Lot details
Registration No: 545 EXR
Chassis No: 72/7000Z
Mot Expiry: Exempt

- 1 of only 6 examples built by the factory

- Displayed at Earls Court Motor Show in 1956

- Painstakingly restored by Alan and Lloyd Allard in 2013 to exacting standards

- Fitted with a 2553cc Ford Zodiac 6-cylinder engine, triple SU's and 4-speed Ford gearbox

"Only a few men have designed, built and then put into production, cars bearing their own name. Even fewer, if any, have gone on to build their own racing cars and compete in them, with such great achievements in such a wide range of motor sport competitions. From mud-plugging trials, to hill climb champion, Monte Carlo winner and Le Mans 24 hours third overall, to building and driving the first dragster outside the USA. Sydney Allard was that rare and outstanding personality..."

We are proud to offer for sale this 1956 Allard Palm Beach Mk.2 which has been the subject of a painstaking restoration by Alan & Lloyd Allard, son and grandson of the legendary Sydney Allard (UK Hill Climb Champion in 1949 with his Steyr Allard). A rare car, it is one of only six built by the Allard Motor Company between 1956 and 1958 and was displayed on the Allard stand at the 1956 Earls Court Motor Show.

It features the classic Allard suspension set up, with divided axle at the front and live Salisbury at the rear, Panhard rod and twin trailing arms, telescopic shock absorbers and coil springs all round. Power is supplied by an uprated six-cylinder in-line 2553cc Ford unit, with similar specification to that fitted to the 'Ruddspeed' AC Ace. This is coupled to a Ford four-speed gearbox. All running on an Allard twin tube chassis number 72/7000Z, a development of the Mk.1 Palm Beach and Allard JR sports racing car. The very pretty aluminium two seat body, the best looking Allard ever made in many peoples' opinion, has been carefully restored and painted in bright 'Carmine' red and trimmed in matching red and tan leather - resulting in a very pleasing interior.

After its appearance at the 1956 Motor Show, the car became the Allard demonstrator. It subsequently passed to Brian Howard, a manager of the Allard Motor Company, then to Walter Hemsworth in 1968 and then onto Peter Hemsworth in whose ownership it was put into storage around 1976. In 2012 Alan & Lloyd Allard formed the Allard Sports Car Company, with the view to revival of Allard as a sports car manufacture once again after a gap of some 56 years.

With the revival in mind and the idea of producing a continuation model, a Palm Beach Mk.3, Alan Allard purchased the Mk.2 from Peter Hemsworth in 2012. Lloyd and Alan have since carried out a full restoration, as no drawings or patters were in existence, they took the opportunity to make their own drawings and patterns. From this work, the build of a new Mk.3 Allard Palm Beach is well underway.

This car was on display at the NEC Classic Car Show in 2014 and Octane Magazine's John Simister wrote an excellent seven page article, including a road test in the January 2015 issue. Offered with Swansea V5 document, this important Allard, restored by Sydney Allard's son and grandson with help from some of the original factory engineers, represents a rare opportunity for the serious collector to acquire a unique piece of Allard history.

Specifications

Body: All aluminium with steel and aluminium inner panels. Painted dark red (similar to the original colour). Two doors and two seats

Trim: Cream and red leather, with black carpeting edged in red leather

Steering: Right hand drive with Marles high ratio steering box

Engine: Fully rebuilt Ford Zodiac six cylinder in line. Capacity 2553 cc. Carburation by triple SU with six branch fabricated exhaust

Fuel System: Twin tank arrangement with tanks mounted each side with the rear wing

Transmission: Ford four speed manual

Chassis Frame: Twin tube side members, braced with flitch plates and with both tubular and box cross members

Suspension: Telescopic shock absorbers with coil springs all round with twin trailing arms and panhard rod at the rear and forward mounted radius rods at the front. Divided front axle, Salisbury solid axle at the rear

Brakes: Lockhead with 12" x 2 1/4" drums front and rear

Wheels/Tyres: Wire type, mounted on splined hub with centre lock spinner