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The Ultimate Avon Standard ?
Avon Standard 20Hp Crophead Coupé
A Standard Car Review of 1936 is the source of these 2 interesting
photos of an Avon 20Hp Drophead Coupé. What an elegant car! The photo
above shows John Maudslay, Reginald Mausdslay's son, and presumably his
wife. I doubt that a couple of dead mink around her shoulders
would be politically correct these days? John Maudslay was recently
installed as Chairman of the New Avon company of Warwick.
It appears that John competed in the 1936 RAC Rally. The RAC was a very genteel event in those days based more on regularity trials and concours events than we have come to expect these days. No doubt that the Avon would have been competing primarily in the concours events where prizes were awarded for the best coachwork in a particular price bracket. Does anyone know where the car featured in the results? This Avon would have the Flying 16/20 chassis underneath it with the six cylinder, seven bearing, sidevalve engine of 2664cc. It would be the most expensive in the Avon Catalogue for that year and even so is decked out with a number of options. The headlights appear to be much larger than the norm, there are a pair of spotlights and no fewer than 4 horns and a flag on top of the radiator cap. Finally there are rear wheel spats that I have never seen before on a prewar Standard. These appear to have 3 slots in them, or maybe they are just decprations painted on. Anyway its an awesome car, whether you like the ostentation or not. Unfortunately, no matter how spectacular the car, these big Avons did not sell well and John Maudslay was forced to put the company into liquidation the following year Below is a side view, again featuring John Maudslay, this time in the driver's seat with an unknown passenger. If anyone knows the whereabouts of an Avon 20 DHC today I would be delighted to hear of it.
I hope you enjoyed this Avon feature webmaster@standardmotorclub.org.uk January 2012 Since publishing the above feature, I have received more information
Secondly Piet Geirnaert has sent these extracts from the Avon Brochure From this we learn that the correct title of the car is a "20Hp
Flying Standard Avon Continental Drop Head Coupe" but has
additional options added as well. These comprise the rear wheel covers,
additional horns and spotlights and the flag on the radiator car:
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