Standard Big Nine Saloon

History

Founded in  1903, RW Maudslay's Standard Motor Company made a range of small cars in Coventry up 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. Foremost among these was the Big Nine, a handsome and roomy six-light saloon with a well-appointed interior and powered  by a 1287cc four-cylinder sidevalve engine.

This particular car has been in the same ownership since 1983 and was the subject of a lengthy rebuild with many photographs in the history file. Restoration was completed in September 1991 with parts alone costing over £5,700. The car has since taken part in many rallies and club events collecting numerous awards along the way, most recently a 1st at the Standard Motor Club Meet in Leicester in 2001.

Since then the paintwork has deteriorated somewhat but the car still looks good and has a very attractive interior with new carpets and headlining and nicely patinated original leather upholstery.

The history file contains many invoices from the restoration together with an original handbook and parts book. There is also an old buff log book dating from the 1950s, a V5 document and many old MOT certificates including the curent one valid until March 2008. Altogether a handsome and good driving car at a very realistic guide price.