Every now and then, a member of the public contacts us with a query and and image. It's always surprising what is out there and what we might deiscover one day!
Recent corespondence from a member of the public led to the sight of a very rare Standard Model V2. Only one exists today and it is under deep restoration.
Follow the story here and perhaps you know someone who has rare images of Standards?
If so, please send to with any covering information here: phil.homer@btinternet.com
Standard Model V2
Hello, I wonder if you could help me, please?
I am putting together a local history book about a plastic surgeon who helped hundreds of injured airmen and soldiers during WWII by reconstructing their faces. He was a hero who has never had the recognition he deserves; I'm hoping to put this right with this book.
Mr Grocott wasn't just an amazing surgeon; he was also a brilliant engineer and car fanatic who, thoughout his life, had some very unusual cars. He always bought vehicles and 'reconstructed' them to make them individual in appearance and function. These were mostly Alvis and Jaguar vehicles; in fact he designed and built his own futuristic vehicle in the 1950s - The Grocott Jaguar. The attached photograph has been found in his papers and I'm pretty sure it's a Standard (certainly the radiator and badge) but I can't find anything like it on the internet. I can identify the man at the wheel so I'm pretty sure the photo was taken in the 1930s.
In the 1930s he wouldn't have had much money - he passed his finals in 1933 and returned to Stoke Infirmary, but was very much a junior doctor, underpaid and overworked. He was trained in plastic surgery by the most famous surgeon in the world, Sir Harold Gillies and worked alongside Archibald McIndoe, of Guinea Pig Club fame.
I wonder if you have any knowledge or information about this vehicle, please? Any help would be appreciated which, of course, I will acknowledge in the book. Thank you for reading this.
Kind regards, Ros Unwin
Phil Homer, writes:
It is a Standard - its called a Model V2 of 1923.
It was developed from the model V1 of 1921. That was intended to be a “bottom of the range” car, to undercut Standard’s previous offerings. This they achieved by having exposed overhead valve gear with drip lubrication from a small, hand lubricated oil reservoir. Quarter-elliptical springs replaced the semi=elliptical springs used previously, along with “solid” wheels. Unfortunately the engine was too small so it was underpowered and did not sell at all well. No Model V 1’s survive.
The V2 sought to rectify these weaknesses with a larger engine, but again without success.
There is only one surviving model V2 and that is subject to an ongoing long-term restoration.
Photographs of Contemporary V2’s are also rare, which is probably why you could not find one. This photo appears to have been taken sometime later in its life as evidenced by bodywork damage and the fact the car has been raised up on its suspension. It therefore supports your argument that the cars were interfered with. A “Klaxon” Electric horn has been added above the wing.
I am very grateful for this period photo to add to the Club’s archive
Some very interesting photos of the Growcott Jaguar are here
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