Author Topic: Solved - NEH 2053: Allard J1 'Appleton' Special - 1948  (Read 470 times)

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Offline Carnut

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Solved - NEH 2053: Allard J1 'Appleton' Special - 1948
« on: August 31, 2012, 07:11:33 AM »
What's this, by whom, from when and what powers it - for 1 point?

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Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 2053
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2012, 06:59:37 PM »
Experts?
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Offline fyreline

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Re: NEH 2053
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2012, 08:11:26 PM »
1948 Allard J1 "Appleton Special". Supercharged Mercury flathead V-8 engine.
« Last Edit: September 08, 2012, 08:14:25 PM by fyreline »
"You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are NOT entitled to your own facts"

Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 2053
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2012, 05:56:47 AM »
1948 Allard J1 "Appleton Special". Supercharged Mercury flathead V-8 engine.

Spot-on, yes.
Now, since I asked the question originally can you say who built it, then I can award you your point and move this to solved?  Locked for you of course.
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Offline fyreline

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Re: NEH 2053
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2012, 09:33:37 AM »
Hmmm. Well, Allards were, of course "built" by Sydney Allard, and this second "Appleton Special" was completed by - wait for it - Ronald John Walter Appleton.  Both of those names were, I thought, included in the answer. Registration #JHY613, Chassis #KI2313, Engine # 2313. Sorry I don't know what Appleton was wearing when he worked on it, or the name of the mechanics who helped him, or what they had for breakfast.  :)
« Last Edit: September 09, 2012, 09:41:01 AM by fyreline »
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Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 2053
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2012, 12:35:33 PM »
Hmmm. Well, Allards were, of course "built" by Sydney Allard, and this second "Appleton Special" was completed by - wait for it - Ronald John Walter Appleton.  Both of those names were, I thought, included in the answer. Registration #JHY613, Chassis #KI2313, Engine # 2313. Sorry I don't know what Appleton was wearing when he worked on it, or the name of the mechanics who helped him, or what they had for breakfast.  :)

Yes, Ronald John Walter Appleton it was.
No extra points for sarcasm though!
Here's all the blurb from when it was offered at auction:

QUOTE
The Allard offered here was first owned by Ronald John Walter Appleton - known as John or Jim - who was fortunate enough to receive one of only 12 original J1s built in 1946. A trained structural engineer, Appleton had been a formidable Brooklands competitor before the war, setting a Mountain Circuit Class G lap record that stands to this day. This was achieved at the wheel of the first 'Appleton Special', a Maserati 8C 1100 previously owned by Henk Widengren, which its creator had fitted with a supercharged Riley engine. In 1934 Appleton formed part of Aston Martin's works team at Le Mans, retiring following a mechanical failure. He also participated in trials where he got to know Sydney Allard.
Appleton's original J1 (chassis number '110', registered 'HXC 578') formed part of a three-car trials team known as 'Candidi Provocatores' (Pure Troublemakers) together with Godfrey Imhof's ('106') and Ken Burgess's ('109'). Wanting to keep 'HXC 578' fairly original, Appleton embarked on the construction of a second Allard J1 in the winter of 1947, obtaining from the factory a bare 100" chassis incorporating lightened cruciform bracing, a commercial plate gearbox mount and André Hartford rear shock absorbers. Registered 'JYH 613' and first seen in competition in May 1948, albeit incomplete, it is the car offered here. It is not unknown for Allard chassis to be supplied in un-numbered form, and this car's has been stamped with the number of its supercharged Mercury 'flat head' V8 engine, which may have been taken from 'HXC 578'.
Appleton's own mechanic completed the car, which is bodied in aluminium over a steel latticework frame. Other noteworthy features include different size front/rear wheels, hydraulically adjustable shock absorbers, rear-mounted fuel tank/spare wheel carrier, and a gear lever 'kill' switch for clutch-less shifting. The 4.2-litre Mercury V8 engine currently fitted has 24-stud alloy cylinder heads with central water connections, the latter indicating that it was manufactured prior to 1949. It is equipped with a Marshall K200 supercharger (date stamped 25/11/48), alloy inlet manifold and tubular exhaust headers.
Appleton drove 'JYH 613' in various hill climbs, sprints and trials (including RAC Championship events) before selling it to make way for the final, Ford-based 'Appleton Special'. In 1950 the car passed to the second owner, A Rumfitt, who also owned the ex-Imhof J1, 'KLD 5'. The cover of Autosport magazine (29th September 1950 edition) depicts Rumfitt at the wheel of 'JYH 613'.
During the 1950s the Allard is known to have passed through the hands of Ian Hale of Largs, Ayrshire; R S Vincent of Chelsfield, Kent; Raymond Way Motors of Seven Kings, Kent; R Harris & Sons (Builders) Ltd of Barnstaple, Devon and John Orr of Keynsham, Bristol. The current owners acquired the car in the 1960s, since when it has spent much of the time laid up.
Restored a few years ago, 'JYH 613' appears to retain much of its original panelwork, though the nose is a replacement part. More recently the car has benefited from further cosmetic improvements and now has a leather-trimmed interior and new carpets.
UNQUOTE
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