From Lang Kidby
in Australia...................
Phil,
I sent you an email a couple of months back about buying a Standard 8
sight unseen in South Australia. "Rupert" is now home after an
eventful trip.
I saw the advertisement for a 1954 Standard 8 and having a connection
with my childhood (see previous exploits)
decided to buy it after talking to the owner and figuring out 2,000km
was not too far to go to buy something sight unseen.
Bev and I hopped on a cheap flight from Brisbane to Adelaide then I had
to suffer the indignity of sitting on a bus for 3 hours (my first bus
ride in 20 years - I hate them!) to the small town of Port Pirie. The
elderly owner met us at the bus station and dropped us to our motel and
arranged to pick us up in the morning.
Our first inspection of the car, subsequently christened
"Rupert" a few days later by a naming committee of
women, was quite pleasing and apart from a growling gearbox input
bearing it ran fine. The gearbox was a replacement and the original
which jumped out of second gear was nicely wrapped up in the back of the
car. We launched onto the road immediately to follow the Murray
River to Corowa about 1,000km east to attend the annual military vehicle
week. Not having my usual Dodge Weapon Carrier or GMC 6X6 truck was a
bit of a let down but I presumed some army, somewhere, may have been so
destitute that they had Standard 8's or a soldier had owned one or at
least a soldier had seen one driving past.
Ten minutes out of town and the noise from the rear end became
horrendous. Suspecting a collapsed wheel bearing we slunk back to the
ex-owners house and made the joyful discovery it was only dragging brake
shoes which had set up a chattering resonance. Brakes adjusted, and we
were off again. It soon became clear that the speed capability of the
Standard 8 was going to make this a very long trip indeed! Eventually
becoming used to the mesmorising rumble of road noise of a car
completely devoid of any sound insulation, we managed to do 500km the
first day. Two enforced breaks were taken when the treads parted company
with 50 year old "as new" tyre cases and Rupert was given 4
new shoes of the radial variety whose modern design reduced the road
noise by not one decibel.
Reaching Corowa after a 600km drive the next day we were surprised by
the people leaving their green machines to look at this "cute"
car. Women and kids were particularly taken with its appearance. I think
the blokes, hanging out of their army vehicles may have thought a
man bringing such a vehicle to a military show may be slightly suspect!
After a fun few days we headed off towards Canberra to visit an old
friend and set off the next day towards Brisbane.
Just outside Canberra Rupert started to run on 3 cylinders. Checking
everything all I could think of was a failing plug or lead as shorting
the plugs made no difference to number 3 cylinder. Pressing on to
Goulburn, the next town about 100km distant, the fabulous neck-snapping
power to which we had become accustomed was severely reduced. I seem to
recall a couple of larger tree leaves on the road requiring change-down
to negotiate.
Anyhow, the upshot was a failed piston. The head of the piston had
separated and the skirt had cracked in two halves. Standard catered for
this eventuality in their design by putting a ring on the bottom of the
piston which cunningly held the headless skirts together flying up and
down for 100km.
The next week is best forgotten trying to get parts delivered from
suppliers who refused to courier stuff and relied on good old Australia
Post. Anyhow Bev and I flew home to Brisbane and I returned to Goulburn
a few weeks later to the garage who had repaired and kindly stored the
car for me. A full set of new pistons, rings and bearings, valves done
and tuned properly produced amazing results. I could feel absolutely no
difference in power from the original worn out engine!
Once again a long trip 1,200km straight through to Brisbane saw Rupert
and I arrive in the early hours of the morning. And do you know, I am
quite starting to enjoy driving a Standard 8.
Regards
Lang
Brisbane, Australia
The Kidby's
splendid looking "sliding window" early Standard 8, thinly
disguised as a transcontinental tourer!
By the time you have
read this story twice, you will have to believe it is true! Lang and his
wife Bev are Australian adventurers and explorers. You can see from the
extraordinary story above how he came to catch this particular bug
I hope that the Eight
continues to give you pleasure Lang!
Phil Homer
July 2010
