Beschreibung
JUST look at this. Fresh out of Martin Howey Classics' cavern of cool and quirky classic vehicles!
A Phase 1 Vanguard "Beetle back" in a delightful shade of RAF blue. She is 72-years-old and still proudly outdoing thousands of cars still in their infancy. The Vanguard must have been pure jet age stuff when it was launched amidst the post-war austerity of 1948. Car manufacturers were still re-hashing their pre-war designs at this stage, but Standard really pushed the boat out with this design!
Modelled largely on the American Plymouth, the Vanguard was an instant success although the bulk of the early models went all around the world as part of Britain's export drive. This made it extremely difficult to own a Phase 1 Vanguard in the UK as the bulk of them were exported. To give you just one example, in 1950 Germany imported cars from Britain, France and Italy (hard to believe after losing the war, but then they were not making any of their own!!). Anyway, in that year alone, the Vanguard represented a huge 70 per cent of all cars they imported.
Hence their rarity then - let alone now - in the UK. This is the Phase 1. It would be another year or so before Brits started to buy them at new. Standard were still major players in the British car market back then and, in fact, the company had originally chosen the Standard name several decades beforehand in an attempt to show that they were "flying the Standard" for the industry. Indeed the model name Vanguard was also carefully chosen. The HMS Vanguard was the UK's last battleship to be built during the Second World War and this, remember, was in an era when people paid great attention to names, titles and stature. Mmm, all the stranger then that the Germans were so keen on our Standard Vanguard!
This magnificent old girl comes with that correct spec 2088cc engine as later famously used in Triumph TR2 and TR3 sports cars. Remember of course that the company was still actually trading as Standard-Triumph in those days. It was also the world famous engine which drove all those wonderful Ferguson tractors of the same era. This Vanguard, sitting so proudly and still built like a battleship herself with amazingly thick steel, is a pure time warp find. And yes, she drives and drives well.
It is my opinion that this super rare vehicle - with just three owners from new back in 1951 - has never been welded. Her chassis is a sight for sore eyes. As straight as a dye and with all original, huge jacking points firmly in place and looking untouched.
Maybe painted several decades ago but, to be fair, not easy to tell. So much of looks original and in many ways I think she would be better left like this. Small bits of chipped paint, scratch here and there. To be honest, I think a fresh coat of paint would ruin her!
Engine is on the button and sounds sweet. She is a 3-speed column change. Original registration too and original log book comes with the car. Current V5 is present. She has a delightful interior for a 72-year-old car and the leather has survived superbly. Again, you would leave as is.
Here's a great opportunity to own an exceptionally rare classic. You may come across Wolseley, Riley, Austin, Morris etc from the same era. But the majority of them could be rotten, minus floors and not even able to run. This is far removed from that. The underneath is stunning, the engine bay unbelievably sound and the boot floor is all there and appears to be original. These Vanguards were built with a tank-like chassis.
Her previous owner kept her for 35 years and covered just 4, 000 miles during that time.
This description is based on my opinion of the vehicle, the paperwork that comes with the car and anything I have been told about it. The vehicle is 72-years-old and this cannot be taken as a definitive statement for obvious reasons. As with most classic cars, there may be faults and quirks whilst, almost inevitably, some degree of tinkering and care will always be called for. Such are the joys of owning an antique vehicle and they must be taken within their own context and not compared to modern day cars. They are sold as old, mainly out-dated machines and come without any comeback whatsoever. They are my terms and conditions.
My classic cars are motoring antiques. This car, for example, is 72-years-old and is unrestored. It's not two, five or even ten-years-old as your own everyday car may be. It has been in service for more than half a century and so will have quirks and faults in there somewhere. However, faults on these old girls are not always apparent when buying and selling classics which is what I do. I do not restore them, nor do I pretend that they are concours cars. The majority of them go out as they came in, and I continue to enjoy finding more - a skill which is becoming increasingly difficult as many of you will be aware. They deserve to be taken on as "family pets" and cared for through thick and then. They don't make them any more and demand now out-strips supply. Please bear all this in mind, and enjoy your classic car. I can also assist with delivery and so please ask for a quote.
I have now been established as a one-man band classic car dealer for 20 years and pride myself on my buying prowess and - due to small margins - my prices which I firmly believe are up there among the very best in the UK classic car marketplace.
Thanks, Martin. the details below.
