Ian Duncan went to work for the Bristol Aeroplane Company during the Second World War, but spent some time in America, and then went into partnership with Roy Fedden to produce an aero engine and a small car. The aero-engined car was no good, and Duncan returned to a family business but still determined to create his own small car. He designed the Duncan Dragonfly, and needing capital to fund this small 3-abreast car, he got work from friend Donald Healey to body several Healey chassis (39), and then he bodied around 30 Alvis cars. Coachbuilding took a blow in Britain when the Government levelled 66 percent purchase tax on cars costing more than £1000, so Ian Duncan took his skills to Leonard Lord at Austin. He also took the prototype Duncan Dragonfly, and this got worked up into what would become the Austin A30 in 1951. At that time duncan left Austin and founded a photography business