Standard´s history still remains a bit uncovered

Standard 8 - 1955

The  

Standard  

Eight  

is  

a  

small  

car  

produced  

by  

the  

British

Standard Motor Company from 1938 to 1959.

The   car   was   originally   launched   in   1938   as   the   Flying   Eight.   After   the   Second   World   War   the Flying   range   of   Standards   was   dropped   but   an   updated   car   called   the   8   hp   was   re-introduced   in 1945.   In   1953   a   completely   new   car,   the   Standard   Eight   was   launched   sharing   virtually   nothing with   its   predecessor.   In   1959   the   car   was   dropped   to   be   replaced   by   the   Triumph   Herald,   as   the Standard brand was being phased out.

Eight

The   1953   Eight   was   a   completely   new   car   with   unit   construction   and   an   overhead-valve   engine. Only   saloon   models   were   made.   The   new   engine   of   803   cc   produced   slightly   less   power   than   the outgoing   larger   sidevalve   unit   with   26   bhp   at   4500   rpm   but   this   was   increased   to   30   bhp   at   5000 rpm   in   1957. The   4-speed   gearbox,   with   synchromesh   on   the   top   three   ratios,   was   available   with optional overdrive from March 1957. Girling hydraulic drum brakes were fitted. To   keep   prices   down,   the   car   at   launch   was   very   basic   with   sliding   windows,   single   windscreen wiper   and   no   external   boot   lid. Access   to   the   boot   was   by   folding   down   the   rear   seat,   which   had the   backrest   divided   in   two.   The   1954   De   luxe   got   wind   up   windows   and   the   Gold   Star   model   of 1957   an   opening   boot   lid.   From   mid-1955   all   the   Eights   finally   got   wind   up   windows.   At   launch the car cost £481 including taxes on the home market. An   example   tested   by   The   Motor   magazine   in   1953   had   a   top   speed   of   61   mph   (98   km/h)   and could   accelerate   from   0–50   mph   (80   km/h)   in   26.5   seconds.   A   fuel   consumption   of   43   miles   per imperial gallon (6.6 L/100 km; 36 mpg-US) was recorded.

Replacement

The   Eight   was   replaced   in   1959   by   the   Triumph   Herald,   which   used   a   slightly   enlarged   version   of the same engine.

Film appearances

A   Standard   4/8A   Tourer   is   driven   by   the   main   characters   in   the   1951   film,   The   Man   from   Planet X .

1955

Engine 803 cc 4 cylinders Power 28 HP Top speed 100 km/h Lenght/width 3,61 m/1,47 m Weight 710 kg The collections 8 has been restored at year 2000.