We have chosen to build the first Allard JR as an exact copy of the car with which Sydney led the 1953 Le Mans 24 hours race. The intention is to obtain FIA HTP documentation, which would make the car eligible to compete in the International Classics such as the Le Mans race. Only seven JR sports cars were manufactured between 1953 and 1955. All seven are believed to be in existence. The last JR manufactured in 1955 carried chassis number 3407.
The first JR’s we are building are authentic Allards, as the cars are being built by members of the Allard family, with support from engineers who worked in the original Allard company. This first JR will have continuation chassis number 3408. This could therefore be seen as the restarting of Allard car manufacture after a gap nearly sixty years since the last JR was produced.
Allard at Le Mans 1953
“…They saw them before we could, then the cry went up, “Allard, Allard” as the pack approached in rising crescendo of sound, out in front, trailing a great cloud of swirling dust was Sydney in number 4, leading Alberto Ascari in a 4.0 Litre Ferrari and Stirling Moss in his ‘C’ Type Jaguar…”
Extract from the book – Allard the inside story, author Tom Lush.
Photo: First lap Le Mans 1953 Sydney Allard in the Allard JR at the Esses leading Ascare and Moss.
Revival
After years of discussion and co-operation with several individuals and Allard business ventures over a period of thirty five years, some of which have resulted in the manufacture of a few modern ‘lookalike’ Allard J2X cars, the Allard family have decided to start the manufacture of authentic continuation Allard cars again, after a gap of over fifty years since manufacture ceased in Clapham, London, in 1958.
Our Allard cars, unlike the ‘lookalike’ Allards built by other business ventures since 1985, are true authentic Allard cars built by the Allard family. They are being built almost exactly to the original specification of Allards built in the 1950-1960 period, or to similar but updated specifications, which were discussed and planned by the Company, but never actually produced by the time manufacture ceased in 1958.
Interest in, and consequent rise in the value of classic cars has been rapidly expanding in recent years and now has been given added impetus by the trends in world financial markets. We therefore have a unique opportunity to revive the Allard car marque; so in 2012 a new Allard Sports Car Company was formed.
Progress
It was not until the 1980’s that more interest in Allard cars began to push up values. This trend was assisted by active Allard Owners Clubs and club members in the UK and USA as well as the attention of one or two car specialists, who have produced some ‘lookalike’ J2 cars. Road test reports and magazine articles continued this interest through the 80’s and 90’s.
In the last fifteen to twenty years, the collectability of original Allards, as cars worthy of restoration, has gathered pace. As a consequence, very few have been lost or scrapped in this period and those with a racing history are especially prized.
For more information on the revival process, please download the Allard JR Revival brochure and the New Allard JR Specifications brochure by clicking on the image thumbnails on the right hand side of this page.
Allard JR Revival Information Brochure
New Allard JR Specification Brochure