Standard Ten Saloon

History

Founded in  1903, RW Maudslay's Standard Motor Company made a range of small cars in Coventry up to the outbreak of World War I when production switched to aircraft manufacture. Civilian car production restarted in 1919 with a new range of small cars and by 1924 the company had a share of the market comparable to Austin, making over 10,000 cars in 1924.

However the firm then stagnated until 1929 when Captain John Black joined the board from Hillman, becoming the architect of the firm's resurgence in the 1930s when it built a reputation for keenly priced, well-built, reliable and comfortable saloons. Typical of these was the Standard Ten, a fine little car with a well-appointed interior and 60mph performance from its 1,343cc side-valve engine.

This 1934 example has been one family owned from new right up until 2005 when it was acquired by the current vendor. Believed to be entirely original and unrestored throughout, it appears to be in very sound condition and in need of not much more than a respray to restore it to its former glory. The brown leather interior is in particularly nice condition with a lovely patina and it still retains its original pull-down rear window sun blind. The original tool kit is also present and there is a fair amount of service history recorded over the years on a sheet of cardboard!

With a fresh MOT and said to be driving very well indeed, this lovely old girl will amply reward the sympathetic restoration work that is now required. The number plate alone is probably worth close to the guide price suggested today.