Standard Eight

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It is sometimes easy to forget what an austere place Britain was in the early 1950s, but the Standard Eight is a useful reminder.

Launched in 1953 to compete with the established Ford 100E, Morris Minor and Austin A30 models, it came only as a four door saloon and was so basic it had no hub caps, no external boot lid, fixed rear windows and a single windscreen wiper! Its 803cc engine gave it a top speed of just 60mph - it was the ultimate in ‘no frills’ motoring and cost just £481.7 shillings and sixpence.

It was the cheapest 4-door car on the market and even if it didn’t have luxuries aplenty, it did have independent front suspension, hydraulic brakes and a 4-speed gearbox with synchromesh on the top three ratios. The 1954 De Luxe got wind up windows, a luxury that was extended to the whole range from the middle of 1955. An example tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 had a top speed of 61mph and could accelerate from 0–50 mph in 26.5 seconds with 43mpg economy.

Cheap and cheerful it may have been but the Eight was still a dependable runabout and could clearly inspire great affection among owners, as this particular car proves. First registered in May 1955 to a Miss N Burford of Rushmore near Ipswich, it was to remain in her family until the present day. When Miss Burford married the car was registered in her new name, Mrs Goddard, and she kept it for 39 years at which point ownership transferred to her grandson. Throughout Mrs Goddard’s ownership the car was always serviced by Mann Egerton of Ipswich.

The history file contains an interesting letter from the grandson which tells the whole story of the Eight from new, even detailing how the car came to his christening in 1963 and confirming that the indicated mileage of 75,000 is ‘100% correct’. The history file also has the original hand book with Miss Burford’s name entered on the first page together with the original new car invoice from the supplying dealer, ED Cadge & Co of Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, totalling just £575.9 shillings and tuppence.

A wonderfully evocative slice of Fifties austerity Britain, this cute little Standard now just needs another devoted custodian who can continue to preserve it for future generations to enjoy.