Since 1999 ALLARD MOTOR WORKS Vol. 15 - Fall, 2014 NEWSLETTER Topping Things Up - A New Option Allard Motor Works (AMW) is currently exploring the possibil- would feature a full windshield with a t-top back- ity of introducing an ‘all-weather’ roof option to provide owners bone, allowing for the removal of two panels that of the Allard J2X MkII with an extended driving season. AMW rest above the occupants. The panels could then be believes that the Allard J2X MkII Coupé will find favour among stored in the trunk. This way, the passengers could many enthusiasts who want added comfort and convenience in enjoy the blue sky when on an extended journey their MkII. The decision to proceed with a design for a hard- and even turn on the heater or airconditioner if re- top option was not difficult claims Roger Allard. “The original quired. But if you are assured of ‘perfect weather’ configuration of the car, with the two Brooklands wind screens or keep your car in a garage, then you would have imparts a very special look to the car and is faithful to the orig- the option to remove the entire hardtop and ‘run inal look. However, it does have some limitations with respect topless’.” to seasonal considerations. I have felt for some time now that a full windshield, along with a removable hardtop, would provide Creating of a functional hardtop for the MkII Cou- owners with an extended driving season and more security when pé is no small challenge. Cockpit dimensions are overnighting at hotels along the road.” The hardtop design was restricted and the impact bars inside the doors pre- initiated some time ago, but more recently, a new collaborator clude the use of roll-up side windows. The standard has joined the team - Virgil Exner Jr.. twin external roll bars and the centre-mounted fuel neck will require some creative thinking to provide Now retired but still consulting, Virgil has a long and respected a secure fit and a rear window. As Virgil Exner Jr. history in the auto design world. Having worked alongside his says, “There are always compromises to make when father for many years, he brings forward many design and func- working with an existing design. The design of the- tional imperatives to his concepts. No, the new J2X MkII Coupé top cannot trump the original look of the roadster. will NOT have wings like his father’s iconic 1953 to 1963 Chrysler Individuals who like classic cars are ready to make vehicles but, it will be faithful to the era and styling of the 1951- some accommodation as long as dealing with a 54 Allard J2X. top does not become a pain. What is required is a ‘signature look’ that combines functionality, conve- “For some time now, AMW has kicked around the idea of adopt- nience and reliability. That is what we are working ing some form of weather protection. We have considered both on.” soft tops and hardtops. However, designing a functional and ef- fective soft top is an art and few have accomplished this success- AMW will continue to offer the J2X MkII that is cur- fully. They are prone to leakage, are noisy and they generally are rently enjoyed with the Brooklands wind screens, difficult to erect and disassemble. Therefore, we decided to leap- but by spring, 2015 the company looks forward to frog that concept and design a top that provided the best of both releasing its ‘all-weather’ coupé option. AMW in- worlds - a hardtop that would be designed as a ‘targa’ top. This vites your comments and suggestions, along with the many who have done so already. www.allardj2x.com • [email protected] Page 1 Since 1999 ALLARD MOTOR WORKS Vol. 15 - Fall, 2014 Concours of America: The Exner File The 2014 Concours of America was the stage for a special event featuring the cars of Virgil Exner, an iconic au- tomobile designer from Detroit who introduced the ‘Forward Look’ in the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. The Con- cours, in Plymouth MI, created a special class for the event featuring ‘The Exner Cars’- from Chrysler Imperials, to Plymouth Furys to DeSotos and the Dodge Custom Royals. Wings and chrome were very much on display to the delight of nostalgic aficionados. Virgil Exner Jr., a collaborator in his father’s design movement, was a busy person that weekend as he co-chaired an interesting 3-hour seminar on car design. A representative selection of ‘Forward Look’ cars was on display at the seminar along with smaller scale models used by the designers to validate their concepts. The following day, Virgil Jr.’s role changed to that of Chief Judge for the Exner Class at this well attended event. Virgil Jr. also devoted a significant amount of time to Roger Allard and Marcel LeHouiller, the owner of the new AMW Cad-Allard #001. He felt it was important to ‘get the feel’ of the car and assess its dimentional and struc- tural characteristics so that he could continue his design of a removable hardtop for the J2X MkII. “This roadster is stunning!”, he exclaimed when he saw the car ‘in the flesh’ for the first time. “It will be important to ensure that a new hardtop does not take anything away from the powerful look of the car. To be successful, the devil will be in the details,” he added. So the work continues, with a proposed delivery date for the first hardtop for the Spring 2015. Plymouth Fury Dodge Custom Royal DeSoto The Exner name is internationally recognized in the automotive world. Virgil Exner was a Detroit-based auto- mobile designer and stylist who left an indelible mark on the North American autoworld. His signature styling was created in the employ of US companies, notably Chrysler and Studebaker. He will always be remembered for his ‘Forward Look’ design on the 1955 - 1963 Chrysler vehicles and for his love of fins on his cars. Virgil Exner Jr. worked closely on automobile designs with his father and later became internationally recog- nized as he continued the tradition. www.allardj2x.com • [email protected] Page 2 Since 1999 ALLARD MOTOR WORKS Vol. 15 - Fall, 2014 It’s a Cad-Allard... not so fast! How many times do we hear that Allard racers are all Cadillac powered. NO! Allard J-type racers do not HAVE to be powered by a Cadillac engine. Back then, whatever engine was thought to be ‘the fastest that week’ was stuffed into the car and then joined the starting grid for the race. While the 331 cu. in. Cadillac did garner a number of impressive wins, the 331 Hemi was also very much a part of the winning combina- tion on or off the track (Carroll Shelby, Maston Gregory and John Fitch). Even Steve McQueen’s J2X had a 331 Hemi. Most of the Allard J-type competition cars sported American V8s, including Buick and Olds. A regular participant at the Laguna Seca A rare sight - two of the 5 Oldsmobile-powered track in California, the late-Bob ‘Cotton- Allard J2Xs in existence at the same event. wood’ Lytle drives his Buick-powered J2X. California Mille - this Oldsmobile-powered J2X is driven by Stanley Bauer and Craif Gilbert. www.allardj2x.com • [email protected] Page 3 Since 1999 ALLARD MOTOR WORKS Vol. 15 - Fall, 2014 Pebble Beach: 1950-56 Road Races RACING HEROES TELL THEIR STORIES A documentary film produced by renowned racecar driver Rick Knoop and filmmaker Dean Kirkland entitled, “Racing Through the Forest – The History of the 1950-56 Pebble Beach Road Races”. This documentary was filmed over approxi- mately three years and includes 50 interviews with legendary names in road racing such as Fred Knoop, Mick Marston, Bill Pollack, Jim Hall and Phil Remington. It chronicles the events dating from the first through to the last Pebble Beach Road Races, that included legends like Carroll Shelby, Phil Hill and Bill Pollock in 1956. “What began as a tribute to my father, Fred Knoop, has evolved into a celebration of one of the world’s greatest road races,” said Knoop. “We’re thrilled to share this incredible story with audiences at the Pebble Beach Concours. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to ex- plore this incredible history, especially just feet from the road where the men and machines did battle. I’m honored that some of those fea- tured in the film have committed to attend.” “We’re pleased to host the premiere screening of ‘Racing Through the Forest’ which focuses on the Pebble Beach Road Races and the en- thusiasts who started and participated in these sporting yet fierce competitions,” said Sandra Button, Chairman of the Pebble Beach Con- cours d’Elegance. “We all owe a great debt to these enthusiasts. I’m certain that much of the collector car world today would not exist with- out them. And there would be many fewer ways to see and celebrate great cars and the people affiliated with them.” Inspired by the memoirs of the Del Monte For- est Road Race history, the Pebble Beach Con- cours and Pebble Beach Company teamed up with K&K Productions to preview the documentary for a select audience. Blending interviews with racers and incredible footage of the events, the film recalls the glories of this often forgotten race thus creating a facinating video archive of its history. Editor’s Note: “Racing Through The Forest” premiered at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours. This historic documentary was recently shown at the Los Angeles’ Peterson Automotive Museum.