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Buyers Guide – Standard Vanguard Ph1, 1A and 2 Also available to d ownload as a .pdf file from hereThis is one of a series of buyers guides on Standard cars The intended audience is someone who is looking at a prospective purchase. This guide does not cover looking for all the usual issues when buying any car such as oil pressure, lack of compression, oil in water, noises, rattles, do the electrics work etc, etc, since it assumes all those normal checks will also be done. The guide is intended to identify the good and bad points of the cars. This is issue 1, so may be updated over time. 1.Introduction: The Vanguard saloon was based loosely on an American Plymouth, sketched by designer Walter Belgrove outside the American embassy in London towards the end of the Second World War. It was launched in July 1947 as a world car intended to replace the 8,12 and 14 models which were essentially revamped pre-war Flying Standards, which continued in production into 1948. Early production was largely for export and so any car dated prior to 1949 is unlikely to be found. In the UK 2.Chassis Numbers Found on a large square plate on the drivers' side of the bulkhead, under the bonnet
All saloon chassis have A DL or DLO suffix. All left hand drive chassis have an L after the suffix. 3.Non - saloon variants. These appeared from about 1949 onwards and retained the Phase 1or 1A bodyshell. There were no non-saloon Phase 2 bodyshells and if one appears with Phase 2 sills,as a pick-up did on the Heartbeat TV series, it will be a cut down saloon. Non-saloons appear in the same chassis series as the saloons with differing suffixes. All saloon bodies were built by Fisher and Ludlow. All other bodies were built by Mulliners of Bordesley Green,Birmingham, later bought out by Standard. Plates for both can be found in the centre of the bulkhead though cars assembled by the Belgian Imperia plant have their plate there. The following variants were built:
4.Chassis Apart from the ambulances and diesels as mentioned above all Vanguard chassis are virtually the same. The essential structure rarely rots and is immensely strong but should of course be checked carefully.The only common rot spots are the outriggers which serve as jacking points. 5.Bodyshell Sadly Vanguard bodyshells can rot badly and the entire structure should be thoroughly checked. The front wings go along the beading along the top and if it is not present filler will be.MGB rear wing beading can be used as a replacement. The bonnet rusts along its similar centre seam. N.B.The bonnet profile changed slightly between Phase 1 and 1A cars so beware in replacing with the wrong type as it won't fit properly. The floors can rot badly, especially the separate panel covering the gearbox. Inner box section and outer sills rot badly as do rear wheel arches.If the spats are not present on Phase 1s and 1As it probably means the studs supporting them have gone. The rear body corners of all types also rot as can rear bumpers around the boxed mounts. All pre Phase 2 bodyshells, which includes Phase2 estates and commercials can rot seriously around the narrow roof guttering (which was wider on Phase 2 saloons) and estates and vans also go around the aluminium roof centre panel. Look for a stained roof lining. All vehicles leak round the windscreen though the Standard Motor Club can supply new rubbers. 6.Engine Prototype engines were 1800c.c.and production ones 2088c.c.However as someone recently discovered when a car appeared sluggish an Ensign 1670c.c.may have been fitted. The engine is a wetliner engine and new liners are readily available either to the original 2088c.c or TR sizes of 1991or 2138c.c. There are no serious engine problems to be expected unless the engine has been standing. Use 20/50 oil. The oil filter element can be bought at most autofactors. Ask for early Metro Automatic. 7.Clutch and gearbox The Phase 2 has a hydraulic clutch and twin bore master cylinder the same as the TR2 mounted underfloor. The earlier cars have a mechanical clutch. All cars have a 3 speed column change box with synchro on all 3 speeds. The box is similar to the TR2 box. Phase 1s and earlier 1As had an optional mechanical overdrive on top and 2nd gears and later 1As and Phase 2s had an electrically operated system. The latter is again similar to that in early TRs. An overdrive makes a remarkable difference to the car turning it into a 65/70m.p.h.motorway cruiser that will achieve 25m.p.g.which is not bad for a car weighing nearly a ton and a half. An overdrive can be fitted using fairly readily available TR parts but would be expensive. 8.Cooling system and heater Only the Phase 2 system was pressurised but some earlier cars may have had a later rad fitted. If the car is prone to overheating it is unlikely a simple flushing will cure the problem and a recore is recommended. The heater was an optional extra and even then is quite small, occupying only half the available space in the centre of the bulkhead. A bigger export heater is fitted to some cars. Hoses are available through the Standard Motor Club. 9.Steering The steering box is either Burman or Cam Gears. There are variations in the outer tie rod assemblies as between early cars, Phase 1A and Phase 2 but so long as all the parts are compatible there's no problem. 10.Brakes As stated above Phase 2s have a twin bore master cylinder which can sometimes be sourced reconditioned or even new at TR events. Earlier cars have a single bore cylinder similar to that in the Morris Minor, again mounted underfloor. Wheel cylinders sourced from Australia are available through the Standard Motor Club. 11.Wheels All cars have 16"wheels and FX4 taxi radial tyres will fit and improve handling considerably. Phase 2 wheels are marginally wider but taxi tyres will still fit. Seek advice from a tyre specialist. 12.Interior Phase 1As and 2s had vinyl headlining and earlier cars cloth. Interior trim was vynide but leather was an option. The rear of the front seat was a furflex type of material and is invariably very faded if original. White dashboard knobs invariably crack and have just been remanufactured. Radio housings also crack. Instrument face colours vary for each type and can occasionally be found at autojumbles. 13.Paint Phase 2 interior painted surfaces are body colour. Earlier cars are grey. Externally various colours were available including silver, gold and green metallic. Estate car colours had different part numbers to saloons and commercials were normally supplied in primer. Under bonnet Saloons were black painted but estates were body colour. 14.Chrome trim The only chrome parts available new are remanufactured push button door handles for Phase 1As and 2s and the D pieces into which they fit. They can be obtained through the Standard Motor Club. The earlier pull type can occasionally be found at autojumbles. Take extreme car if replacing window glass as the fragile chrome strips over the rubbers are unrepairable and irreplaceable. 15.Prices Prices of all types of saloon are much the same and will largely depend on condition rather than model. A couple of hundred pounds should buy a wreck, but it will cost a fortune to restore. A sound cosmetically challenged car with an MOT would fetch about £2000 and £4000 would buy a really good one. A concours Vanguard saloon would probably be worth about £6000. For estates and commercials if you could find a good one add £2000/3000 to saloon prices but rough ones would not have a differential of more than a couple of hundred. 16.Conclusion Vanguards from 1947 to the end of Phase 2 production are becoming extremely rare cars. However they are one of the few cars of their era that are still capable of running up high mileages between major engine repairs and with the overdrive with which many survivors are fitted are capable of maintaining motorway speeds without problems. Buy a good one and you will have a rewarding useable classic. It goes almost without saying that you should join the Standard Motor Club for their excellent spares scheme, monthly magazine, social events and rallies and access to knowledgeable fellow owners.
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