Allard J2X Mk II - Car of the Year 2010

The new Allard J2X is a gorgeous machine. But what is not apparent is the great chassis this car has. I have seen the chassis in the final assembly stage. It is designed to be very rigid and is perfectly matched to the front and rear suspensions. This car will take a ton of torque and handle anything you throw at it.I was pleasantly surprised to see the amount of protection designed into the chassis, with twin roll bars inside the cowling area and over the fuel tank.

2012 Allard J2X Mk II

While so many automobile designers constantly strive to create cars with futuristic styling, the Allard team has taken the J2X in the exact opposite direction. In fact, this Quebec product has brought back the retro lines of the Allard, a 1950s British race car. Its base engine is a 5.7L V8 that can conjure 350 to 370 hp, depending on what the client prefers. Alternatively, buyers can opt to have a 6.1L, 450-hp V8 installed under the vehicle’s long hood. Good times are guaranteed!

Car of the Year 2010: No. 10 Allard J2X MkII

Allard or Nothing

Alas, the modern-day Allard was limited to tours along Meadowood resort’s 5-mph private roads after the first day of judging. In spite of this setback, the Allard found favor with those who recall the original 1950s-era Allard J2X. Enthusiasts will be happy to know that, except for a longer wheelbase to accommodate taller drivers and a Chrysler-sourced V-8 engine, the MkII is nearly the original’s doppelgänger

Allard J2X MKII: Rarely seen, never forgotten!

Roger Allard, a fan of 1950s British cars, took a trip to England to acquire an Austin-Healey 100S. To find out more about this car, he tried to find some literature on the subject, and in doing so he came across a book on a car brand called... Allard! Intrigued, Roger Allard wanted to learn more about Allard cars. Six months later, in 1999, after a series of surprising events, Roger Allard and a friend became owners of the rights to the Allard brand and founded Allard Motor Works. But that’s getting way ahead of ourselves – let’s go back to the beginning!

Back from the dead

The instrumentation on the dashboard is an exact replica of the original but it’s infinitely more reliable... so much so that several old Allard owners want to buy it! The mechanism for the windshield wipers is not visible, but it’s there for those who want it, just like the two 12-volt outlets hidden under the dashboard. The Quebec entrepreneur also had to meet current standards in terms of mechanics, comfort and safety. For example, the MK II is 4 inches longer than the original in order to give both occupants enough space. The gas tank is made of stainless steel with inner walls, there are impact bars in the doors, two roll bars in front and in the rear (that are quite visible), and the bumpers can resist an impact of 8 km/hr (5 mph).

Once upon a time

In 1936, Sydney Allard, a seasoned driver, founded the Allard Motor Company and produced about 1900 cars including numerous sports cars. Among other models, there were 83 units of the J2X built between 1951 and 1954, which ended up being the most celebrated Allard in auto racing. What’s more, some of the great names in racing drove the J2X to victory: Zora-Arkus Duntov, the father of the Corvette, the inimitable Carroll Shelby, John Fitch (first place in the Argentina Grand Prix) and actor/driver Steve McQueen. Due to excessively high development costs, Allard Motor Company ceased production in 1959. Sydney Allard remained active in auto racing until his death in 1966.

The secret?

It’s not terribly easy to get in, but I would have been surprised if it was. You’ll have to learn to slide in, knees first. Once seated, you’ll find yourself very low to the ground, and the front visibility is decent at best. Towards the back, the small rearview mirrors are to blame for the poor visibility, but who wants to look back when you’re driving a car like this anyway! Our car was equipped with the optional and none-too-easy-to-buckle four-point seatbelt, but fortunately Allard offers a traditional three-point seatbelt standard too. Buyers have to choose between three V8s: two Chryslers (5.7 and the 6.1 Hemi) or a GM (350 Ramjet). It has a Tremec five-speed manual transmission and the differential ratio is 3.5:1. The 5.7 is the most popular and undoubtedly the best adapted to the car. I was able to try a J2X MKII equipped with this engine for several kilometres and I can tell you with certainty that the power is phenomenal. Imagine an engine with 350 horses and 400 lbs-ft of torque in a car that barely weighs 1250 kg (2750 pounds): Every horse has to displace 3.57 kg, which is a better ration than a Porsche Boxster S (4.11), a Lotus Elise SC (4.19) and a smart (11.71).

Allard vs. the World

The retail price of an Allard J2X MK II is $138,000 USD, which may seem a little steep, but considering the quality of the car and its on-track capabilities, it really isn’t too much. If you want to buy yourself an exceptional car/fountain of youth, the Allard J2X MKII is the way to go. You’ll just have to plan on waiting between 10 and 12 weeks before you receive your unit. AMW has one dealership in California (already an authorized dealer for the Morgan brand), as well as another in Boston and in the Middle East. Talks are ongoing with other representatives in Germany, England and China.