Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. worn out, useless, esp. of machinery, cars etc; thus clap out, to break down.

1962		R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 100: Clapped-out Bentleys dream away their H.P. contracts.
1963		K. Richards journal 3 Jan. in Life (2010) 115: Cock-up. My pickup clapped out completely.
1970		A. Sillitoe Start in Life (1979) 121: So, clapped-out as I was, I was on my own.
1980		M. Bail Homesickness (1999) 188: The clapped-out Pegaso gathered speed down the cobbled street.
1986		C. Bowles G’DAY 65: [of a car] It’s cactus. Reckon it’s been roun the clock a few times. Engine’s clapped out, an it needs a new muffler.
1989		T. Blacker Fixx 101: We’re not [...] giving a load of clapped-out ancient retainers a meal ticket for life.
1996		K. Lette Mad Cows 14: The clapped-out desk sergeant looked up from his notes.
1999		Guardian Guide 3–9 July 67: In a clapped-out Lada.
2000		S. Maloney Big Ask 110: My life’s work was reduced to helping a clapped-out mediocrity retain his fragile grip on an office whose powers he was incapable fo exercising.
2007		P. O’Keeffe Hidden Soldier 14: Not one of the trucks or security vehicles would have been allowed on a European or US road. And yet our very lives depended on these clapped-out artics.
2012		(con. 1943) G.S. Manson Irish Fandango [ebook] This old clapped-out Austin.
2016		V. McDermid Out of Bounds (2017) 50: An older lad who had a clapped-out van.
2021		A. Parks April Dead 38: ‘We need to get in the clapped-out Viva and drive back to Glasgow’.
2023		M. Herron Secret Hours 250: ‘Not that many clapped-out spooks, in the grand design of things’.

2. (UK black) of an individual, unattractive.

2017

hubpages.com ‘Roadman Slang 10 Jan. 🌐 Clapped - this word is only ever used as an insult, meaning that someone or something is very ugly looking. It isn't vulgar, but is so offensive that it is rarely even used as a joke between friends. It can be used to describe rough-looking items, such as bags and clothing, but is mainly said genuinely, in anger-inducing situations. e.g. ‘my ex is dating some clapped guy’.