1947 Allard K1 Fixed-Head Coupe – One-Off Coachbuilt Car with Exceptional Period History

 

 

 

 

(Possible Allard M Coupe Prototype)

 

 

 

Offered for consideration is an exceptionally rare and historically important 1947 Allard K1 Fixed-Head Coupe, believed to be a one-off coachbuilt example and potentially an early developmental or prototype precursor to the Allard M Coupe.

 

This car is known to the Allard community and is supported by period photographs, long-term documented ownership, and newly uncovered first-hand historical testimony directly linked to the Allard works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chassis & Construction

 

 

 

Chassis: Allard K1 (1947)
Body: Fixed-head coupe, alloy body with steel fenders
Configuration: Right-hand drive
Coachwork: Non-production, bespoke construction
Known production: No other K1 coupes recorded

 

 

The coupe body displays purpose-built coachwork, not a later conversion. Details such as the roof profile, rear deck geometry, door construction, triple chrome hinges, semaphore indicators, and overall proportion clearly distinguish it from standard Allard production bodies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original Ownership & Early History

 

 

 

The original owner is believed to have been Dr. Rex Whitehurst, a medical professional who relocated to England following service in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War.

 

Dr. Whitehurst lived and practiced in the Greater London area and is strongly associated with the early life of the car. His connection is supported by:

 

Period photographs showing the car in the late 1940s
Handwritten notations identifying individuals connected to the vehicle
Recently confirmed family testimony

 

 

Dr. Whitehurst’s daughter has confirmed that her father worked closely with an Allard panel beater, believed to be responsible for constructing or finishing the body of this car. The photographs were taken at or immediately adjacent to the Allard Motor Company works, strongly suggesting factory involvement rather than a private, later conversion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coachbuilding & Factory Involvement

 

 

 

The styling and construction show clear hallmarks of professional coachbuilding, with many details consistent with Abbott of Farnham practices, including:

 

Roof curvature and rear window shape
Fastback-style rear deck and trunk lid geometry
Door construction and hinge placement
Overall finish and balance

 

 

While Abbott’s surviving records do not list the car by chassis number, it is well established that many post-war experimental and subcontract builds went undocumented, particularly where Allard was developing new body concepts.

 

Given the photographic evidence at the Allard works and testimony from the family of the panel beater involved, it appears likely that the car was constructed either by Allard themselves or in collaboration with an outside coachbuilder under Allard supervision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relationship to the Allard M Coupe

 

 

 

This car predates the Allard M Coupe and shares several conceptual and stylistic similarities:

 

Fixed-head configuration on an Allard chassis
Enclosed fastback coupe profile
Compact, purposeful proportions

 

 

Given the timeline (1947), the factory location of the photographs, and the non-production nature of the body, it is entirely plausible that this car represents a design study, prototype, or developmental exercise that informed later coupe production, rather than being derived from it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later Ownership & Competition Use

 

 

 

The car later became long-term property of Alan Sands, an active Allard enthusiast and hill-climb competitor.
Sands campaigned the car in period and retained it for decades.
In the late 1970s, the car passed briefly to a local enthusiast (never registered).
In 1988, it was acquired by George Wallace, who had known the car since childhood and whose family were close friends of Sands.

 

 

This unusually continuous chain of knowledgeable ownership adds substantial credibility to the car’s history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condition

 

 

 

The car is currently assembled but not running, retaining its original coachwork, structure, and proportions. It has not been cosmetically restored, preserving its authenticity and making it an ideal candidate for a historically correct restoration.

 

 

 
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Significance

 

 

 

Likely one-off Allard K1 coupe
Period photographic documentation at Allard works
First-hand family testimony from individuals involved in construction
Possible developmental or prototype link to the Allard M Coupe
Exceptionally well-documented ownership history

 

 

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a genuine, historically important Allard with a story that continues to be substantiated as new research emerges.

 

Serious enquiries from knowledgeable Allard enthusiasts, collectors, and historians are welcome.

Additional photographs, documents, and correspondence with registries available on request.