Inboard at Rear
*Famed racing driver - Masten Gregory's first racecar
*Campaigned by Gregory with Hemi Power at Sebring in 1952
*Comprehensive restoration with well-known history from new
*Fitted with desirable 5-Speed transmission, accompanied by 3-speed transmission
THE ALLARD J2X
Sidney Allard's cars labeled by the irreverent as "The blacksmith's revenge" got their job done. Like Enzo Ferrari, Allard was a racer and competitor that built some street cars to bring in revenue to support his true love: competition. He started racing pre-war and was victorious in hill climbs and uniquely British "trials". After the war he developed increasingly powerful racers, culminating in the famous J2 and J2X. These were evolutions of his first pre-war competition hill climbing and trials cars, but designed to take the newly available, powerful, American V8's instead of the previous flat head Ford engines. Since he owned a large Ford dealership, he admired the Fords above all others in their price class, and it was natural that he used Fords as a basis for his creations. Many chassis components came out of the Ford parts bins. The infamous dual swing axle front suspension used on practically all Allard's would be familiar to any Ford truck mechanic. The rugged construction and relatively inexpensive running costs, combined with distinctive coachwork and tremendous performance, established an enviable string of victories in the formative years of American road racing.
Allard's swing axle front suspension worked great for the early trials as they plowed their way through some of the worst mud holes race organizers could create. As the first British "hot-rodder" he developed a real appreciation of the potential of large American V8's with torque bands as wide as the Thames. So to many, his cars were crude and unsophisticated; hence the "blacksmith's revenge" moniker. But they were also startlingly effective. His was the British car to break a 21-year dry spell by winning the 1952 Monte Carlo Rally. An Allard placed 3rd at Le Mans in 1950, won the British Hill Climb championship in 1949, and won the Watkins Glen GP the first time it was an international race. He co-drove an Allard with a young American driver, one Carroll Shelby, who might have gotten some inspiration for American powered, British chassis cars.
Constant improvements were made. Some have said that the handling went from terrifying on his first serially produced sports car, the J2, 99 made from 1950-51, to merely frightful on the J2X, 83 made in 1951-52. The J2X had an improved but not totally redesigned front suspension. The engine was moved 7.5inches forward allowing an enlarged cockpit, crucial to taller America drivers, many who couldn't fit in a J2. At the rear, the J2 introduced a De Dion coil sprung rear axle with inboard brakes, the first production British sports car to have this innovation. Carried over to the J2X this set-up, which had been first tried on his 1949 Championship Hill climb car, was extremely effective in getting the horsepower to the ground. These Allard's were easily adaptable to any of the latest overhead V8's. Most J2X's were shipped without an engine but with properly positioned mounts to accept the customer's choice.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
Rare by any measure, a factory J2X Allard is both a prized example of period racing and expert construction at a time when sports car manufacturing was advancing almost as quickly as the cars could lap the circuit. With just 83 examples constructed between 1951-1954, according to Colin Warnes of the Allard Registry, chassis #J3065 would invite the rare distinction of purchase by famed sports car driver Masten Gregory.
Masten Gregory would go on to significant road racing fame, but in his early years he had tragically lost his father. Looking for ways to put his inheritance to good use, he elected to purchase this car which was shipped to the US on July 2, 1952. Likely the most famous of the J2X models built, Gregory had the car shipped to the US without an engine. Once in the US, as was most typically done with Allard J2 cars, a Mercury flathead engine was first installed, and Gregory competed in his first race using that engine. However, given Gregory's historic demands for speed, the Mercury succumbed and blew a head gasket causing Gregory to retire from the race. The next season, in 1953, Gregory installed the more powerful and torquey Chrysler 331 Hemi just in time to compete at Sebring. Retired again due to suspension failure, the undaunted Gregory continued eventually achieving a first place at the 1953 Stillwater SCCA, Oklahoma Grand Prix.
Gregory, himself a standalone volume in the annals of motorsports history would go on to become the first American driver to score a podium finish in his first Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, earn a victory at Le Mans, and continue to several other notable victories. Carroll Shelby called him "the fastest American to ever go over and race a Grand Prix car". Jim Clark modestly considered him a hero.
After Gregory's ownership, the car is believed to have been acquired by notable British car collector Ed Verville, around the 1980s. Masten Gregory had passed away in 1985 so it is likely that his family sold the car to Verville. By 1992, the Allard Registry reports that Masami Tamagawa of Tokyo, Japan purchased the car through Hill & Vaughn, Santa Monica, CA. Masami owned the car for nearly two decades, enjoying it leisurely until he became too frail to safely drive the car. The current owner purchased the car in 2011. Shortly after his purchase he enlisted the services of Maeco Motorsports, LLC in Northridge, CA to refine the car to the high standards exhibited today. Work performed on the car included comprehensive body and paint preparation with the application of proper alloy primer and Porsche Bali Blue paint, refinement and fitting for all trim, windshield and other trim installation, new dash welting and hood seals, and replacement of all lighting. Mechanical work included the installation of four Alfin brake drums, an NOS Allard tachometer, painting for suspension parts, new flywheel, pressure plate, and clutch, a new bell-housing adapter, and a TKO 600 Tremec 5-speed manual transmission. Much of the work performed on the engine and transmission included a new driveshaft, new bearing races, shaft seal, new universal joints, and machining during the rebuild for the differential. All this work was done while the interior was removed and sent out for reupholstery. The floor panels were disassembled to facilitate removal of the transmission. Further work included rebuilding the brakes, front and rear suspension, installing new shock absorbers, a new wiring loom, 60-amp alternator configured in a generator casing, a rebuilt starter, a modified thermostat, a custom fuel sender, and the installation of Brooklands windscreens. The red leather upholstery was completed in 2012 and installed in the car in time to show the completed car at the 2012 Palm Desert Concours event. It's important to note that the Allard is accompanied by a 3-speed transmission, a set of Turrino wire wheels and roll bar.
One of the finest examples available today and very likely the premier historically important Allard J2X remaining in public hands, this Allard represents a fantastic opportunity to enjoy an historically important sports car featuring Masten Gregory ownership. This Allard would run against C-types and others with a distinct performance and cost advantage against cars from this period. With the quality of the preparation, the provenance and power under the hood, this Allard is sure to offer exciting performance on tours, premier historic events, or participation in club outings.