Friday 12th November 2010

Allard J2X MkII - 1950s Legend Is Reborn

Classic British bruiser is resurrected - via Canada

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The Allard J2X, the racing car for the road car that 'did an AC Cobra' more than a decade before the Cobra itself, has been revived and is heading for sale in the UK and the rest of Europe.

The original Allard J2X was built between 1951 and 1954 and used a range of American V8s, usually a Ford-Mercury Flathead (though Cadillac and Chrysler units were installed, too), coupled to a lightweight open-top body. Allard made just 83 of these original cars.

Now, though, Canadian-based Allard Motor Works is building the Allard J2X MkII, a recreation that is sufficiently accurate for the official Allard registry to grant official numbering to the new cars, and UK-based Premium Classic Cars is distributing them across Europe.

Full specs are yet to be announced for the new Allard, but prices will start from £95k for the car, which is fitted with a 350bhp, GM Ram Jet V8 with over 400lb ft of torque.

If you want a closer look, the J2X will be at the NEC Classic Motor Show on 12th, 13th and 14th November.

[louismchuge]

400lb through wire wheels could be interesting!

[cazzer]

Always always wantede one of the originals.

Tractor parts with a huuuuge v8

[Chris71]

Big US engine in a lightweight British roadster? Healey did it even earlier with the Nash-powered Silverstones I think...

[Fury1630]

Looks more like a kit car than either of my kit cars - pretty remeniscent of a frog too.

[gizard]

On of Dirk Pitt's toys!

[Chris71]

Fury1630 said:

Looks more like a kit car than either of my kit cars - pretty remeniscent of a frog too.

Well it is a replica. A good one perhaps, but so are the better kit built Cobra, GT40 and C/D-Type Jaguar recreations.

[theironduke]

gizard said:

On of Dirk Pitt's toys!

Brilliant books!

[cazzer]

I can't get past someone being called "Dirk Pitt"
It's such a naff name.

[CAD Monkey]

Bring on Jim Tiller, and his much modified J2X, a bright orange monster!

[havoc]

cazzer said:

I can't get past someone being called "Dirk Pitt"
It's such a naff name.

Oh I dunno...it's got a certain Scottish-dagger feel to it.

[LuS1fer]

Isn't the GM ram jet the iron block? I really don't see the point of using an iron engine for historical reasons when the all alloy LSx engines are superior in every way.

[Motown Junk]

The lsx engine blocks are cast iron actually, it's some of the ls's that are alloy.

[LuS1fer]

Motown Junk said:

The lsx engine blocks are cast iron actually, it's some of the ls's that are alloy.

I was using the "x" as the wildcard character to denote said LS variants. Next time I shall use an asterisk.

[tonym911]

Grim - far too fussy.

[BILL PAYER]

Reminds me of this Ronart kit car

[odyssey2200]

'tis a silly price.

[Mark Wibble]

BILL PAYER said:

Reminds me of this Ronart kit car

Looks like someone over-inflated a Lotus 7 :-)

[Al W]

Don't knock it until you've tried it!
I was fortunate to be loaned an original J2X to drive to (unfortunately not IN!) the first Goodwood Revival. What a fantastic car, it must have been mind-blowing back in the early 60s.

[torchy6]

It's an ugly pig isn't it, especially when compared to the sublime C type Jag.

Edited by torchy6 on Friday 12th November 14:45

[theironduke]

BILL PAYER said:

Reminds me of this Ronart kit car

I would....