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This is the worldwide club for all owners and enthusiasts of Standard Cars

"Dedicated to the preservation of Standard Cars 1903-1963"

Karl Bhote has sent me information about this Vanguard, which first appears on a Classic Car bulletin board in India:

The owner describes his car thus:

This is a 1950, Phase I, Standard Vanguard Estate. I believe this is a very rare car. It was an one owner car. Originally owned by Mr. Tate in Yercaud. The car was registered on 22-5-1950. It was a direct import. It has the original RC. The car was taken from Yercaud & brought to Chennai.

This person who brought her to Chennai tried some restoration, but he did not transfer the RC to his name. Thus it continued to be an one owner car. While being restored in Chennai by this gentleman, the front Grill & both bumpers were stolen.

I bought the car in October 2007. The body work had to be redone. The brakes & clutch were jammed; new plates & cylinders fitted. Radiator, starter, dynamo, distributor were overhauled. Decarbonozing was done. The head developed a minor crack that was welded. Fortunately the car came with a workshop & owners manuals. Bumpers and some parts were imported from Australia. It sounds funny, but I managed to locate the grill in Chennai, which I am sure was the one stolen from this very car.

The upholstery & paintwork are new. Actually, the shade is a bluish grey but in the photo, it appears to be only blue. Tyres are new, MRF, 600x16. She runs well

C. S. Ananth

Click on these thumbprints to see an enlargement

Thank you Karl and thank you very much Mr Ananth for letting us see your superb restoration, it will have Vanguard owners in the UK, and worldwide, green with envy. If you have pictures of the car before or during the restoration, I would be pleased to publish them. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy driving your Vanguard.

Phil Homer