Extremely Rare Classic Car Up for Auction – You could own one of four models left in the world and it won’t break the bank

A RARE 70 year old deluxe ‘shooting brake’ car with an estimated value of £40,000 has turned up for sale.

The 1953 Allard P2 Safari was such a short-lived car – only 13 were made and only four or five are believed to remain in existence today.

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It was a handcrafted luxury vehicle designed for the transport of rifle squads, their guns and any game.

The elongated station wagon seats six people and has room for 45 cubic meters of luggage.

This particular model underwent an extensive restoration in the 1980’s and is now up for auction at Warwickshire-based Silverstone Auctions.

Allard was a short-lived automobile manufacturer founded in 1945.

It went bankrupt and ceased trading in 1958, having built just 1,900 vehicles.

Steel was scarce after World War II, but aluminum sheets from disassembled aircraft were plentiful.

Unemployed carpenters were no longer needed to build bombers, so car manufacturers went back to constructing rear sections in wood frames with aluminum sheets.

By 1952, when the P2 Safari came into existence, Britain was no longer so cash-strapped, and it shows in the cabin with polished wood paneling and door caps, fully paneled interiors and plenty of space.

It was available with a choice of Ford, Cadillac or Chrysler V8 engines.

This particular 5.4 liter Cadillac powered Safari was delivered new to a gentleman in Wolverhampton in January 1953 but he sold the car six months later.

The 1953 Allard P2 Safari had several long-term owners prior to its restoration in the 1980s.

It was part of a large collection and was road used in generally good condition.

However, it would require some more work to get it back on the road.

A Silverstone spokesman said: “Whether it’s the local garden party or the Goodwood Revival, arrive in style with this rare, stylish and highly serviceable classic.

“With interior heating, standard equipment, adjustable steering, door-operated interior lighting and automatic reversing lights, the Allard was ahead of its time in many ways.

“All of this makes it a pretty important car historically, representing a moment when the black clouds of the war years have lifted, the sun has come out and Britain has awakened.”

The car will go on sale at Silverstone Auctions on May 20th.

Another car up for auction is King Charles’ vintage Land Rover Discovery.

Hollywood icon Paul Newman’s one-of-a-kind Volvo is also up for sale, costing around £22,000.

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