The sale of a classic car revealed the story of the first home-grown Clapham dragster.

Wandsworth Times:

MkII: The newer version

In 1961, Sydney Allard, already a motor racing legend of more than 30 years, built the Allard dragster at Adlards Garage, just off Clapham Common.

It took him more than 23 weeks and it performed with mixed results, but paved the way for other models to follow.

The back story of the dragster was discovered after another car built by the Allard Motor Company was put up for auction.

An H&H Classics spokesman, running the auction, said: "Only a few men have designed, built and then put into production, cars bearing their own name.

"Even fewer, if any, have gone on to build their own racing cars and compete in them, with such great achievements in such a wide range of motor sport competitions.

"From mud-plugging trials, to hill climb champion, Monte Carlo winner and Le Mans 24 hour third overall, to building and driving the first dragster outside the USA.

"Sydney Allard was that rare and outstanding personality."

The 1956 Allard Palm Beach MKII is now worth between £80,000-100,000. It is one of six built by the garage between 1956 and 1958.

It first went on display at the 1956 Earls Court Motor Show and in 2012 Alana and Lloyd Allard, Sydney's son and grandson, formed the Allard Sports Car Company, to revive Allard as a sports car manufacturer again.

The auction is on July 11, at the Chateau Impney Hill Climb.