Chilean Phase 1 Vanguard

Dear Phil, 

I  got your name on Internet, Standard Motor Club, and I have seen some articles about the Standard Vanguard model. A month ago I found a 1951 sedan model in Santiago, Chile, still in working condition and with its original paint.

This is a very rare case, to find a car like this one that a I drove in the 60"s. My wife's family had a black sedan from 1953 to 1969. I had an estate model while I was studying Engineering.

The one that I found was in the hands of its third owner. This chap had it working for 37 years. M.O.T renewed last November. In the Chilean site www.tuerca.cl we put some photos of the vehicle in the general post, Which vehicle is this? asking for information, spare parts , manuals etc. They also published a summary of the story of this vehicle in Chile.

The answer of one fan allowed me to find the original manual of the car in excellent condition, which I have already copied. Really amazing!

This same chap told me that he had seen a Standard Vanguard in a scrap-yard. I went there and saw it. It has some spare parts that I can get from it, specially the original black filter. Another  miracle!

I would like to know if you can help me with addresses in England where I can get spares or information for the restoration of this vehicle. I would like to see it like new.

name not supplied

Click on any of these thumbprints to see enlargements of these photographs of the Chilean Vanguard:

I have translated, as best I can, from Spanish, the write-up that appeared on the aforementioned Chilean website about the Vanguard. The historical accuracy is not mine, but I thought you might like to read it!

"The Standard, an old British company, created by R.W. Maudslay in 1903, displayed its latest model, the Vanguard, in 1948. This was the first British post war car designed for the mass market. It's design was inspired by American models, especially Ford and Mercury from which it gained its rounded back section, (unusual for an English vehicle) and the style of its radiator grille and windscreen. It was not of the taste of all, but in the conditions of 1948, offered a solid, relatively simple vehicle. Familiar to European customs, but embellished with chrome plating. It was very reliable, and ensured total success. This was verified by the fact that this car was made or assembled in eleven countries, amongst them Brazil. Also it remained in the market for a long time. The original design stayed in production for 4 years, the only change in later versions was to modernise it with a separate boot compartment.

Its extremely reliable engine was derived from the design by Ferguson for the advanced tractor of the same name, which verifies that technical quality was included in the design. Its 2088 cc were fed by a simple carburettor that extracted 68 HP. Its gear box was of three speeds, with the change being on the steering column, this mechanism being one of the weak parts of the car. The suspension gave one a smoother ride than those of the typical English car, although the shock absorbers, according to the press of the time, were smaller than optimal. With these mechanicals, the rounded Vanguard reached without problem a speed of around 130 kilometers per hour, being able to make long 100 km/h trips , without any problems.

The car achieved a formidable success in an austere world just after the Second War. All who had one, in any country, remember it with affection. In Chile also enough arrived, although now, 60 years later, there are almost none. Two or three photos exist that show Standards the way they were, even working as taxis (painted black with yellow) in Santiago."

Vanguard for Sale

For our Standard enthusiasts in Chile, look at the bottom of the page here for another  Vanguard for sale. I hope that this one can be saved too.

I am pleased to report that this Chilean Vanguard owner has recently joined the Club and is now benefiting from access to manuals, spare parts catalogues and the Club's Spares Parts Service. If you are restoring a Standard, you should also be a member

Phil Homer

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