Flying
20 V Eight prototype
Dear
Mr. Homer,
I thought that your members may be interested in the attached
picture of my late Uncles 1938/9 Standard V8 which was taken
at Christmas 1957. He was a greengrocer at Covent Garden and
was always looking out for a "deal" so got the car
probably as a payout for debts from an errant customer. It was
in good sound condition but was extremely thirsty and would
only get 15 mpg on a good run! Any attempt at overtaking was
accompanied by a large black cloud which enveloped following
traffic! The picture was taken in Railway Terrace, Tonypandy,
South Wales but he lived in Middlesex, London so the journey
down via Gloucester cost him "an arm an' a leg" so
it was quickly sold on (at a profit of course) and replaced
with a van! The children are his two sons and myself, already
car fanatics that long ago!
I
believe that very few V8's were made and that the engine was
effectively two "8" engines siamesed into a common
block. Have any survived though? I have never seen one since
.
Richard
Leaman
Many thanks for your story
about the V8, which I will feature on the website shortly.
The engine does not comprise two
"8"'s ( which would make a 16Hp) nor two 10's, but was
specifically an engine designed for this car. We believe that
about 350 were built but they suffered badly from overheating.
The Flying 20Hp, which was a six cylinder engine in a
bigger body, was cheaper and more popular so the V8 was dropped
from the range.
At least three V8 saloons survive
though only one in this country. Also
at least one V8 engined Raymond Mays special survives
Thank you for your interest
Regards,
Phil Homer
Having looked more closely at
your picture, I now doubt that it was a V8, it looks more like
a Flying 20 as it has the earlier perpendicular grille,
whereas the V8 had the later waterfall grille.
What do you think?
Regards,
Phil Homer
Dear Mr. Homer,
Many thanks for your rely to my message! I have to confess to
not being a Standard expert and my memories of it are those
when I was 10 years old as you can see in the picture. Having
said that, and in full deference to your records and Mark
knowledge, I am 99% certain that it definitely did have a V8
engine. My Uncle was totally non mechanical but my father was an
engineer and I am sure that I recollect our looking under the
bonnet when I guess that my father was asked to see
if he could make some adjustment to the carburettor to try to
improve the desperate fuel consumption. Whilst that was the only
time that we saw the car, my Uncle often recalled owning it and
always referred to it as a "V8" as did my father.
Unfortunately both are no longer alive so I cannot ask them
again.. He said that it was smooth and powerful but he just
could not afford the petrol bills!
So.....either I am wrong and it was actually the "20"
or could it possibly have been a factory prototype being the
older model fitted with the new engine? It seems to be very
fully fitted with those full size chrome edged wheel discs,
sunroof, fog lamps and chrome raised digit number plates. Could
this indicate a works car? The registration is next to
impossible to see but looks a bit like D?? 888 or 666. This is
one for the knowledgeable expert!
We have a small track to follow however as my two cousins (in
the picture) are both around and just possibly may have another
picture with a visible number plate which would enable a search
of old registration records to be made which could help,
providing that they exist! I am sure Michael
Worthington-Williams of The Automobile would be glad to help or
advise!
I will see if I can pursue this and will get back to you asap!
Many thanks for your help and interest!
Richard Leaman.
P.S. The "siamesed 8" engine idea was from a mention
in Classic and Sportscar some time ago and yes, thinking
logically, clearly wrong!
Dear Mr. Homer,
Sorry to come back yet again but I have been looking at
that picture of the "20" which is/was in Nice.
Comparing the picture of that car with that of my Uncle, I
notice that the rear of the body is rather different.
The Nice car has a stepped line below the back window with a
projecting boot housing but "our" car is clearly a
"fastback" design and I think may have a split rear
window. Well again this could be because it is a later model
but as I said in the last message, is it a factory development
car? I am sure that one of your members will be able to give
us the correct answer! Meanwhile I am contacting my cousins
for any further recollections etc.
Regards
Richard Leaman.
Hi Richard
Your car clearly has an earlier
body than the production VEight. You can see two examples and
the catalogue pictures of the production version here.
If we work on the basis that your
recollection is correct and this car is VEight engined,
then it must be in an earlier Flying 20 body. If fact
your car appears to be a late 35, early 36 model that we call
the "big -bodied" Flying Standard (the Ace covers over
wire wheels are the clue) So there are two possibilities.
Either your Flying 20 had its
engine replaced with a V8 at some later date, or indeed this was
a factory prototype.
Since the former is more likely
than the later, we need more evidence for one or the other. I
will publish this email chain and your picture and seek
members views.
Regards,
Phil
If you have anything to add to
this article, please put it on the club forum
I am aware that there are other cars
and information that could be added to this site to make it more comprehensive, so if you
have material and photographs, please let me know. Please send me, Phil Homer, a
message at: Phil Homer
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