Seventy-two years ago, in September 1951, British entrepreneur and racer, Sydney Allard, founder of the Allard Motor Company, introduced an extended version of his successful Allard J2 competition roadster. Called the J2X (X for extended), the upgraded racer was designed to improve handling and to provide a much-needed cockpit extension to accommodate tall drivers like himself. The 83 J2Xs built between 1951 and 1954, proved to be the best performing Allards in Sydney’s stable of 15 models and 1900 cars. The J2X was primarily a left-hand drive export vehicle destined primarily to America. Most were shipped without engine (or even paint), then retrofitted to the new owner’s specification with the meanest and most powerful engines available at the time – the 331 Chrysler Hemi and the 331 Cadillac. The ‘Allard Legend’ was built on the track in the capable hands of iconic drivers like Sydney Allard, Zora Arkus-Duntov, Carroll Shelby, Masten Gregory, John Fitch, John Pollack and Steve McQueen. In the mid to late 1950s, larger factory race teams introduced new technology that overshadowed the Allard’s capability to hold its ground on the track and the Allard marque fell off the motoring world’s radar.