The Postwar Standard 8, particularly in its form as an Open Tourer or a Drophead Coupé, is a popular choice as a small affordable Classic and a good number of them are being restored and put back on the road.
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This example, CUD 903 is a Tourer belonging  to Patrice Dixon, who relates his story;
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I first saw the car with my wife earlier this year. We travelled to Bury to view it having seen it on sale in the monthly magazine. Colin showed us round the car. We both liked it and, after inspecting it, we decided to buy it . Colin had had offers from dealers but wanted it to go to an enthusiast which is where I came in. Unfortunately, at that time, we did not have a garage and Colin said he would only sell it if we had one.
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There followed several weeks of intensive searching for one with no success. Hen's teeth or what? Then Andrew, an acquaintance of ours, told us he had a double garage a 20 minute bus ride away where he stored his 1960 Skoda. He offered to rent one half of the garage to us at a very modest £50 per month. Not only that, but he is a keen amateur mechanic, truly a godsend for someone who is mechanically illiterate like myself.
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With bated breath, I rang Colin to see if the car was still for sale. It was and we bought it. Having it transported from Bury to Southgate in North London proved to be an ordeal. It did not happen on the scheduled date ...starting problems so we were told! It arrived a day late and much later than planned and in the dark.
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I went around the block with the car once by myself and again with Andrew. My next trip was to drive it up to High Barnet to fill up with £10 of E5. The car was running smoothly although the oil was registering well below the recommended 40-60psi and the engine lacked power going up hills.
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On my third trip, disaster struck. On my return from a gardening centre and fully loaded, the car engine conked out up a hill. The AA man thought it could be a worn out clutch or water in the tank. He sent for a recovery truck but unfortunately the ramps were too wide for the car so another more suitable truck was sent. This, of course, was played out over many hours.
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The car is now back in the garage and Andrew has replaced the oil and added more petrol. He found the spark plugs were black rather than grey and suggested I bought a new set from the Club.
As to the car itself, I do not have very much. Colin owned it for 8 years. He also has a prewar Standard. The previous owner, Thomas Taylor, was from Bolton and I have been told it has Buckinghamshire reg. no.
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It has been very well looked after, repainted in maroon and black at some point so possibly not the original colour. It has almost new tyres and new tan upholstery.
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Phil Homer
Historian
Standard Motor Club
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