Beschreibung
Standard Vanguard 1A: £40k Restoration/ The Best
The Standard Vanguard Phase 1A was a completely new design from the Standard Motor Company. Its exterior drew heavily on the Trans-Atlantic styling so popular in the 1950’s with other British manufacturers including Austin (Somerset) and Ford (Consul/ Zephyr/ Zodiac). In line with the post war British export drive a high proportion of the output was exported to the Empire and today UK cars are extremely rare and highly prized.
The bold four door design featured a distinctive sloping rear boot lid and an attractive “wrap-around” grill. Mechanically the car featured a conventional separate chassis, all synchromesh gears, front coil suspension and hydraulic brakes. The engine was the ubiquitous 2088cc unit that was used from tractor production through to the TR2 sports car and gave the Vanguard a very respectable top speed of around 80mph.
Milestones are delighted to market arguably the best Vanguard Phase 1A you could wish to own. After many years in storage the car went through a 3-year restoration at the Brooklyn Museum being restored to the current pristine condition by the late John Haywood. The pictures speak for the car – she is stunning.
In recent years, after being released by the museum, the car has been taken to local car shows picking up Best Car awards and used on club rallies, always performing without fault.
On the road the car drives brilliantly and is a very capable classic. My father owned an identical car in 1963 and drove all the way from Epsom to Cornwall in top-gear! He always said it was the best car he had ever owned, and it was the first car I drove at Biggin Hill aerodrome when I was 10 years old – happy days.
Still carrying her original registration number and with a small history folder that includes the original Drivers Handbook, MOT history and an album of pictures from the restoration, this Standard is an extremely rare survivor.
Cars of this quality rarely come to market. If you are looking for a classic British 1950’s saloon you will struggle to find a better example that drives as good as she looks.
