N EWSLETTE R
ALLARD MOTOR WORKS
Vol. 12 - year-end, 2012
Zora Arkus-Duntov Allard on the Block
Duntov’s JR is powered by a 350 bhp dual four-barrel 331 cu. in. Cadillac V8. The 100” wheelbased
roadster has a 4-speed manual transmission, a splitaxle semi-independant front suspension, a de Dion
rear axle with coil springs and tubular shock absorbers and Lockheed four-wheel hydraulic brakes. This
car is essentially mechanically identical to the Allard
J2X, but significantly modified for circuit racing.
RM Auctions’ Lot 115 is estimated to fetch between
$350,000 to $450,000 + fees at the Arizona Builtmore Resort & Spa.
Photos by Scott Miller, courtesy RM Auctions.
On January 18, 2013, the Allard JR that ran the
1953 Le Mans endurance race at the hands of the
legendary Zora Arkus-Duntov will be auctioned in
Scottsdale AZ by RM Auctions.
More details can be found at Hemmings Motor News:
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/12/28/
zora-arkus-duntovs-allard-jr-heads-to-auction/#.
UN29Ni27w1k.email
The Allard JR, chassis # 3403, is one of seven built
by the Allard Motor Company (AMC) in London.
Duntov, employed by AMC prior to joining GM and
becoming the ‘father of the Corvette’, drove one of
two JRs at Le Mans, the other driven by Sydney Allard. Allard lead the first lap of the race, but a cracked
brake drum had him retire after 45 minutes. Duntov
and co-driver continued through the night and recorded a 145.35 mph pass on the Mulsanne Straight,
before withdrawing with engine problems at 1:00 am.
www.allardj2x.com • [email protected]
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N EWSLETTE R
ALLARD MOTOR WORKS
J2X MkII Calendar a Big Hit
The popularity of the Allard Motor Works’ 2013 wall calendar required a second printing, as they were snapped
up as great ‘stocking stuffers’ for Christmas.
The large, high quality photos of the Allard J2X MkII
were a big hit as these provided an array of colours,
interiors and viewing angles. According to feedback,
these will no doubt be ‘keepers’. AMW plans to repeat the offer for 2014.
The AMW calendars are still available at a cost of
$18.98 + postage. Orders can be made by writing
to AMW at [email protected], indicating the
quantities required and your full address. Payment can be made via PayPal at the e-mail address mentioned, or by cheque. Upon receipt of
your e-mail with quantities, the postage will be determined and a confirmation and instructions will be sent to you
for payment.
Looking Ahead - Road Atlanta
The Speedfest at the Classic Motorsports Mitty, the oldest
and largest historic car event on the East Coast, will return
to Road Atlanta April 27-29, 2012. Sanctioned by the Historic
Sportscar Racing Association, the 36th Mitty will bring together cars ranging from 1950s classics to current models.
Allard Motor Works is hoping that the planets will align and
that we can get 3 Allard J2X MkIIs to the event. By that date,
AMW hopes to have at least 2 MkIIs in the region and possibly another one from the Northern US or Canada to make
it a threesome.
In addition to four days of racing action on the historic Road
Atlanta track, cars will be featured in many off-track activities: car corrals for different makes, after-hours parties and
events, car club gatherings and more. This will be the biggest
Mitty yet and likely the largest gathering of British sports cars
of 2013.
The Car World in Numbers
• VW to produce 1 million cars per year in China
• Lamborgini has second thoughts about introducing new SUV
• Average age of US cars is 11 years
• US car sales in 2012 = 14.5 million; projected increase in 2013.
www.allardj2x.com • [email protected]
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N EWSLETTE R
ALLARD MOTOR WORKS
Feedback:
The AMW Newsletter Spring ‘12 Edition on the threatened increase in the level of ethanol in our gasoline
received a number of positive comments from our readers. Below is summary of concerns contributed by a
regular reader of the AMW Newsletter, Bernie Kressner, M.S. Chem., RPI. An exhaustive report of the subject
is also available at: http://www.ewg.org/biofuels/report/Ethanol-Health-Risks-and-Engine-Damage
The Seven Deadly Sins of Ethanol
Older cars, speciality cars, high-performance cars, some expensive European cars, and antique cars require a
pure hydrocarbon fuel. I own two BMW’s, and especially, deliberately drive the 7.8 miles from downtown
Appleton to a Shell station just to get pure 100% hydrocarbon V-Power!
In addition, ethanol, in any ratio with gasoline, is not a good choice for a “biofuel” in anyone’s car. Here is
why:
One of the functions of gasoline is to lubricate the upper piston ring and cool the valves in a port fuel-injected engine: ethanol has much poorer lubrication properties. If you can get 150,000 miles out of a gasoline
engine, don’t plan on getting anywhere near that with ethanol included. Both valves and rings will wear
out sooner. Also, ethanol acts as a “Lewis base” chemically in a hydrocarbon environment: that means it is
corrosive with regard to seals. It is also actually hydroscopic, meaning it likes to bond with water and carry
it along to cause rusting in fuel lines. Most owners report poorer fuel mileage and less power with ethanol/
gasoline blends: ethanol has only about 1/3 the energy content (per molecule) of pure hydrocarbon gasoline.
Ethanol blends have also been reported to cause more cold-weather starting problems than pure hydrocarbon gasoline. I think it’s revealing that, even now, some top quality foreign manufacturers (e.g., Mercedes,
BMW, Porsche, and others) actually firmly discourage, if not outright prohibit, any ethanol from being used
routinely in their vehicles. Some studies* have shown increased health risks from the type of pollutants produced by ethanol/gasoline mixtures, as opposed to those from gasoline alone.
If we want a gasoline-like biofuel, then butanol from fermentation from algae is a much better substitute: it
shows NONE of the same adverse properties and behaviors of ethanol, and does not interfere with a current
food crop (corn), whose lowered availability is now responsible for increased food prices.
So, to summarize: with respect to gasoline, ethanol --1) Is a poorer lubricant;
2) Is corrosive to seals and gaskets;
3) Is hydroscopic and carries water into fuel-system components;
4) Shows only 1/3 the energy content per molecule as gasoline;
5) Has caused cold-weather starting problems;
6) Shows increased pollution health-risks;
7) Employs a food-crop source for its production.
Bernie Kressner, M.S. Chem, RPI
Bits & Pieces for 2013:
• Anticipated deliveries to New Hampshire, Tennessee, North Carolina, Connecticut, Ontario, California
• New dealership announcement in New England to be featured in next edition
• First California-compliant V8 to be installed
• Track car in the planning stages
www.allardj2x.com • [email protected]
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