Only Phase1 Vanguard
Estate in the UK?
Hello Phil,
I hope you have received the photos I sent to you for
scanning a week ago. Here is some info about the car which I promised:
Click on the thumbprints to see enlargements
My Vanguard Phase 1 estate was built 14 November
1951, according to British Motor Industry Heritage Trust. As
Standard was on the point of changing over to production of the
Phase 1A, this perhaps explains why the car has the less bulbous
bonnet and the bonnet mascot of the 1A. Since 1983, the earliest
one can get records back to from the DVLA, it has had the
following registration numbers: LWD 290, ALJ 593A, EM 3000, APR
525A, 17 CRO, WNL 903A and currently KHC 550. Is this a record? If
anyone recognises any of these numbers I would be pleased to hear
from them.
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On 10 October 1983 the car was sold by Michael Freeman
Motors, The Camp, Stroud. This sounds as though there might be military
connections with the car first being sold to the public; does anyone know
anything about this dealer or the address? Vanguard estates were certainly
used by by the RAF.
The car's claim to fame is its film career. In 1984 it was owned by The
First Film Company in London. It was used in the film 'Dance With a
Stranger', made in 1985 and set in 1955, about Ruth Ellis, the last woman
to be hanged in Britain. It belonged to her lover who she shot, and can be
seen several times in the film.
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I bought the Vanguard in November 1996 and since then I
have rebuilt much of the engine, fitted an overdrive gearbox, flashing
indicators, copper brake and petrol pipes and replaced most of the
steering and suspension parts. Some chromework has been done (dismantling
and reasssembling the Phase 1 grille is fun!) and I have had the front
floor, sills and wing lower edges replaced. The interior is tatty and
incomplete - I enjoy mechanical rather than cosmetic work.
A problem I have is that the doors are too large for their apertures: they
are gradually being reduced in size by rubbing on the surrounding bodywork
- not a good state of affairs.
If anyone knows any other history of the car I would be pleased to hear
from them.
Tom Dolby
HI Tom,
Thanks for this insight into your rare vehicle. I think
yours is the only Phase 1 Vanguard Estate in the UK, but that usually
causes a rush of emails to prove me wrong. The only other I have featured
is
this in India.
If you can help Tom with any info about his Estate, please
send it to me and
I will pass it on. Tom is also still looking for advice to help him
restore his Vanguard
Ambulance
Kind regards,
Phil
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