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Spoiler alert: this bit isn’t about Huey, my ’49 Allard Special…
In 2013 I was in South Africa and looking thru the classifieds in ‘Classic & Sports Car’ mag. I noticed an Allard Special – highlighted as one of the mag’s features – with a well known dealer in the South of England. It had a decent history – originally an L-type, rebodied back in the mists of time, but with a Cumberland registration from 1948 and originally owned by a doctor in the Cockermouth area. As a Cumbrian, this appealed to me, naturally; but why did the Allard appeal?
As a kid, born in the late 40s but growing up in the 1950s, I had been a car fanatic from before I can remember, and my actual car memories go back to when I was 2. So, at 7 or 8, I remember seeing Allard waterfall grilles – mainly on P1s – driving around Carlisle and the county, and my father (who claimed never to see cars other than as a means of getting from point A to point B) clearly influenced by Allard’s Monte win of 1952 and pointing them out to me. At an early age I knew about the Ford V8 engine and its competitive performance.
- So anyway, here was this Special for sale (I can’t remember the price, but it wasn’t too silly) and I was wandering around S. Africa, miles from anywhere, and I only had two other old bangers at home; so what do you do? Answer: I immediately rang the dealer and said I’d like very much to buy the car.
The only snag was that he’d accepted a deposit on this L-type Special, and so I couldn’t have it. This lovely car is now, I believe, in Switzerland or Germany.
Curses! When I got back to Blighty, I began searching in a desultory way for any Allards I could afford. The Appleton Special duly came up in ‘Car & Classic’ and I rang the vendor about this stupendous machine; but I knew I’d not be able to buy it and additionally do necessary work on it. So that passed and went…
In August 2015 I was vaguely trawling Car and Classic when I spotted another Allard, described as an M-type, 1948, ‘Trials Special’. But it was down as ‘sold’. Or was it? I trawled elsewhere and the same car came up as ‘for sale’. A phone number was attached, so I rang, expecting hope to be dashed… the vendor picked up; was the Trials Special still available, I asked?
Well, it was still for sale. Down in Kent! I live in Newcastle/Gateshead, so, not wanting to miss out, I asked the vendor to wait up while I tore down the A1, round the M25 and onto the various other side-roads involved (I didn’t do Satnav in 2015, but only got lost a couple of times).
Tony was still up and waiting when I got to his place, but he said I’d best delay until morning before viewing. So after a suspense-full night and good brek, it was time to check out the Special. And here it was…
Quite embryonic compared to the refined barouche that graces my garage over ten years on.😆The thing that made me realise I had to have this car whatever else transpired, was the starter button. More on this next time…
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