KEEPING THE SPIRIT ALIVE SINCE 1999
Sydney Allard
19/6/1910 - 12/4/1966
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Sydney Allard was a successful trials and hill climb driver. He also pioneered dragster racing in the UK and produced dragsters.
Sydney Allard died 54 years ago, he was 56
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Sydney Allard was a successful trials and hill climb driver before the war, to such an extent that people ordered cars based on his winning car. He made 12 cars before the war. During the war Sydney received a government contract maintaining jeeps and other Ford V8 based vehicles.After the war he set up the Allard Motor Company Ltd and commenced motor manufacturing. In all he made about 2,000 cars, but candidly admitted that he became a manufacturer to subsidise his competition activities.
His first model was th J1 competition model. 12 of these were made, of which 3 had trials bodywork. There followed the K1 Roadster and the L type Tourer. After this the M type Drophead and the P type Saloon, then the J2, the K2 and the M2.
Sydney also made 'one-off' cars for his own competition use, and the Steyr Allard - powered by an air-cooled Steyr engine won the British hill climb championship in 1949.
Perhaps the most remembered Allard model was the J2/J2X which won many competitions both in Europe and the USA. The first factory made J2 with a Cadillac engine came third in the 1952 LeMans 24 hour race.
"Motor" magazine road tested a Cadillac powered J2 in 1951. Having described it as "the finest sports motor bicycle on four wheels ever conceived" the review went on to refer to its "splendid handling qualities and outstanding performance" and concluded "to take the J2 Allard with Cadillac engine on a 100-mile journey away from towns on a fine day is one of the most memorable experiences which a motoring enthusiast can achieve".
Another great triumph was when Sydney won the 1952 Monte Carlo Rally, with Tom Lush and Guy Walburton. This is the first (and only) time the rally has been won by a manufacturer driving his own car. Other models included the K3, the P2 Monte Carlo Saloon and the P2 Safari estate car.
By this time Sydney realised that the side valve Ford or Mercury V8 engines he used to power his cars were being superseded. The competition cars such as the J2X and JR were by now Cadillac powered as the post-war import restrictions had been lifted. The Palm Beach had a Ford Consul or Zephyr engine, which with a modified head and three carburettors was reasonably brisk. The Mark 2 Palm Beach was intended to be powered by either the Zephyr of Jaguar 3.8 litre engine. In 1959 two Allard GT's were built, one with a Jaguar engine, the other with an Oldsmobile engine. This was virtually the end of motor production. Sydney Allard went on to convert Ford Anglias and Cortinas for competition use, and rallied them with his son Alan. He also pioneered dragster racing in the UK and produced dragsters. In 1968 Alan Allard set a world quarter mile record in a Chrysler powered Allard dragster.
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Elfrieda Mais 1892 - 1934 -
Archie Butterworth 1912 - 2005 -
Frank McGurk 1915 - 1982 -
Louise Bryden-Brown 1916 - 1972 -
Harlan Preston 1917 - 1995
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Ken Downing 1917 - 2004
Ken Downing was a genuine privateer who bore allegiance to the Connaught marque for most of his career, both in sports cars and single saters. Although Downing only made two Grand Prix starts, he was a regular podium finisher in National events. -
John James 1914 - 2002
John James was a keen amateur who first raced at Brooklands before WWII. After the war he returned to competition and entered the British Grand Prix in 1951 with the ex-Reg Parnell Maserati 4CLT/48. -
Eric Thompson 1919
Thompson fitted his racing in with his work schedule. Twice winning his class at Le Mans and victories at Spa, Goodwood and other circuits, though he drove for fun, Thompson drove like no amateur. He only competed in one Grand Prix, the British in 1952, beating Farina in a straight fight for fifth place and two points. -
Arthur Owen 1915 - 2000
Arthur Owen started competing in hill climb events in the Channel Islands during the mid 1950s. He made one Grand Prix appearance, the 1960 Italian Grand Prix. Driving a private 2.2-liter Cooper-Climax he went out with suspension damage. -
George Bainbridge 1916 - 2002
George Bainbridge prepared and sometimes raced cars for Bob and Geoffrey Ansell of the Ansells Brewery family.