Standard Eight
Encyclopedia
The Flying Eight was the smallest member of the Standard Flying family.
Introduced in 1938 or 1939 (sources differ), the Flying Eight featured, in its saloon form, the "streamlined" body of the little Standard Flying Nine
which had appeared in 1937. However, the Flying Eight came powered by a side-valve 1021 cc long-stroke (100 mm) engine to keep it in the British 8 hp taxation class which calculated the annual licence payable according to cylinder surface area. In this case the bore was of just 56.7 mm. A single Solex carburettor was used and the engine could produce 28 bhp at 4000 rpm. Drive was to the rear wheels through a 3-speed synchromesh gearbox. The suspension was independent at the front with a transverse leaf spring at the rear. A top speed of around 65 mph was attainable. Brakes were cable operated using the Bendix system.
The car had a separate chassis and initially saloon and four seat tourer bodied versions were produced joined by the drophead coupé in late 1939. Very few coupés were made before the outbreak of the Second World War halted production.
The car was firmly pitched by Standard against the Austin 8
and Morris Eight
rivals and was keenly priced at £314.
After this version of the 8 was phased out Standard-Triumph's next small car was the Triumph Mayflower
and it was only after this model had failed to meet its sales targets that a new Standard 8 was launched.
from March 1957. Girling hydraulic drum brakes were fitted.
To keep prices down, the car at launch was very basic with sliding windows, single windscreen wiper and no external boot lid. Access to the boot was by folding down the rear seat which had the backrest divided in two. The 1954 De luxe got wind up windows and the Gold Star model of 1957 an opening boot lid. From mid 1955 all the Eights finally got wind up windows. At launch the car cost £481 including taxes on the home market.
An example tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 had a top speed of 61 mph (98.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–50 mph (80.5 km/h) in 26.5 seconds. A fuel consumption of 43 mpgimp was recorded.
The Standard Ten
of 1954 shared the bodyshell and running gear and would outlast the Eight by continuing until 1961.
, which used a slightly enlarged version of the same engine.
Introduced in 1938 or 1939 (sources differ), the Flying Eight featured, in its saloon form, the "streamlined" body of the little Standard Flying Nine
Standard Flying Nine
The Flying Nine was a small family car produced by the British Standard Motor Company between 1937 and 1940. It was the smallest of several relatively streamlined cars with which the company, in common with several UK mass market competitors, widened and updated its range in the later 1930s.Behind...
which had appeared in 1937. However, the Flying Eight came powered by a side-valve 1021 cc long-stroke (100 mm) engine to keep it in the British 8 hp taxation class which calculated the annual licence payable according to cylinder surface area. In this case the bore was of just 56.7 mm. A single Solex carburettor was used and the engine could produce 28 bhp at 4000 rpm. Drive was to the rear wheels through a 3-speed synchromesh gearbox. The suspension was independent at the front with a transverse leaf spring at the rear. A top speed of around 65 mph was attainable. Brakes were cable operated using the Bendix system.
The car had a separate chassis and initially saloon and four seat tourer bodied versions were produced joined by the drophead coupé in late 1939. Very few coupés were made before the outbreak of the Second World War halted production.
8hp
The 8 hp model, without the Flying name now, was rapidly re-introduced after the Second World War with the first models appearing within ten days of VE day. The only major update from the pre-war model involved the fitting of a 4-speed gearbox. A few estate cars were made in 1948. The tourer could be distinguished externally from the coupé by having cutaway door tops.The car was firmly pitched by Standard against the Austin 8
Austin 8
The Austin 8 was a small car made by the Austin Motor Company. Launched in 1939 and produced into the war , about 9,000 of the wartime Austin 8 models were two-seater tourers produced for the military and government, and the rest were saloons...
and Morris Eight
Morris Eight
The Morris Eight was a small car inspired by the sales popularity of the similarly shaped Ford Model Y. The success of the car enabled Morris to regain its position as Britain's largest motor manufacturer.-Morris Eight Series I:...
rivals and was keenly priced at £314.
After this version of the 8 was phased out Standard-Triumph's next small car was the Triumph Mayflower
Triumph Mayflower
The Triumph Mayflower is a small car which was produced by Britain's Triumph Motor Company from 1949 until 1953.It was the first small car to be built by Triumph under new owners, the Standard Motor Company. It used a version of the pre-war Standard 10 side-valve engine updated by having an...
and it was only after this model had failed to meet its sales targets that a new Standard 8 was launched.
Eight
The 1953 Eight was a completely new car with unit construction and an overhead-valve engine. Only saloon models were made. The new engine of 803 cc produced slightly less power than the outgoing larger sidevalve unit with 26 bhp at 4500 rpm but this was increased to 30 bhp at 5000 rpm in 1957. The 4-speed gearbox, with synchromesh on the top three ratios, was available with optional overdriveOverdrive (mechanics)
Overdrive is a term used to describe a mechanism that allows an automobile to cruise at sustained speed with reduced engine RPM, leading to better fuel economy, lower noise and lower wear...
from March 1957. Girling hydraulic drum brakes were fitted.
To keep prices down, the car at launch was very basic with sliding windows, single windscreen wiper and no external boot lid. Access to the boot was by folding down the rear seat which had the backrest divided in two. The 1954 De luxe got wind up windows and the Gold Star model of 1957 an opening boot lid. From mid 1955 all the Eights finally got wind up windows. At launch the car cost £481 including taxes on the home market.
An example tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 had a top speed of 61 mph (98.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–50 mph (80.5 km/h) in 26.5 seconds. A fuel consumption of 43 mpgimp was recorded.
The Standard Ten
Standard Ten
thumb|right|250px|A 1934 Standard 10/12 SpeedlineThe Standard Ten was a small car produced by the British Standard Motor Company from 1906 to 1961....
of 1954 shared the bodyshell and running gear and would outlast the Eight by continuing until 1961.
Replacement
The Eight was replaced in 1959 by the Triumph HeraldTriumph Herald
The Triumph Herald was a small two-door car introduced in 1959 by the Standard-Triumph Company of Coventry. Body design was by the Italian stylist Michelotti and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, van, and estate models....
, which used a slightly enlarged version of the same engine.