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Standard Vanguard (1948 – 1963) Review

Standard Vanguard (1948 – 1963) At A Glance

3/5

+Solid, traditional, and upright, Sportsman is a delight to drive with TR3-spec engine delivering ample performance

-Roly poly handling uninspiring, diesel engined version night have been the first but it was also highly unpleasant to drive

The Standard Vanguard was launched in July 1947, and was generally regarded to be the first all-new British car to hit the market following the end of WW2. It was also designed specifically for export, and to evoke the spirit of victory, it was named after the HMS Vanguard, the last of the British Navy's battleships. The Beetle-backed saloon looked advanced for 1947, and captured the imaginations of post-war Brits.

Few people would have realised it at the time, it was to be the final full-sized new Standard, to be replaced by the Triumph 2000. The car wasn't the commercial success that its maker hoped it would be - most probably because it wasn't as well-made as it might have been. Later models were improved systematically, with the final Phase III, Sportsman and Vignale models being particularly desirable.

Ask Honest John

Do you know how many Standard Vanguard Utes were made?

"Do you know how many Standard Vanguard Ute pick-ups were made? My friend has a 1963 one and is wondering how rare it is."
This is a difficult question to answer. To the best of my knowledge, these were only sold as the Utility in Australia and were badged Pick-Up in the UK (with many finding homes on RAF bases). Standard's commission numbers record the bodystyle of a vehicle with a suffix at the end of the number - so without getting a hold of all the records for the cars produced and counting every single one, it's impossible to give you a definitive number. However, Phil Homer, the Standard Motor Club's historian, says production figures were in the thousands - although there aren't that many around today. If you need any more information, it might be worth getting in contact with the club. Visit their website at: www.standardmotorclub.org.uk.
Answered by Keith Moody
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