That's Real Racing - Video from Torrey Pines, 1955

Our friends from The Chicane (www.thechicaneblog.com) just posted this great color video footage from the Torrey Pines Road Races in 1955.

Torrey Pines Road Races - October 1955 from Harlo on Vimeo.

Question 1: What happened to all the great paint jobs like the blue & white C-type Jag?

Question 2: Can you name all the cars?

Breaking News!!! Allards to be showcased at 2011 Amelia Island!

Please read the exciting announcement below from Bill Warner, Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance...

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Every year at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, we feature various significant marques to showcase the heritage of the cars and the successes experienced.   Andy Picariello and I have been working in concert for the past few years to assemble a definitive display of Allard’s to put on the fairways at the concours. I am pleased to announce that for the 16th Anniversary of The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, March 11, 12, 13, 2011, Allard will be one of three featured marques, the other two being Duesenberg and Kurtis.
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We'd like to thank Andy Picariello for helping to make this a reality. Andy is working tirelesslyin supporting the Allard Marque, and for that we are grateful!

Celebrate the Guv'nors 100th on June 19!

This June 19th, we'll celebrate Sydney Allard's 100th birthday. If you check your calendars, you'll notice that the 19th is a Saturday. So what's a better way to celebrate Sydney's big day than by taking your Allard out for a nice spirited drive in the country? We hope that you'll celebrate Sydney's birth in style...and if you do, please send us a photo...we'll post every one that's sent to us!

For more info on Sydney's life, click here.

Allard Quick Change Differential

By David Hooper

In 1952, the Allard Motor Company offered a modified dead axle assembly for the J2X complete with removable center section to allow the Halibrand quick change differential to be easily retrofitted to the USA cars. Due to high import costs, it was not cost effective to import quick change differentials from the USA. However, due to interest from existing Allard owners plus HWM, it was decided to make an Allard version.

Click to read more ...

Old Magazine Covers, Part 2

As with most issues of "Motorsport" magazine, the cover photo had nothing to do with the content of the magazine. This issue is from January, 1951 with Tom Cole catching some air on his way to a victory at Bridgehampton in 1950. As usual, copies of this magazine can be found for sale at www.ebay.com.

Dragster Update - The Birth of "Ally Blue"

 

A few weeks ago, Brian Taylor of the Allard Chrylser Action Group that's restoring the Dragster - sent us this story about what's likely the first Allard inspired song out there. 50% of the proceeds will go to help restore the Dragster.

THE BIRTH OF ALLY BLUE

Sam Eidy of Michigan engine builder Booth Arons has been a complete Ally project addict since his company first became involved in the restoration of Europe’s oldest dragster – the 1961 Allard Chrysler built by Sydney Allard. Shortly after Booth-Arons was appointed the official engine builders for the project, and between locating and chasing down parts suppliers, Sam found himself doodling out some lyrics about the car to the tune of ‘Alley Oop’. Although originally written for a comic strip of the same name by Dallas Frazier who recorded it in 1957, the  ‘Alley Oop’ version by the Hollywood Argyles in 1960 is probably the most well known because it made Number 1 in the Billboard Hot 100. But it has also been recorded by other artists such as the Beach Boys and George Thorougood and is familiar to most rock music fans of a ‘certain age’.

Click to read more ...

Cool Web Site - www.car-brochures.eu

(Click here or the photo above to visit the site) 

Here's an interesting web site that you need to check out, www.car-brochures.eu. It's packed with scans of car Brittish car brochures and advertisements from the past. Sadly, there are no Allard brochures (yet), but there are over 80 Allard advertisements ranging from 1946 to 1957. The adverts are very interesting to look at, especially when compared to todays ads. Special thanks to Hermann Egges for creating such an interesting web site (and thanks to Kerry Horan for the telling us about it!).

Allard M #808 For Sale

Allard M Type, Chassis #808 For Sale. Click here to learn more!

Old Magazine Covers, Part 1

Today we're starting a new feature highlighting the old magazine covers that have featured Allards. If you're interested, most of these old magazines can be found on Ebay or in a good used book store - if you're lucky.

Our first cover, comes from "True, the Man's Magazine" which features Erwin Goldschidt's J2, presumably racing at Watkins Glen. Unfortunately all we have is the cover of the magazine so we don't know what stories are within or even what year it was published in. All I know is, the cover art is amazing!

Allard of the Month - J1 415

Ted Frost was a successful international motocross scrambler, trials rider and Norton works rider in the period immediately before and after WW2.  He owned the Drift Bridge Garage in Reigate Road, just outside Epsom, England. He had become friends with Sydney and his brothers through the Streatham Motorcycle Club, of which they were all members prior to the war.

He persuaded Sydney to build him a J1 for his use. Hence 79J415, the ‘Frost’ Allard, registration number MPG 250, was built and delivered on the 23rd September 1948. It was the thirteenth and last J1 to be made.

Click to read more ...