1948 Allard M-Type

Sydney Allard was a successful trials and hill climb driver before the war, to such an extent that people actually ordered vehicles based on his winning car. After the war he set up the Allard Motor Company and commenced motor manufacturing. In alh sports seats and as its a late car is fitted with a airbag and 6 speed gearbox .l he made approximately 1,910 cars, but candidly admitted that he became a manufacturer to subsidise his competition activities, which included trials, hill climbing and winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 1952.In production of the M and L Type, Allard used a substantial box section chassis with a large amount of proprietary Ford components to enable spares and service parts to be readily available wherever the car was sent in the world. The bodywork was a mixture of aluminium and steel components. The UK cars were mainly fitted with the Ford V8 flathead engine of 3622cc and a modest but very torquey 85hp engine. There were many power enhancement options available, but mostly to overseas customers.Originally the property of BBC broadcaster Randal Herley, GGB 331 has had only three owners since. This specific Allard has a unique and much prettier "bespoke' body than its four seater counterparts and is believed to be a one-off period creation. Original features include: coil sprung front suspension, Allard cylinder heads and an extremely rare Allard twin carb inlet manifold. Propelled by a Ford V8 engine, mated to a three-speed gearbox, the vendor reports the car will happily cruise along at modern road speeds.

Purchased by the most recent owner in 1988, the car received a body off restoration shortly thereafter. As part of the restoration a new red leather interior was fitted. A book of receipts for all restoration and re-commissioning work, including photographic record, is present in the history file.

GGB 331 was used extensively on trips to France and Italy in the early 1990s but eventually saw little use and was sent to storage. In 2003 a light re-commissioning took place to get the car road worthy again, however, there is no evidence of MoT certificates beyond 2005.

Supplied with a sound tonneau cover, original folding windscreen, hood sticks and original side screens, this charming special bodied Allard M-Type retains all MoT certificates from 1988 to 2005, together with the original log book and many tax disks going back to 1950. Buyers should be aware that the registration number is transferable and is included in the sale of this lot.