What was it?

[American iv]

Bit of a strange one this, I saw a car parked up this morning that I've never seen before and for the life of me I can't remember what the make was. Trying to google it has me stumped (keep coming up with Austin Allegro's).

The logo / badge on the front "All..." and looked like Allagra or something. If I remember correctly and was oval shaped in green with gold lettering? The car, on first glance looked like a X-Type with double oval lights and similar shape but was much older with a squarer body shape and more rigid boot line. It was a maroon colour as well, but I doubt that'll help.

So, my question, what on earth was it?

[moleamol]

Could it have been an old Daimler?

[Hooli]

old? new?

[dougc]

Allard?

Disregard - never made a car that looked like an X type.

Edited by dougc on Saturday 29th December 22:21

[NiceCupOfTea]

Could it be one of those God-awful Mitsuoka abominations? Mid-90s Jap cars with old Jag/Riley front ends glued on?

Although I can't think of one that begins with "All..."

[dougc]

What a beauty!!

[tribbles]

Beauty - where? Was the picture removed?

[SimonV8ster]

The radiator looks like the face mask out of 'Scream' !!

[EDLT]

dougc said:

What a beauty!!

I actually jumped when I saw that.

[forsure]

dougc said:

Allard?

Disregard - never made a car that looked like an X type.

Edited by dougc on Saturday 29th December 22:21

Regularly parked outside an idustrial unit in Borehamwood is a dark green Lexus LS400 with heavily (and very professionally) modified front and rear bodywork.
Front looks a bit Aston Martin, rear has round lights a la Fiat Coupe.
Doesn't look like GRP, possibly aluminium; definitely not an off-the-shelf bodykit.
On the bootlid is an 'Allard' badge - in the correct style of the car company.

ETA: could fit the description of looking a bit like an X-type.

Edited by forsure on Sunday 30th December 00:01

[dougc]

Well you learn something new every day eh?

website said:

The Allard team’s intent was to build a customer racecar and also have a road car tie-in, an Allard designed supercar. The Allard J2 supercar was to have been loosely based upon the J2X Group C chassis, and use a detuned Allard-badged Cosworth DFR. Though the J2 was a future project to be completed after the J2X was successfully on the track, two Lexus LS400s were modified by Allard (mainly styling, aerodynamics, and interior) and used as lures for potential manufacturer backing for the J2X. The LS400s were presented to Toyota in hopes that they would be interested in the Allard tie-in, to sell a low-volume exclusive, the Allard LS400. In fact Toyota did show interest, but confusion amongst the Allard partners led to them being unable to present a clear marketing proposal. Toyota quickly lost interest.

http://www.allardmotorcompany.co.uk/pages/edit/page.asp?News_ID=4

Shame the J2X wasn't more successful...

[forsure]

dougc said:

Well you learn something new every day eh?

website said:

two Lexus LS400s were modified by Allard (mainly styling, aerodynamics, and interior) and used as lures for potential manufacturer backing for the J2X.

Well, one of them survives; wonder if the OP has seen the other one?

[tim the pool man]

[mybrainhurts]

EDLT said:

dougc said:

What a beauty!!

I actually jumped when I saw that.

On whom...?

[mybrainhurts]

Second one down....OGLE?

http://www.sporting-reliants.com/Prototypes.htm

They did this little number too

[American iv]

tim the pool man said:

Thats the one! I forgot at the time of posting that my immediate thought was someone had butchered an Aston Martin Vantage ('93-00 model) with different lights.

Thank you [] Does explain why I hadn't a clue what it was!

[mybrainhurts]

Still don't know what it is....

[moleamol]

It's an Allard CL4 you fool.

[mybrainhurts]

Dammit, yes, sorry...I'll stick hot pins in me nuts

[tim the pool man]

mybrainhurts said:

Dammit, yes, sorry...I'll stick hot pins in me nuts

Going to change your user name then?