1940' Standard Flying 8 De-Luxe

Registered in April 1940, just before the Battle of Britain, this remarkable little car was pressed into service for the Ministry of Works and covered just 4, 000 miles, ferrying fraught civil servants for the remainder of the War. Since then, it has spent most of the rest of its life in private collections and museums and, in recent years, has covered a further 5, 000 miles.

This car has never been restored and even retains its original cellulose paint, carpets, headlining and gorgeous leather seats, despite being 82 years old. It takes barely any imagination to picture this modest car parked up on a cobbled side street whilst the bombers flew overhead and the sirens wailed in the background. As you can see, it’s in wonderful, original condition and has a lovely patina. Truly a unique and awe-inspiring piece of British history.

Just like its former custodians, we have cherished the car and have ensured it has been serviced every few hundred miles or 12 months (whichever was the sooner).

In our years of collecting, we have never seen another classic car of, or even approaching, this age with such a low mileage, and in such remarkable unrestored, original condition. Please note that space not desire is driving our decision to part with this beloved vehicle and are keen to ensure that its next custodian will love and preserve the car, as we have.

The full file of papers comprises:
1. Buff logbook
2. V5
3. Receipts
4. MOT test certificates (the earliest is dated 1968)
5. A handwritten log detailing the dates, mileages and destinations of journeys undertaken in the vehicle.
6. Previous sale adverts
7. Original instruction book
8. Service/ lubrication chart
9. Practical Motorist featuring a road test of the “New Standard ‘Eight’” (published 26. 11. 1938)
10. Sales brochure
11. Book entitled, “Standard Cars – A practical guide to maintenance and repair covering all models from 1936”

In addition to servicing of the vehicle, during our custodianship we have:
1. Installed flashing festoon bulbs in the trafficators
2. Installed cast number plates
3. Replaced trafficator wiring
4. Installed a new battery
5. Sent the distributor off to Distributor Doctor for rebuild and recalibration
6. Had the dynamo rebuilt and the regulator converted to an electronic, steady state regulator (an invisible upgrade but better for battery management).
7. Carefully and painstakingly replaced the original floor with new, marine ply (coated in marine varnish), which should hopefully last another 80 years (again, invisible as it’s under the original carpets)!

Additional photos available for genuinely interested parties, upon request.