POTTED HISTORY OF THE 8s

 

·        1903           6hp single cylinder ‘Motor Victoria’ The 1st Standard

 

 

·        1938           October Flying 8 introduced in saloon, deluxe & tourer forms

·        1939           The Flying 8 drop head coupe introduced

 






 
 
Flying Eight                 1021cc                                         1938 - 1941
July 38        8A                       N1 on
Jan  40       8A                       N23069 on
Aug 40        8A                       N33101 on De Luxe
Aug 40        8A                       N34601 Standard

 

WAR  DECLARED

 

·        1940           Limited production 4 door saloons for private use

·        1940           A few 8 hp chassis equipped with box bodies for use as YMCA                 tea dispensers!

·        1944           birth of “JUNGLE BUG” modified 8hp engine intended for airborne operations production cancelled

 

WAR CEASED

 

·        1945           8s back in production updated no longer called FLYING 8s

·        1948           8 production ceased all models July

·        1953           The 8 hp  saloon  introduced in basic form with 803 cc OHV four cylinder engine

·        1954           8s were now fitted with flashing indicators

·        1955           July the Family Eight replaced basic model.

·        1955           October saw the Super Eight with enhanced trim etc

·        1957           The Eights were available in “Gold Star” form with increased power, new grills and opening external boot

·        1960           The last production 8 rolled off the production line.

 
 
Post War Cars
 
July 1945                      NA 1
January 1946                NA 1711
January 1947                NA 19344
January 1948                NA 42063
 

Standard 8's and 10's Commission Numbers

 

Summary of Eight and Ten Production

 

Eight (basic) 9/53 - 5/54  

Family Ten 2/56 - 4/57

Eight De Luxe  5/54 - 10/55

Super Ten Ph.11 10/56 - 10/57

Family Eight 5/55 - 12/56

Ten Gold Star 4/57 - 7/59

Super Eight 10/55 - 2/57

Pennant  10/57 - 5/59

Family Eight Ph.11 12/56 - 4/57 

Companion 6/55 - 4/57

Eight Gold Star  4/57 - 7/59    

Super Companion  10/55 - 10/56

Family Companion  5/56 -  3/57

 

Ten  5/54 - 10/55

Super Companion Ph.11 10/56 -10/57

Super Ten 10/55 - 10/56

Companion Gold Star 10/57 - 4/62

 

 

Prefixes

 

CS - Eight BE - Ten, and all Ten-based models except the Pennant,

PN - Pennant

 

Suffixes

 

DL - Saloon, DX - De Luxe or Super Eight, DXB - Family Ten,

SC - Companion

 

SCF - Family Companion, PU - Pick-up, V-Van

Left-hand drive models had an L placed in front of the suffix

 

 

Eights           

Tens

September 1953 CS1

May 1954 BE1

January 1954 CS9895.  

September 1954 BE 2675

May 1954 CS 23000 

January 1955 BE 11970

September 1954 CS 37610

June 1955 BE 29160

January 1955 CS 50215 

September 1955 BE 41300

October 1955 CS 74500

January 1956 BE 53365

January 1956 CS 83100 

October 1956  BE 77280

January 1957 CS 86080

January 1957 BE 81000

October 1957 CS 94280 

April 1958 BE 100000

January 1958 CS 100185

October 1957 BE 100400

May 1958 CS 102125 

January 1958 BE 106000

January 1959 CS 135660

January 1959 BE 139170

July 1959 CS 136317 

January 1960  BE 160525

Final chassis:

 

 

January 1961   BE  172225 DL

 

January 1962   BE  175180 LDL

 

Triumph 10 (rebadged Standard 10 for North American Market)*

1958

TBE 1 - TBE9XXX

1959

TBE 35001 on

1960

TBE 50001 on ( maybe 55001 on )

* courtesy of Andy Mace

 

Pennants

 

October 1957 

PN 1

January 1958 

PN 800

January 1959 

PN 35555 

May 1959        

PN 37761

 
 

 

             

 


After the War Standard brushed off the plans for the 1939 Flying 8 (correctly titled the 8A))

and from them produced a derivative the 4-8A

 

 

They did NOT use the title "Flying" post war. 

A SINGLE brochure was produced that incorrectly describes them as Flying Standards,  every other brochure calls them the 8,12 and 14.

It is believed that the "Flying" brochure was a mistake by Standard's advertising agents or printers.

The post war models, all distinguished by flat sides to their bonnets have some differences to the pre war versions.

The 8 Saloon otherwise looks identical to the Flying 8 and the same applies to the DHCs. The distinguishing mark of post war 8 tourers are larger cutaway doors.

The 8 was reduced in engine capacity by reducing the bore from 57mm to 56.7mm. The 8 gained the 4 speed box of the 12.

 Other differences (improvements!) to Engine, clutch, gearbox prop, brakes, chassis, front suspension steering,

                                                                                 and rear axle on one or both cars compared to the pre war models, meaning that spares in those areas may not fit and you should always quote your commission number when ordering spares from Brian Parkes

 

.I am grateful to Phil Homer and the Standard Motor Club for this information