Coys Auction
Ascot Racecourse,
Berkshire SL5 7JX
Saturday 2 October 2010 at 3pm
If hot rods had been invented in England, Sidney Herbert Allard would have been their originator. In 1936 he built a successful trials machine from Ford and Bugatti parts. His 1949 National British Hill Climb Championship came in a loud and fearsome special with four rear wheels, powered by a war surplus V8 Steyr tank engine. Quite an achievement!
Building on the success of the KI model, Allard launched a new K2 model in 1950. The K2 had a more modern appearance with a Healey-type front grille and large bumpers. Although the K2 only had two seats, it did now have a small luggage boot at the rear making it slightly more practical.
Various American V8 engines were available. A 3.6 litre Ford unit was standard, but buyers could specify Mercury, Chrysler or even Cadillac V8 engines. The K2 stayed in production until 1952, and by then 119 examples had been built. In the U.S., Allard's creations were quickly adop