When Sydney Allard got more serious about becoming a car producer he needed a car that could be build in relative higher number to finance his more dedicated sportscars. Therefore he designed the P1, a big 2-door four seater sedan, which eventually became the most produced Allard model ever.
It was introduced in 1949, using a 3.6 litre flathead V8 engine as well as the complete drivetrain, and was built on a chassis constructed by John Thompson of Beacon Works, Wolverhampton. The split front axle was retained, and transverse leaf springs were used both at the front as well as the rear, although later version used coil springs for the front axle. The interior included some luxuries as leather and wood, and while the rear seats were significantly smaller than the front seats, they still offered ample comfort for 2-3 people.
Although not designed as a sportscar, its most memorable feat came in 1952, when a P1 won the Monte Carlo Rallye, driven by Guy and Sydney Warburton, while Tom Lush did the navigating. Apparently the car offered enough room for 3 passengers and spares. With over 4.75 in length the P1 was a big car, and it surely looks like it when encountered now. Although 551 P1s were produced its attrition rate has been very high. Many were scrapped in the early sixties, as nobody needed a fuel hungry V8 in a not all too attractive body. Also quite a few served as a basis to recreate other Allard models. It could well be that less than 30 are still on the road.
A number of survivors were gathered during an Allard Club meeting at the 2006 Silverstone Historics and we are happy to be able to show you some of them. The pictures show two version, one with the grill well extended into the bonnet, which was the original configuration. The later version got a much shortened grill.
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