When one considers just how long the ‘Lotus 7’, now ‘Caterham 7’, has been in production, I believe a development of the J2 could have still been produced. In it’s original form, before the large American engine was fitted, it was in my view a car of considerable merit. However the lack of reasoned development spoilt it’s place in history.
The production of a modified Austin/Morris chassis for the London County Council had been based at South Side, Clapham and was now to move to the Machine Shop at Upper Richmond Road, Putney. The volume of machine sub-contracted work had begun to reduce as the aircraft industry went through a recession and the increase in volume of work associated with the ambulance chassis meant that the Upper Richmond Road facility could be better used. The rear of Southside, where the last production Allard was produced was now getting more and more involved in the fitting of Webasto soft-top roofs, plus an ever growing level of body repairs, essentially for Fords.
The link through Adlards and it’s Ford Dealership meant we were involved in a number of projects, one of which was to reduce the overall length of the original Ford Capri. The reduction was, as I remember, less than three inches but it allowed Ford to export these Capri’s to a country where there were maximum length requirements. The volume of Webasto roofs being fitted continued to increase with orders coming from Ford Dealers around the London area. An approach was made to Ford to get this modification approved and after submitting a modified vehicle and detailed drawings of the conversion we got it passed.