since 1999 allard motor works vol. 16 - classic ......allard motor works vol. 16 - spring - 2015 •...

NEWSLETTERA L L A R D M O T O R W O R K S Vol. 16 - Spring - 2015

www.allardj2x.com • [email protected]

Since 1999

Allard J2X MkII

J2X MkII & F1: 16th ANNIVERSARY

Allard Motor Works made its first public appearance at the Canadian Formula One GP in Montreal in June 1999. Roger Allard drove former F1 World Champion, Damon Hill, around the F1 track in a pre-race drivers parade. The Al-lard J2X MkII was the company’s first prototype. Powered by a GM 383 cu. in. ‘stroker’, the company built a second prototype with a significant number of modifications that would add performance, comfort and safety features prior to releasing its first production J2X MkII in November 2008.

When introduced to the Allard J2X MkII, the British champion Hill, was quite taken and recalled seeing them when young at performance events in this native country. Unfortunately, the autograph he left me was on a poster and not on a cheque for a new Allard. He was however grateful for the Allard t-shirts that I had prepared for his children.

Unfortunately, Damon Hill spun out in that race and was a DNF (did-not-finish). It is claimed that his ride in the J2X MkII was the cluprit, as it resulted in his loss of concentration once behind the wheel of his 600+ hp Jordan-Mugen-Honda.

A L L A R D M O T O R W O R K S Vol. 16 - Spring - 2015


Since 1999

Members of the Allard Owners Club will converge on Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the annual club reunion on September 18 to 20th. The three-day reunion will coincide with a Vintage Race Car Drivers Association Vintage Festival held each year at the legendary Road America track. Allard owners will be ‘strutting their stuff’ both on and off the 4-mile, 14-turn circuit. Club pre-registration indicates that some 20 Allards will be participating, providing vintage sports car aficionados with a rare glimps of these British classics. Currently signed up for the event are a number of Allard J2s, J2Xs, K1s, K2s, K3s, a Palm Beach Mk1, an L-type and the modern Commemo-rative Edition Allard J2X MkII.

The weekend will feature a number of Allards racing on the track, doing parade laps, participating in a con-cours d’élégance and a car show. Allards will also be participating on a road course reenactment tour, which will replicate the original street course driven in the early 1950s. There will be something for everyone and Allard Owners will be on hand for photo opportunities and to provide a historical perspective of this iconic marque.

ALLARD OWNERS CLUB REUNION

PADDOCK PASS



THE COMFORT ZONE



Destination: Austin-Weird

Since 1999

Late October, last year, the Allard Motor Works’ (AMW) diesel-powered Ram duelly began its 7,000 km round-trip journey from Montreal to Austin, Texas. With its 24-foot trailer in tow, and a new Cadillac-pow-ered J2X MkII tucked inside, the unit rumbled across two provinces and seven states, racking in over 7,000 km in 10 days. The objective was to feature the our Cad-Allard J2X MkII #001 at the Motostalgia auction d’elegance in Austin, the weekend of the Formula One Grand Prix of America. This was an opportunity for AMW’s Houston dealer, Auto Collectors Garage, to promote sales of the new Allard and to get some media coverage. With visitors from around the world in town for the F1 event, this was an ideal venue to show off the J2X MkII in a city that has a rich classic car culture.

With some 90 spectacular vehicles carefully positioned on the grounds of The Long Center along the banks of the Colorado River, the Cad-Allard was a ‘show-stopper’ that triggered photo-ops from hundreds of visi-tors from across the USA, from Mexico, Australia, China, Russia, the UK, Sweden, Italy, France and Brazil. This venue rapidly became a cosmopolitain ‘happening’ within a city that is well-suited to cultural blends. This state capital, self-proclaimed as ‘The largest live music capital in the World’, distinguishes itself from the stereotypical image we might have of Texas. As such, Austin earned itself the moniker of ‘Austin - Weird’.



Highlights: Long-Haul Side Trips

Since 1999

When your hauling 10-12 hours per day for 2-3 continuous days, it is nice to break the monotony of the road with a few stops along the way. On my last journey to the South-Western states, I took the opportunity to connect with old friends and to make new ones. Shown below is the Pozzy blue Cad-Allard J2X MkII #001 located in London, Ontario.

Boerne, TX - Franklin, TN - London, ON

New friends were made when I dropped in on a recent customer’s facility in Tennessee. That is the new residence for a stunning jet black J2X MkII - the ‘Black Beauty’ (see below).

Sorry. It will only fit two!

Are you kidding me? 540 hp?!

Hummm! Maybe I should have chosen blue instead of my black MkII (below).

One happy owner!



Track Time Is Fun Time.

MOSPORT

FIFTH GEAR - ANGLESEY CIRCUIT - Wales

ICAR - MIRABEL CIRCUIT



Since 1999

Social Media: Getting Traction

Actor Normand Damour

and comedian, Michel Barrette

Social media is rapidly becoming the new communications highway and Allard Motor Works has taken the ramp onto this cyberhighway. By doing so, AMW has caught the attention of thousands that would otherwise not have known the Allard J2X MkII exists. These media tools are not intended to work in isolation, but rather they work together to build the required synergy that creates a ‘buzz’ and a global presence that would otherwise not be pos-sible. By sychronizing AMW’s website, Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other tools, we have developed a diverse and interesting following throughout North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the South Pacific. Our website continues to be the anchor. However, these other venues allow us to foster exchanges, unite buyers and sellers, gauge reactions to proposed options for the MkII and plan events where the new Allard can be seen. Let the ad-dresses below be your invitation to explore the inner world of Allard Motor Works in forums that provide variety, new ideas, comments and opinions. Web site: www.allardj2x.com

https://www.allardmotorworks.comBLOG

https://www.facebook.com/allardj2xFACEBOOK

https://TWITTER.com/allard_j2x TWITTER



Since 1999

Rarely Seen. Never Forgotten

A solid 1/4” sheet of ‘engine-turned’ or ‘jewelled’ aluminium is the platform for the six-instrument cluster on the driver-side cockpit. Exclusive to Allard Motor Works, these instruments are complimented by a 160 mph speedometer/odom-eter on the passenger side. Yes. On the passenger side, next to the ‘chicken bar’. (Where is the 6th instrument on the driver side?)

Answer: The clock. It is nestled inside the tachometer.



Since 1999

I N N O VAT I O NWhile the Allard J2X MkII replicates the original 1951-54 Allard J2X, motor vehicle regulations, styling and practical rea-sons have triggered a number of innovations in the fabrication of the J2X MkII to meet these requirements. The latest is the introduction of a rear fog light, a pre-requisite in Europe, China and soon to be required in North America. This safety device is intended to provide cars with a clear view of the vehicle they are following in foul weather. Manually activated with a toggle switch on the dash, the fog light projects a bright red continuous light at the rear of the car.

To comply with regulatory standards and to maintain the minimalist styling of the original J2X, Allard Motor Works re-positioned its backup light and combined it with its new rear fog light into the body. The backup light, previously hung below the rear body line, is now recessed into the body, as is the fog light. Placed equidistant from the centreline, two round 2.5” LED units are now countersunk into the rear of the vehicle. These cavities are the same style as the MkII’s tail/brake lights, thus creating a complementary look.

So which one is the foglight? Where required the passenger-side light will have a red lens and be connected to a dash-mounted toggle switch, on an independant circuit. If the fog light is not required, the passenger-side LED will function in tandem with the driver-side backup light. These units are not only bright, but they are very reliable, draw very little current and are DOT-compliant.



Since 1999

SHELBY - ALLARD CONNECTION

CARROLL SHELBY - 1952 to 1954 - The Allard J2 & J2XCarroll Shelby’s racing career is the stuff legends are made of. The young Texas chicken farmer rose quickly through the ranks to become an iconic international race car driver. His racing career began in 1952 behind the wheel of an MG TC winning his first race in Norman, OK. He then was offered a ride in an Allard J2 and a subsequently a Cadillac-powered Allard J2X. By smoking the competition at all races, his name quickly spread throughout the racing world. In 1954, following a stellar performance in a J2X at the Argentine GP, he was offered a seat in an Aston Martin DB3 in Sebring, followed by an Aston Martin DBR1/300 at Le Mans. From then on, he drove just about everything that could win from Jag to Ferrari and from Maserati to Corvette.

MG TC - Shelby’s first race car

Retired from racing in 1960 due to a heart condition, Shelby went on to design his own car, based upon the British AC sports car. Once he completed the implant of a 289 cu. in. Ford V8. in 1962, launched his first production roadster. He called his car the Cobra. The Cobra was very competitive and did very well on the track. As the competition got stiffer, Shelby designed a GT version and subsequently the Ford GT that dominated major international events in the mid-1960s.When asked if he had copied the rear of his Cobras from an Allard J2X, he replied “What the f... do you think!”



WHAT’S UNDER THE HOOD?

MOPAR 392 HEMI - 426 hp / 450 lb.ft.

MOPAR 6.1L HEMI - 640 hp / 609 lb.ft.

GM RamJet 5.7L - 350 hp / 395 lb.ft.

Cadillac LSA 556 hp / 540 lb.ft.

MOPAR 5.7L HEMI - 350 hp / 375 lb.ft.



[email protected]

+ shipping & handling

DRIVING IN STYLE

Since 1999

To Place Your Order

Roadster Apparel• leather aviator helmet - $94.99* quilted liner, brass buckle, embossed, adjustable

• leather gauntlets - $98.99* lined for summer, embossed

• leather gloves - $96.99* lined for summer, embossed * USD + S&H

RPM Vintage Classics ®

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Published Quarterly by:ALLARD MOTOR WORKS INC.

Prior editions can be found in the News section of AMW’s Web site.

since 1999 allard motor works vol. 16 - classic ......allard motor works vol. 16 - spring - 2015 •...

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