50 After the molds were complete, she hand laid the fiberglass producing panels for the first car. These were then assembled and bonded together forming the final body for the car which was assembled by the remaining team. Margaret worked on the prototype car only, and did not work on the next 20 or so cars that were built. Interestingly, she never did get a chance to ride in one of the cars or has seen any Allard Clippers since. Margaret continued working for Hordern-Richmond for a few months and later in 1954 she moved near London and worked in an office. In 1956, she moved to Ontario Canada, and has remained in Canada since. Margaret married in 1965, and now (2009) lives an active and productive life in Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Active you say??? Well she contacted me via e-mail and sends me links to view on the Internet as well. I wish many of my friends used the computer as well as she does! Margaret has not returned to the UK since 1956. Quick research on the Internet produced two surviving examples of approximately 20 Allard Clippers built in 19541955 – one in the UK and one in Germany. The British Motor Manufacturers website has more detail on this car as follows: In 1953 David Gottlieb’s Powerdrive company needed someone to manufacture their new three wheel car which was to became the Allard Clipper. A separate company, Allard Clipper Company Ltd, was formed. Engineer Gilbert Jepson constructed a prototype chassis incorporating many commonly available parts. A Villiers 346cc single-cylinder engine drove the left-hand rear wheel and Hordern-Richmond of Haddenham made the fiberglass body. The first bodyshell was received on the 19th March 1954 and by 15th April the first car had been registered and licensed. This car became Allard’s test bed. The production Clipper had two seats with a dickey seat. By early 1955 Hordern-Richmond wanted to charge more for the bodies and the non-arrival of a body on 24th June 1955 seems to have hastened the demise of the Clipper. Of the original intended run of 100 cars, only 22 were completed. Two are known to have survived, one in Germany, one in the UK.
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