1953 Allard P2 Safari Estate

Introduced in 1952, the Allard P2 Safari Estate car was designed to accommodate six people and 45 cubic feet of luggage (or 95 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down). The work of Dudley Hume, David Hooper, Sydney Allard and Reg Canham, its tubular chassis frame was equipped with J2X-type independent front suspension, a De Dion back axle, Marles cam-gear steering and Lockheed 12'' drum brakes. Available with a choice of Ford, Cadillac or Chrysler V8 engines allied to a 3-speed manual transmission, the newcomer's performance belied its generous dimensions.

In the years immediately following WWII, steel was in short supply, amongst many other things, however, what was not in short supply was aluminium sheeting (from dismantled aircraft) and carpentry skills (no longer required building Wellington bombers and, happily, fewer coffins were required). Car manufacturers were resurrecting pre-war models but the lack of fresh steel was a problem so one or two enterprising builders went back to constructing timber-framed rear sections with non load-bearing aluminium panels. These were not the glamorous shooting-brakes from years past but utilitarian vehicles helping small businesses get re-established. The Government of the day helped by classing these wooden framed vehicles as 'Commercial' therefore reducing the amount of Purchase Tax that was payable. Being a bit lighter, a small capacity engine would do the same job enabling further economies at a very difficult time.

By 1952, however, things were looking a bit brighter with the Festival of Britain in 1951, the end of food rationing and steel mills starting to fulfil orders for the Motor Industry. Successful race and rally driver and builder of fine road cars, Sydney Allard, had been thinking about building a timber-framed utilitarian commercial vehicle for some time but, as time went by, parts of the equation didn't really appeal and, as big V8 engines were in his DNA, the decision was taken to construct an American-style 'Woodie' using his Allard P2 Monte Carlo two-door, four-seater saloon as a base and the Safari arrived.

The Safari was essentially a hand-built luxury car with polished wood facias and door caps, full hide interiors and acres of room in the interior, whilst the exterior was not left lacking in luxury appeal with the spacious timber-framed bodywork underlining the dedication and skill of traditional craftsmen working with steel, wood and leather. With internal heating a standard fixture as well as adjustable steering, door operated interior lights and an automatic reversing light, the Allard was in many ways ahead of its time.

This particular 5.4-litre Cadillac-powered Safari was delivered new in January 1953 to a gentleman residing in Wolverhampton, however he was to part with it some six months later. We believe it then had several long-term owners before requiring some restorative attention in the 1980s. A long and exhaustive restoration followed with the car being finished in an eye-catching shade of Bronze, latterly being changed to a more conventional shade of British Racing Green with a black Everflex roof. It has formed part of a large collection with little or no use and, whilst in generally good condition, an element of recommissioning is to be expected to return it to the road once again.

It's a little ironic that the concept of using bits of used alloy, sawn-off timber lengths and out of work carpenters to help a cash-strapped Britain get back on its feet morphed, within a few short years, into the glorious, extravagant, Cadillac-powered leviathan that we are delighted to offer today. The Allard Register have confirmed that 13 P2 Safaris were built with only four, or possibly five remaining.

We feel that this is quite an important car historically, representing a moment when the black clouds of the war years were blowing away, the sun had come out and Britain was waking up.