Years of Manufacture: 1946/50
Numbers produced: 191
The L type was a long wheelbase (112 inches) 4 seat tourer.
- Wheelbase: 112 inches
- Track Front: 56 inches
- Rear: 52 ½ inches
- Overall length: 15 ft
- Width: 69 inches
- Weight: 24 ½ cwt
Our new database contains factory records for every car and many service records.
Contact: L-type Registrar: Mark Brett. markbrett@allardownersclub.org.
The first production Allard was a red L-type tourer. Chassis number L-102 left the works just in time for the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) cavalcade through London in September 1946.
It was driven by Ken Hutchinson alongside Imhof’s white J1 (HLP 5) and Sydney’s pre-war tourer was there too. The super-modern design of those first two production Allards made a huge impression alongside many manufacturers’ warmed-over pre-war models.
By March 1947 the car was sold and registered HLB 424.
The Allard Owners Club has lost trace of this car.
We offer a free copy of the Kinsella book on Allards to whoever can find it!
The last production L-type L-1701 left the works in April 1950, heading for Los Angeles, USA. It still exists, with intriguing swooping rear bodywork, but in need of total restoration.
L-types made good rally cars.
L-387 probably has the greatest rallying career of this model: Winner of the 1950 Rallye Soliel Cannes, it also ran in the 1950 Eastbourne rally, 1951 RAC rally, 1951 Lancs Auto Club national rally and 1952 Annecy sporting trial. It also raced at Goodwood in period.
Peter Love’s L-type, chassis L-867, reg LKR 963, competed in the RAC rally in 1953 among other events.
Sheila Tiller’s L-203 and James Smith’s L-393 are probably the most-rallied L-types in the last 20 years.
Of the 191 L-types made, the club identifies 37-38 cars left worldwide, of which around 18 are on the road:
13 cars are taxed and on the road in the UK.
Another 14 cars are on SORN or “untaxed” in the UK, meaning they are off the road.
We know of 6 cars in the USA.
We believe but are not certain that there may be 4-5 in Europe / RoW. (Work in progress).