1951 ALLARD J2 CADILLAC LEMANS RACE CAR

Summary

Documented #2 LeMans car driven by Hitchins and Reece in 1951 Twenty-Four Hours race. Pebble Beach Concours, Monterey Historics participant.

Details

In 1951, Allard Motor Company received an order for a J2 from Blakes, a big main Ford distributor in Liverpool, England, to be entered in the 1951 24 Hour Race at Le Mans. After the Le Mans race, this car was transported to South America, where it was raced extensively. During the mid 1980's, Glenn Shaffer began a search for an Allard J2 with racing heritage, and found this car in Lima, Peru. When discovered, it was complete and had the correct 1951 Cadillac OHV V8 engine, but the chassis was in need of a full restoration. The car included features not commonly found in other J2's, such as a 55 gallon fuel cell, aluminum-reinforced body, and vented front fenders. Shaffer suspected that he had found the 'missing' #2 Le Mans racecar. This car has been confirmed and documented by Allard experts to be the #2 Le Mans car driven by Hitchins and Reece in the 1951 24 Hours at Le Mans race. After completion of the restoration, and the addition of safety features such as a roll bar and seat belts, Glenn Shaffer and the car competed in top Vintage races in North America, including the prestigious Monterey Historic Car Races at Laguna Seca. Only 90 of the J2's were origially built and only a handful are the 'competition only' models, and brutally fast! 390 cubic inch Cadillac OHV V8, 300+ horsepower, 4-speed manual transmission. This car is a real favorie with race fans on the West Coast Vintage Circuit, and was invited to the Pebble Beach Concours in 1994 where few Allards are seen. SOLD ON BILL OF SALE ONLY.