1951 Allard J2
- Engine
- Chevrolet 283 cu in (4.6L) V8, four-speed gearbox
- Colour
- Silver
The 1951 Allard J2 (chassis 99J 1787) was invoiced by the factory in August 1950, built to accept a Cadillac V-8, and shipped to Bell Auto Parts in California, where Roy Richter's team completed its preparation for competition. Raced on the West Coast through the 1950s by original owner James Chapman, the car later received a Chevrolet 283 V-8 sourced from a 1957 Corvette in place of the original Cadillac unit. It was subsequently restored in the late 1990s and further developed mechanically with a Jaguar E-Type differential, modern driveshaft, and Carrera dampers, leaving it well-suited for vintage racing.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$224,000
- 1950 →Factory deliveryBell Auto Partsfull documentation
California speed shop that received the rolling chassis directly from the factory; owner Roy Richter installed the Cadillac engine and prepared the car for competition.
- → 1956Acquisition unknownJames Chapmanpartial documentation
Raced the car extensively on the West Coast; had the original split front axle swapped for a solid axle to improve handling on uneven circuits.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownUnidentified owner circa 1962partial documentation
During this custodianship the original Cadillac motor was replaced with a Chevrolet 283 cubic inch V-8 and four-speed transmission sourced from a 1957 Corvette.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJimmy Dobbspartial documentation
Described as a collector and vintage racer; commissioned a thorough restoration in the latter part of the 1990s, the quality of which remains evident.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJim Taylorpartial documentation
Described as a noted collector; acquired the car after Dobbs's ownership.
Competition
- —West Coast sports car racesDriver: James Chapman
Car competed in multiple West Coast events during its early years, with Chapman driving throughout this period.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1962Modification
The original Cadillac V-8 was removed and substituted with a Chevrolet 283 cubic-inch V-8 paired with a four-speed gearbox, both sourced from a 1957 Corvette.
The change was made for reasons of weight and compactness; this drivetrain configuration has been retained ever since.
- —Modification
The factory-spec split front axle was removed and replaced with a solid axle to address handling issues on undulating tracks.
This modification was carried out at James Chapman's request early in the car's competition life.
- —Restoration
A comprehensive restoration was carried out to a high standard, encompassing the bodywork, cabin fittings including Stewart Warner gauges and leather upholstery, and overall presentation.
Undertaken during Jimmy Dobbs's ownership in the late 1990s; the restored condition remained well-preserved at the time of sale.
- —Mechanical
Extensive chassis development work was performed, including fitting a Jaguar E-Type differential to the De Dion rear axle, replacing the torque tube with a modern open driveshaft, adding adjustable Heim joints front and rear, fitting Carrera dampers at all corners, and installing an onboard fire suppression system.
The front solid axle was also re-engineered with a transverse leaf spring and integrated steering stabilizer as part of the same programme of upgrades.
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