The Standard before it had been identified as an Arrow

Earlier this summer, Lynda and I journeyed to Yorkshire to inspect the remains of a Car that had laid barely covered in a garden since the early 1960's and was reputed to be in a very sorry state. The lady owner described the car as a Standard Avon with modifications to convert it into a 4-seater. She wished to dispose of the car, which had belonged to her late father. On arrival, we found that the car was as bad or worse than the lady described, but much to my surprise it looked like no Avon that I had ever encountered.

We examined the handwritten registration document and discovered a water "blob" almost obliterating the Model name, but I worked out that it said "Arrow" and definitely not "Avon". It is my belief therefore that the gentleman owner had believed it to be an Avon, as he had always described it as such to his family.

So here was the first "Standard Arrow" that the Club has ever encountered. 

The Arrow Coachbuilding Company was owned by Arthur P Compton who was a "serial" coachbuilder in the late 1920's and early 1930's.  His first concern was Compton and Herman of Thames Ditton. Subsequently he was involved with Jarvis of Wimbledon then Compton Sons and Terry, A.P. Compton and then Compton (Ditton)  Mr Compton then set up "Arrow Coachworks" in Hanwell, London W7 during 1930,  and it is here that the Big Nine Arrow would have been built. The Company also produced cars on Jowett, Wolseley and Austin chassis as well as Standard Little 9. I have a Road Test of an Arrow on a Little Nine Chassis that I will publish later. The company folded in 1934 and the Hanwell premises were taken over by the Coachbuilding firm of Coachcraft, who became famous for producing bodies for Railton.

I have not yet found any documentation pertaining to a Big 9 Tourer. No Little 9 Tourer has yet been discovered so this Big 9 must presently  be the only surviving Standard Arrow. This is usually the point where someone tells me of another!

Naturally such a rare car is worth saving if at all possible, even in such an appalling condition - and Lynda and I discussed the best way to recover  it. Fortunately at this time we were contacted by a new Club member who was looking for a project that would qualify for VSCC racing and this would certainly fit the bill ( and it was certainly a Project). So after a long return journey from his home in Herefordshire the Arrow has been saved and a long restoration project begun. Fortunately, almost all of the panels are aluminium so will provide patterns, even if all the ash framing is rotten.

The twin Spare Wheels have fallen off their mounting

I hope to record the restoration of this unique car on these Webpages

Phil Homer

October 2011