Standard’s original post-war Vanguard may not be classic in terms of its performance or roadholding, but it was in terms of what it set out to do. Immediately after the Second World War, Britain’s car makers were exhorted to adopt one-model policies, and for a time this was Standard’s response.
The government’s ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy was never going to produce thoroughbreds, but with exports to the Empire in mind, and by designing a new engine which was ideal for use in the Ferguson tractor, Standard produced an ordinary but remarkably rugged machine. In a clever and patriotic move they chose to name it ‘Vanguard’, after Britain’s only surviving modern battleship.
Although the rather short-wheelbase chassis layout was very ordinary, and the original body style rather too obviously derived from transatlantic trends, its origins were fascinating. Concluding that early 1940s Plymouths were among the most attractive of American shapes, Standard’s managing director had sent his chief stylist down to London, to sit outside the American embassy, and to sketch any Plymouth he found parked outside.
The engine was a heavy four-cylinder affair, with slip-fit ‘wet’ cylinder liners. Inspired by the current front-wheel-drive Citroen power unit, it would survive for more than 20 years, to power Vanguards and Ferguson tractors, as well as a long line of fast, reliable and successful Triumph TR sports cars. |
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Purists did not like the style, the use of bench front seats, the three-speed gearboxes or the steering column gear change, but export customers clearly did, especially as they soon found that the Vanguard could put up with rough treatment, misuse and neglect on a grand scale. Vanguards were soon found not only in London, but in Cape Town, Sydney and North America. The armed forces bought them in large numbers, and to keep up with the demand Standard also made them available in saloon, estate, van or pick-up form (‘ute’, to use the Australian phrase, where these versions were built).
Although bodies tended to go rusty (but what post-war British car did not, because of poor quality steel being supplied?), the rest of the running seemed to last forever, so many of these cars still survive. The original car was re-styled, into the notchback Vanguard Phase II, in 1953, then an entirely different type of car, the monocoque chassised Mk III, followed in 1955. The theme changed completely in the mid 1960s, when a much better car, the Triumph 2000 took over.
Heavily based on the American Plymouths, these cars were soon very popular all over the world. They were produced in saloon, estate, van or pick-up form and many cars still survive.
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