1970 AC / Allard J2X
The Final ‘EF’ Prefix Cobra/428 Chassis to leave the factory, and only example with fitted engine and gearbox.
Clothed in the original aluminium coachwork of the Prototype Allard J2X
UK Road Registered.
CHASSIS NO: EF509
ENGINE NO: H-8-KR-1098
The Allard and AC/Shelby story shares many similarities, albeit over a decade apart. It’s widely thought that Shelby’s time racing the Allard J2 stayed with him, The car is a lightweight British sportscar with a big American V8 providing effortless power and torque. This combination of a British car with its great handling and low curb weight, coupled with a powerful and inexpensive American engine would form the basis of the Shelby Cobra.
This unique motorcar started life when Mr Waterlow, then owner of the Allard J2X prototype (MGT 850) delighted with the coachwork of the J2X decided to attempt to improve the handling and power of the car and placed an order of right hand drive rolling AC 428 Chassis with engine and manual gearbox from AC Cars.
He entrusted Paul Emery of Emery Cars fame to transfer the original Aluminium bodywork, chassis plate, and registration plates to the 428. He continued to run the car as the prototype Allard until his death. This is where ‘MGT850’ and Allard chassis plates were returned to the original Allard chassis. The AC 428 chassis ‘EF509’ was ordered through marque dealers ‘DB Cars, 283 Deansgate, Manchester, UK.’
It was the last of the EF/EFX chassis prefix cars. EF was the prefix for orders made by the Electric Fuel Propulsion Inc., Based out of Ferndale, Michigan. EFX 501 through to 508 were all sent to the United States in 1969, as left hand drive rolling chassis without engine mounts, destined for electric battery vehicles, the project unfortunately didn’t venture past this stage.
Unlike the previous eight chassis, EF509 remained in the UK and was built in right hand drive and fitted with a Ford 428 engine and four speed manual transmission. It left the AC Cars Factory on the 24th October 1970.
The factory ledger entry for EF509.
As previously mentioned, shortly after that the motorcar was clothed with the Prototype Allard J2X coachwork and it has remained as such until today. ‘EF509’ remained well known in the Allard community as it was lent in the mid 2000's to Ian Pitney, so a faithful copy of the coachwork could be created for the Allard chassis car.
We discovered the motorcar in Hertfordshire last year, being in single ownership for the last thirty years. We have carried out a full rewire as a safety precaution, alongside a light recommissioning. Following that the motorcar was correctly registered as an AC with DVLA.
This is a unique opportunity to acquire a period Thames Ditton motorcar as the donor of a 427 Cobra project. The much-preferred alternative would be to use the motorcar as it was built, as it's fascinating to have the genesis of the Texans racing story in the Allard, alongside the concluding Shelby Cobra product in the 427 Cobra chassis design and 7 Litre Ford V8’.
- SOLD-
To find out more about this significant motorcar please contact our sales team for further details.
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