We haven't had an entry in the "What is it?" Section of the Website for some time. 

I think I have identified this Standard that used to live in Western Australia

John Gorman has emailed me from Western Australia with a photograph of the first cat he ever owned. Thats John on the front bumper of his "babe magnet" aged about 17. The car was bought for him by his father, for about £25 and John believed it to be a Flying 9 of about 1934/35..

My reply goes as follows:

There were considerable numbers of Standards, and other marques, imported to Australia in the 1930s without bodies as import duties made completed cars more expensive. And this gave rise to a number of local coachbuilders, of which I am aware of Richards, Mortlock and Flood, who all put bodies on Standards.

The Flying 9 wasn't introduced until 1936 , so if its a 1934 chassis, and a 9 then its not on the Flying chassis. Unfortunately, the photo is compressed and isn't very good, but I think I can make out a radiator and front wings from the factory and the wheels and hubcaps appear to be Standard too.

I have inspected photos already on the site of  both a 1933 Standard Big 12 Tourer and a 1937 Flying 12 Tourer. Both are clothed in bodies by James Flood of Melbourne. Both these cars bear great similarities to the subject of this article, so I am for the moment going to describe this as a Flood-bodied 9 Tourer from 1934. It is the first that I have any sight of. I hope it is of interest to Standard owners

If anyone has a different opinion or has more information about the Flood Company, then I welcome emails to webmaster@standardmotorclub.org.uk

Phil Homer

March 2011