1948 Allard K1 Competition Sports 2-Seater

Owned/Driven by Pete & Joanne McManus 

This Allard is stock even though it has an appearance different from most K1s.  It features cycle type front fenders that were used on some K1s that were prototypes for development of the model which followed, the J2 Allard.  This car has an Italmeccanica supercharger with dual carburetors on a 239 cu in Mercury Flathead engine that was available for the Allards in 1948.  High compression heads and dual exhaust on the car were also available on the Allards at the time.  FIA documentation was obtained to verify the car’s authenticity when the car was used for vintage sports car racing in England during 1982 and 1984.

Car’s Competition History

In 1982, we acquired this Allard in England and prepared it for racing in vintage sports car events during 1983 and 1984 at circuits including Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Donington, Thruxton, and Castle Combe in England and LeMans in France.  In England during ’83 and ’84 the car won its class in the Historic Sports Car Championship Series for pre-1960 sports racing and limited production sports cars.  In 1983, the car received the Historic Sports Car Club (an English club) Dion Pears Award for the “Best Prepared Car” for the club’s 1983 season as well as the Phillips Trophy for the “Best Performing Road Sports Car.”  The Allard Owners Club awarded the car the “Continental Trophy” for the best competition performance by an Allard in 1983.  In August 1990 the car competed in the Monterey Historic Races in California where Allard was the featured marque.  Allard enthusiasts attending the Monterey races gave this car the “People’s Choice” award for the “Best Competition Allard” at the event.  The car continues to be a regular participant in Vintage Sports Car Club of America (VSCCA) events.