A long overdue book about the UK’s first car designed for the World’s markets is now available.
Kevin is former Editor of the TR Register’s “TR Action” and the Triumph 2000/2500/2.5 Club’s “Six Appeal. He has spent a productive couple of years at, mainly, Standard Motor Club events where he was able to photograph the Vanguards and collect information from Members about their cars.
For background, Kevin introduces the formation of the company in 1903 and highlights some of the significant models that the company built both sides of World War One.
He then moves on to describe how the Vanguard’s major components were developed, all of them on a clean sheet of paper. Particular highlights were the brand new wet-liner engine, whose basic design was a result of a need to replace an imported engine in the Ferguson Tractor with a home-grown product. The constraints that Sir John Black put upon his Manager’s to shorten the wheelbase are fully explored. Though the car was announced in July 1947 as the “20S” it was fully 12 months before the body builders were able to deliver in volume, and then the car could only reach export markets.
The book then goes on in subsequent chapters to describe how the Phase 1 was developed first into the Phase 1A, then the Phase II describing the differences in some detail, and the reasons behind them. Each variant is accompanied by excellent full-colour photography.
Estates, Vans, Utilities and Diesels are covered in a Chapter of their own. I was particularly pleased that the rare 2 door Estate Car was featured, and the even rarer Belgian-built Cabriolet.
The Phase III broke the mould of course, being designed by an American and the later involvement of another foreigner, Giovanni Michellotti with his restyled “Vignale” bodies.
The Sportsman, or the Triumph Renown that nearly was, is next to be featured. The demise of the Ensign finally saw the demise of the “Standard” brand, in the UK at least. There is an interesting chapter on “what might have been” where the developments around the six-cylinder engine resulted in what became the Triumph 2000.
Overall, this is comprehensive coverage and lavishly illustrated. Highly recommended.
Footnote: It is interesting to note that the format and size of this book is identical to one that was published, by the same publisher, of my own work, exactly 10 years ago. The cover price of my book then was £14.99. The cover price of “The Standard Vanguard Cars” is just £1 more, but the book is available online from the SMC website with a discount, making the price today just £14.00.
As a bonus, your copy can be dedicated and signed by the Author.
The publishing industry does not seem to have suffered the same inflationary pressures. I don’t know how this has happened, but it makes the book a bargain for everyone.
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