43 The first body was ready in March, 1954 and a chassis was driven up to Haddenham for fitting. This was the longest journey yet undertaken, and was not without mechanical delays in route. Later, a comparison test was arranged with the Clipper, the AC three-wheeler and a Bond on Ranmore Common in Surrey, and the Clipper showed up quite well. Gil Jepson always had faith in the project, possibly from his motorcycle interests, and at Easter he was brave enough to take an Allard Clipper to Matlock and back, a round journey of some 300 miles. Following this, development dragged on for several months, with constant modifications and trials with different engines until, in October 1954, Motor Cycling magazine was invited to visit the works to see, describe and make exploded drawings of the first production car. This was the period of the “bubble car” as a hoped-for solution to the rising costs of petrol, and in February 1955 BBC Television ran a feature program on the subject from their Birmingham studio. The Clipper was invited and Jim Mac took one up in the coach, while Gil Jepson drove another. Regrettably, this publicity was not enough to save the situation, which by now had involved some heavy expense with little return. Later in 1955 the project was wound up. About 20 Clippers were made in all, and two were actually exported to America! Gottleib had left the company some time previously, and in 1956 he designed another three-wheeler, this time with the single wheel at the rear, which was sponsored by the Blue Star Garage chain under the name “Powerdrive”. One of the first Allard Clippers (Tony Marshall Book), this image shows the License Number on an Allard Clipper—Tom Lush Book Page 158
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