Manufacturer Allard Assembly Clapham, SW London Body style 2-door 3-wheel saloon | Production 1953–54 Class microcar | |
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Engine 8bhp Villiers two-cylinder 346 cc | ||
Allard, better known for light sports cars, produced a pilot run of around twenty glass-fibre bodied three-wheeled Clipper microcars in 1953–54. They had a rear-mounted Villiers 24B 346 cc single-cylinder two-stroke motorbike engine driving the rear left wheel via a Burman gearbox and chain.
The car was designed by David Gottlieb and was advertised as having an "indestructible" plastic body made by Hordern-Richmond Ltd., the first ever car to have a plastic body. and seated three adults on a bench seat and two children in optional 'dickey seats' revealed when the rear boot was opened.
For its time, the Clipper was very sophisticated. Its lightweight body and small engine made it one of the most economical cars of its time. The research and development conducted by Allard Motor Cars has provided the world with key information regarding economical engines. But cooling difficulties and driveshaft weakness made the Clipper very unreliable, and the project was discontinued; as of 2001 there were only three survivors, just one of which is in relatively good condition.