| Manufacturer | Allard |
|---|---|
| Production | 1953-4 |
| Assembly | Clapham, SW London |
| Class | microcar |
| Body style | 2-door 3 wheel saloon |
| Engine | 8bhp Villiers two-cylinder 346cc |
Allard, better known for light sports cars produced a pilot run of around twenty glass-fibre bodied three wheeled Clipper microcars in 1953-1954. They had a rear mounted Villiers 24B 346cc single-cylinder two-stroke motorbike engine driving the rear left wheel via a Burman gearbox and chain.[1]
The car was designed by David Gottlieb and was advertised as having an 'indestructible' plastic body made by Hordern-Richmond Ltd. It was the first ever car to have a plastic body.[2] and seated three adults on a bench seat and two children in optional 'dickey seats' revealed when the rear boot was opened.[3]
Cooling difficulties and driveshaft weakness made the Clipper very unreliable and the project was not continued - as of 2001 there were only three survivors[3]