At White’s Bodyworks in West Sussex, we’re used to seeing some classics and vintage cars driving into our garage in Hassocks. This 1940 Allard M-Type, however, was something else altogether.
Any restoration of an old car is something to take seriously. The older the car, however, the greater the responsibility can be, especially if you need to find new parts that are no longer made. It takes a specialist team to deal with a car like this and plenty of expertise.
Over the years, we’ve handled restorations and repairs for all sorts of vehicle and motorbikes. Each new car brings it’s own challenges, whether that’s the bodywork or the mechanical workings.
Sydney Allard’s cars were the height of fashion when they were created in the post war era. Souped up with a tremendous American V8 engine, it actually took part in racing events including Le Mans. The power to weight ratio of the vehicle (it’s frame was lightweight and English) meant that this was the high performance sports car of its time and it’s certainly a real collectors item.
The success of Allard was relatively short lived and by the mid 50s the company was in serious financial trouble. It went into administration in 1957 and never really recovered. In 2011, however, the Allard name rose briefly again and, after legal action, began to trade again in September of 2018.
The Allard came to us in September this year and is undergoing a complete assessment to see what needs to be done. At White’s Bodyworks, we always do this in close liaison with the car owner, working where we can to get the car back to as original a condition as possible.
The key to our success undoubtedly comes down to our fully equipped garage in Hassocks, West Sussex. But we’re also a team that has a lot of experience and understanding of dealing with vintage cars of all types, including the 1949 Allard M-Type.
If you have a classic car that needs some work, contact the team at White’s Bodyworks in West Sussex on 01273 933633.
