Road test time for the new Allard L

Ihave previously introduced my latest Allard, a 1949 Allard L four-seater, and started work on the back of it. Now, moving to the front, I replaced the black capless sidelight bulb and sorted the sidelight plastic holder out that had come dislodged from the main connector. Unfortunately, it still didn’t work! After a discussion with the previous owner Roger, he said a wire must have come dislodged. I looked and looked, but could not see a thing. I wasn’t happy, but a week later I eventually found the red sidelight wire that was wrapped around the horn on the opposite side to where the trouble was, and yes the wire had been dislodged. How I had not seen it before left me rather bemused, but at least it was all working again.

It was then time for a road test to see what the L was all about. Off I went and after a few miles things looked good, but the roads around this part of East Sussex are all ‘rock and roll’ and that’s when the fun started. A misfire crept in as I drove up and down the hills towards Rushlake Green, but on the flat it eventually ticked over fine as I drove around the green. Then when I headed back home it all started over again, but back at base it ticked over reasonably on eight cylinders. After putting it away and starting it up again later it was fine, but it is clearly not right. Later that week I replaced the back fuel filter, as there was some black sediment built up in it, though the front filter is fine.

As for the temperature the car does run hot, but then again it is an Allard! I feel waterless coolant will help, and it has run on that before. Normally if an electronic ignition system is fitted then the flathead will run cooler and smoothly, but sorting out what the fault is on this one before we get that far is the main objective at the moment.

The suggestion from the AOC Captain Dave Loveys is that the coil may be breaking down. He has kindly found me a couple of examples to test this theory out, which are currently in the post. If that is not the problem, I will be into the distributor, which is not that old really.

In the meantime, I found on

“How I had not seen it before left me rather bemused”

eBay a period AA badge for £9 that cleaned up well, and a pair of genuine Lucas SLR 700 long range spot lamps that came in their original boxes complete with straw and instructions, all for £260. Considering that repro examples are £140 each, I think I did OK really. I had a piece of 2mm stainless sheet in the metal tray, and I flanged up some handed L-shaped spot lamp brackets. With my stick welder and a 2mm dissimilar rod they came up well, but it was not a five minute job to make them. The idea of flanging them was to make them like a late 1940s pressing, and I think I achieved the objective. With the pictures I have of the car when it rallied, I have tried to place the lights in the position they were in then. I sprayed the brackets (using aerosols) in primer and gloss black, but that turned out to be a bit of a disappointment as the metal was cold on a dull Saturday and I ended up with matt black brackets. I quickly rubbed them down again with 600 grade paper, then warmed them on the heater in my office before rushing out into the workshop to give them four thin coats of fresh paint. This time the result was satisfactory, with the paint still glossy and baked on well in just a few moments, and it didn’t shrink back as expected.

On to the wiring for the spot lamps, and nothing goes to plan, does it? I decided to place a spot light switch in the wiring circuit, and I found on the dash an unused 71 year old reversing knob that was just right for the job. The idea is to run them independently and connected to dip only. I’m not going to use the lights much and this will save the charging circuit from being over stretched.

I spent all day on the wiring job with Colin Anton assisting, but the blessed spot lamps would not fire up! After testing with the meter, it was decided that the reversing switch had packed up. Well, it is 71 years old! Much to my relief the spot lamps do work now, thanks to a new 7mm diameter Lucas switch courtesy of Tim Hodgeson at £14.

As for the misfire, well that’s the next thing on the agenda and then I can concentrate on a few other things that need to be addressed.

The sidelight holder became detached from its location and had to be glued back in position with superglue.

The rear lights were to cause a few problems to say the least, but the housings cleaned up well, even though the white lenses are not repairable as parts are missing.

Cleaning up the rear bumpers and the light backing plate.

With the newly-made spotlight brackets painted with aerosol primer and top coat, the new lights were fitted and wired up with an in-line fuse, but the old switch had to be replaced.

Trying to find the fault with the sidelight.

LEFT: The original Lucas SLR 700 lights were a find on eBay. The ad said they came with switch and cable, but not so unfortunately!

ABOVE: The broom handle is all part of a number of Allard L cars Peter has spotted.

The next job is now to sort the misfire out that presents itself in certain circumstances. The ignition circuit is suspected.

Completed – the OSF L-shaped flanged bracket which Peter made out of 2mm stainless steel sheet.