Monterey Car Week 2023

I have attended the Monterey Historic Auto Races for the past 40+ years, and have witnessed the evolution from a three day celebration to its current ten day ‘car week’ commencing with the Pre-Reunion races at Laguna Seca, and concluding with the four day Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (RMMR) on August 20. The span between these two events is interspersed with at least 2 local tours, 5 auctions and countless car shows – including the world famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. In short – a feast of car-related functions that are great to experience, but are more than one could witness in that ten day span of time.

Our celebration commenced with Thursday’s Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance when a couple hundred Concours entrants departed from Pebble Beach on a 70 mile tour along the Pacific coast down Highway 1. Back in the pre-COVID days they would then stop on Carmel’s Ocean Avenue for lunch, which gave us ‘poor folk’ an opportunity to admire these classics up close. As an alternative, we joined Martin Allard in his Allard K3 where we went about 20 miles down Hwy 1 to see the tour on parade. It was no surprise that hundreds of fans and photographers along the way presumed that we were also a part of the tour.

We still have fond 33 year-old memories of 1990 when Allard was the featured marque at the Monterey Historic Auto Races, with more than 60 Allards present. This gave us a chance to meet several Allard celebrities including Tom Lush, Zora Arkus-Duntov, Cyril Wick, Dudley Hume, Tom Carstens, and Bill Pollack. This year two Allards were on the roster at Laguna Seca. John Mote has done a remarkable job of refining his Buick Nailhead powered blue K2 (#1546), but a problem with his timing chain relegated this car to static display for the weekend. Bernard Dervieux again had his very early, original, and historic Cad-powered J2 (#1513) which – after sorting out some brake issues – participated in Saturday’s Race 12.

Three Allards were on the auction block this weekend. Bonham’s featured a well finished and original hemi-powered J2X (#3074) that was once owned by Steve McQueen. It is a very nice car, and we felt that its celebrity history would have had a positive impact on the price. So some of us were surprised that it went for $346,000 (including premium).

The other two Allards were for sale at Gooding auction. A very nice Ford flathead-powered K1 (#595) went for just under $118,000 (including premium), and the beautifully restored Ardun-powered J2 (#2121) did not meet its reserve. Overall, the sell-through rate was down 10% over last year, and many of those that did sell, were for prices substantially lower than the pre-sale estimates.

While there were not any Allards at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, many Allard owners were present including Wayne Carini, John Carlson, Donald Osbourne, Bob Weiner, Martin Allard, Geoff Hacker, and Tom Chandler. One car that grabbed our attention was a 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet that received second place in its class of 6 Postwar Luxury cars. This car was the culmination of a six year project by students at McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas. As we and our cars continue to get older, we take some encouragement that auto restoration is a key four year curriculum at McPherson.

-Charles Warnes

Monterey 2023 Auction Preview

Three very interesting Allard’s will be crossing the auction block in Monterey this year. Each car has a compelling story and look to be in very good condition. We plan to check out each car prior to their sale so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

J2X 3074 was exported on September 25, 1952 to California Sports Car Company in San Francisco. It was equipped with Chrysler modifications and interestingly shipped in primer (no paint) with black interior. It was equipped with wire wheels, a 3.78 differential, full size windscreen & wipers, and a top. The buyer was noted west coast enthusiast Bob Gillespie who had the car painted red and the wheels painted white. The car was on the October 1953 cover of Road & Track along with being featured in a road test in the December 1953 issue of Auto Sport magazine. The car was entered to race at Pebble Beach in 1953 and Mrs Gillespie raced it to 4th in the Women’s race at Stockton in June of 1953. The car’s most famous owner, Steve McQueen acquired it in 1962 and he kept it until his death in 1980. The car was then purchased by the Imperial Palace Hotel in Las Vegas where it was on display in their museum for many years.

At some point the car was repainted dark British Racing Green. From the photos, the car appears to be in very good condition and the parts appear to be original to the era. The only minor issue we can see are the small Stewart Warner gauges (which can be easily replaced with original Smith’s & Lucas gauges).

The car will sell on Friday the 18th with no reserve and is expected to go for $300-$400,000, although we believe it could go for significantly more if the right bidders are in the room. Honestly the estimate seems low for a car in this condition with such a significant history. To learn more, visit: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28011/lot/88/1951-allard-j2x-chassis-no-3074/

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The second Allard, RHD J2-2121 is another special car. It was delivered to distributor Nunn’s on August 27, 1951 who sold it to Bernard Scott-Wade on March 28, 1952. The car was painted metallic gray with a blue interior. The car was fitted with an Ardun-Mercury V8 which was the engine of choice in the UK since the Cadillac was unattainable. Unfortunately the UK Ardun’s weren’t very reliable and it was soon replaced with a Ford Pilot V8. In 1963, it was purchased by Gerry Belton, Allard’s former promotions manager, and was repainted in British Racing Green.

By 1968, the car was sold to Bob Judd of London. Mr. Judd took his newly purchased J2 to Allard’s Clapham workshop in London and received their blessing to install a new Cobra-specification engine into the car. With their blessing, a 289 Ford V-8 was installed. In the August 1969 issue of Autosport, Simon Taylor wrote, "With identical power and torque and similar weight to the AC Cobra, the (J2) is certain to be as quick as it felt. Once underway it just thunders forward, its snub green nose swallowing up the road and its Wagnerian exhausts seeming to blow everything else off the road."

The J2 was then relocated to the US having been purchased by noted collector Otto Bowden. While under his care, 2121 was featured in a Champion Spark Plug advertisement. In 2008, Dr. Stickley purchased the car and commissioned a significant restoration. The car was sold in 2013 and then again in 2016, where the new owner replaced the Ford Hi-Po V-8 with an Ardun-modified Ford flathead V-8 engine.

The car is in beautiful condition. As for originality, there are a few minor issues such as the tachometer (the other gauges appear correct), the custom armrest and the front brakes aren’t plumbed correctly - all of which can be corrected easily if so desired or left as is since most Concours judges wouldn’t know the difference! Please note the divers pedal box has been modified to allow for bigger feet - a welcome change! The car will be sold as Lot 56 and is expected to go for $275,000 - $350,000 which we believe is a solid price for a beautiful car with an interesting history. Click here to learn more: https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1951-allard-j2-1a/

PS: Previous owner Bob Judd put together the following ‘larger than life’ homage to his old Allard J2-2121 and the Allard Motor Company: http://www.allardregister.org/blog/2010/12/2/the-real-allard-story-hang-on-and-shut-up.html?rq=judd

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The final car, K1-595 was honestly a bit of a mystery to us. Our database noted its status as unknown. The basic details we had stated the car was delivered on July 24, 1948 and was painted light blue with blue interior and a note stating “see export card-purchased S/H in 1953 and shipped to California 12/53. The few details had had on the car though did line up with the write up from the Gooding so we’re just going to plagiarize their description (below):

“This very special K1, chassis 71K 595, was built by the factory in early 1948 as a rally car, and its Engineers Instructions production tag on file features the handwritten note on the reverse: “Special Construction for Alpine Rally…light weight body, 6-7-48.” The tag further specifies 71K 595 as set to receive aluminum wings, cowl, and bulkhead, special radiator and petrol tank, and Girling shock absorbers. It was delivered to the noted Leonard Potter of the UK. Fitted with the renowned Ford flathead V-8 engine, Potter successfully campaigned this K1 over the course of the year, winning the Unlimited Cup in the Allen Trial, the Jeans Gold Cup, and placing 2nd Overall in the prestigious Alpine Rally. Upon the close of the 1948 season, the K1 was sold back to Allard Works and was used as a sales demonstrator. Potter would then run 71K 595 again in the 1949 Alpine Rally for the Allard Works team, winning five separate awards for various stages in the famed event.

Following its campaign history, the K1 would then be relocated to the US in 1953 under the care of A.F.M. Luscombe. Stateside, it enjoyed life on the West Coast for quite some time, including time in Harrah’s Automobile Collection of Reno, Nevada. William Harrah eventually sold the car in 1971 to Allard racer Pete McManus. Throughout its ownership chain, it remained remarkably original, and would not be restored until the mid-2000s by marque specialist Hoffman Vintage Racing. Following the restoration, the K1 would go on to win multiple awards at prestigious concours events at Greenwich, Radnor Hunt, and Lime Rock Park.”

This car also looks to be in very good condition with solid originality. The car will be sold as Lot 147 with no reserve and the estimate ranges from $180,000 - $240,000. This special K1 is definitely worth the estimate, but K1’s are not the most sought after Allards - hopefully it sells well. To learn more, click here: https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1948-allard-k1/

Monterey Car Week – 2018

Four Allards participated in this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca raceway. The Allards again paddocked as part of the Del Monte Trophy Racing Group (www.dmtrg.com), a gathering of late 40’s and early 50’s sports racers.

We were glad to see Bernard Dervieux return to Laguna Seca with his silver Cad-powered J2, along with John Mote’s ‘Smurf Blue’ Buick-powered K2. Jon LeCarner and Doug Klink are continuing to carry on the Jim Degnan/George Myers tradition with their red K2’s pitted next to each other.

This year the paddock area was graced by a fifth Allard that has recently come out of storage – the Tilton family ’53 J2X LeMans. #3066 is a veteran of the Pebble Beach and several other West Coast races of 1954 and 1955, and has been owned by the family since 1958. The car suffered body damage during a disagreement with some hay bales during the 1954 Golden Gate Races, and was fitted with a restyled front cowl to get it back on the track in 1955. There is strong speculation that Jack Hagemann, an esteemed northern California aluminum racecar builder of the day, performed this modification.

The four racing Allards ran among an eclectic group of their contemporaries in Group 2A on Saturday. Doug Klink and John Mote started in 11th and 13th spots in the 37car grid, and Jon LeCarner and Bernard Dervieux were in 17th and 26th. Mote moved up to finish 10th in the course of the ten lap race, and Dervieux took the checker flag in 20th place. Klink’s K2 was sidelined early in the race when a small, but significant, throttle linkage component broke at a most inopportune time. LeCarner had a second car running in Group 3A, so he had to bring his Allard in early to get his Devin SS to Pre-grid for the next event.

‘Car Week’ now includes six auctions. One Allard crossed the block this year – a red, Olds-powered J2X at the RM Sotheby auction. It was an older restoration, highly modified for rallying and racing. The car sold for $250,000.

We again enjoyed visiting with our old friend Lindsey Parsons. You may recall that Lindsey gained some well-deserved Allard fame by making several cross country trips with his J2X from his home in New Jersey to the West Coast over the past 20 years. He recently sold his immaculately restored J2X, but continues to keep his enthusiasm for Allards. We are looking forward to getting together again next year!

Words by Chuck Warnes, Photos by Colin Warnes