Standard Big 9 Feature

Standard Big 9 Saloon Feature

There have been a couple of items in my "in-tray" recently and questions on the Club Messageboard concerning  the four  variants of the Standard "Big 9", and what are the differences between them?

First, let me say that the following is written from only my limited knowledge of the Big 9 model range, and not from personal ownership of one of them.  However, since I am aware that as it has not been written down before,  I though that I might make an attempt, purely based on an owners instruction book, workshop manual and photographs of cars at various Standard Motor Club events. So, if I have it wrong, (and I usually have) then this is your chance for owners or enthusiasts to put me right and more importantly, ensure that yet another small part  of the enormous history of our marque is recorded correctly. It also makes for lively debate in these webpages.

The first Big 9's appear to be fabric bodied, and possibly only a very limited number survive. Does anyone know if these cars were factory bodied, or were Avon responsible, as they were for the preceeding "Selby". Although called a Big Nine, the RAC rating from day 1 was in fact 9.9Hp, but I guess that the "rounding-down" to the next lower taxation class saved a few pounds in road tax. The Instruction book lists both 3 and 4 speed models but I don't know if 4 speeds were available right through the production run. A run of 50 Vans appears in the commission numbers, does anyone know if a genuine one survives?

Specification of the Big 9  is as follows:

• 1287 cc 4 cylinder 63mm x 102mm ( 2/12" x 4")

• Wheelbase 8' 3"

• Track 4'

• Chassis Weight 13cwt

• Overall length 12'

• Petrol Capacity 6 gallons

• Oil Capacity 6 pints

• 12 volt electric lighting and starting

Big Nine Fabric Body Sliding sunroof with "peak" above the  windscreen.  Exposed Wheel nuts "Big 9" radiator emblem "Large" sidelights Headlights on a bar
	Big Nine Mk II Announced August 1930 as the 1931 model Produced as "standard", "popular" and "special 4 speed" models First steel bodied saloons Sliding sunroof with "peak" above the  windscreen.  Front bumper "split" is wider in centre Exposed Wheel nuts "Big 9" radiator emblem "Large" sidelights
Big Nine Mk III From August 31 on Body as Mark II, including sunroof "Small" sidelights Different wheel hubs, with enclosed wheel nuts modified radiator top with "wings" emblem This particular New Zealand car has wider "split" in bumper, is this correct?
	Big Nine Mk IV All modifications as Mk III carried forward plus: recessed sunroof and no windscreen peak Four chromed roof drains Modified front bumper with twin parallel sprung steel bars Headlights now on chromed "stalks" Last cars produced in 1932

Later Radiator Emblem