Standard Eight

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Standard Eight
Manufacturer	Standard-Triumph
Production	1938-1959
Predecessor	none
Successor	Triumph Herald

The Standard Eight was a small car produced by the British Standard Motor Company from 1938 to 1959.

The car was originally launched in 1938 as the Flying Eight. After World War II the Flying range of Standards was dropped but an updated car called the 8hp was re-introduced in 1945. In 1953 a completely new car, the Standard Eight was launched sharing virtually nothing with its predecessor. In 1959 the car was dropped to be replaced by the Triumph Herald, as the Standard brand was being phased out.

1 Flying Eight
2 8hp
3 Eight
4 Replacement
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Flying Eight

Standard Flying Eight
Production	1938-1939 production - not available
Body style	saloon, tourer, drophead coupé
Engine	1009 cc Straight-4
Transmission	Three speed manual
Wheelbase	83 inches (2108 mm) ^[1]
Length	139 inches (3531 mm) ^[1]
Width	56 inches (1422 mm) ^[1]

The Flying Eight was the smallest member of the Standard Flying family with a side valve 1021&nbspcc long stroke (100 mm) engine to keep it in the British 8hp taxation class which calculated the annual licence payable according to cylinder area. A single Solex carburettor was used and the engine could produce 28 bhp at 4000 rpm. ^[1]. Drive was to the rear wheels through a 3 speed synchromesh gearbox. The suspension was independent at the front with a transverse leaf spring. A top speed of around 65 mph was attainable. Brakes were cable operated using the Bendix system.

The car had a separate chassis and initially saloon and four seat tourer bodied versions were produced joined by the drophead coupé in late 1939. Very few coupés were made before the outbreak of World War II halted production.

[edit] 8hp

Standard 8hp
Production	1945-1048 53,099 made ^[2]
Body style	saloon, tourer, drophead coupé, estate car
Engine	1009 cc Straight-4
Transmission	Four speed manual
Wheelbase	83 inches (2108 mm) ^[1]
Length	139 inches (3531 mm) ^[1]
Width	56 inches (1422 mm) ^[1]

The 8hp model, without the Flying name now, was rapidly re-introduced after World war II with the first models appearing within ten days of VE day. The only major update from the pre-war model involved the fitting of a four speed gearbox. A few estate cars were made in 1948. The tourer could be distinguished externally from the coupé by having cutaway door tops.

The car was firmly pitched by Standard aginst the Austin 8 and Morris Eight rivals and was keenly priced at GBP314.

[edit] Eight

Standard Eight
Production	1953-1959 136,317 made ^[2]
Body style	saloon
Engine	803 cc Straight-4
Transmission	Four speed manual optional overdrive
Wheelbase	84 inches (2134 mm) ^[1]
Length	144 inches (3658 mm) ^[1]
Width	60 inches (1524 mm) ^[1]

The 1953 Eight was a completely new car with unit construction and an overhead valve engine. Only saloon models were made. The new engine of 803 cc produced slightly less power than the outgoing larger sidevalve unit with 26 bhp at 4500 rpm but this was increased to 30 bhp at 5000 rpm in 1957. The four speed gearbox, with synchromesh on the top three ratios, was available with optional overdrive from March 1957. Girling hydraulic brakes were fitted.

To keep prices down, the car at launch was very basic with sliding windows, single windscreen wiper and no external boot lid. Access to the boot was by folding down the rear seat which had the backrest divided in two. The 1954 De luxe got wind up windows and the Gold Star model of 1957 an opening boot lid. From mid 1955 all the Eights finally got wind up windows. At launch the car cost GBP481 including taxes on the home market.

The Standard Ten of 1954 shared the bodyshell and running gear and would outlast the Eight by continuing until 1961.

[edit] Replacement

The Eight was replaced in 1959 by the Triumph Herald, which used a slightly enlarged version of the same engine, as the parent company of both Standard and Triumph, Leyland Motors, was phasing out the Standard name from the British market.

[edit] External links

Vanguard Phase III Owners club

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
^ ^a ^b Robson, G. (2006). A-Z of British Cars 1945-1980. Devon, UK: Herridge Books. ISBN 1-9541063-9-3.