1926' Standard Park Lane Saloon

Standard 12/ 24 h. p. Car (rating 13. 9)
Park Lane saloon
Registration No RA402
Commission No 60685
Chassis series “V4”
Engine no 61611
Date of original registration 26. 08. 1926

This is a lovely and rare Standard Park Lane Saloon of 1926. It is the only known survivor of this model and is in superb condition. It has had a complete rebuild and a large file of receipts and correspondence come with the car. A lot of the mechanical work was done by the Cooke group, a long established and highly respected firm of vintage car restorers.
The engine is a four cylinder overhead valve unit. It has more power to weight than the somewhat sluggish side valve nines produced in great numbers in the twenties and thirties by the Standard Motor Company. The three speed gearbox has a gate change, the change lever and handbrake lever to the right of the driver. The accelerator pedal is central between the clutch and brake pedals. The clutch runs in oil and is very smooth. Final drive is by overhead worm. The handbrake is a transmission brake. All the friction dampers have been refurbished with new bushes and friction discs. A fishtail is fitted to the end of the exhaust pipe. Ignition is by magneto with the advance/ retard control and the hand throttle mounted on the steering column. Petrol supply is by gravity feed from the scuttle mounted tank to the Zenith updraught carburetter. The engine bay is all original, even down to the Whittle fan belt. There is an inboard on/ off petrol tap and a battery master switch. All the interior bright work is nickel plated, much having been recently renewed.
The top section of the horizontally split windscreen opens and is swept on the driver’s side by a nickel plated, Lucas, vacuum powered wiper. The chassis number or commission number as standard always called it, is stamped into the steering wheel centre.
The coachwork is particularly upright with a large overhanging roofline at the front. The artillery wheels are stove enamelled in black and are so easy to clean compared to spoked wheels. The tyres have deep treads, three of them being brand new. The spare wheel is carried at the rear. It, and the luggage rack, fold down to carry the large period trunk which comes with the car. Mounted on the offside running board is a 1926 “Pratts” petrol can with that rare attachment, the flexible delivery pipe. Also on the offside running board is a polished brass fire extinguisher. Mounted on the nearside running board is the battery, encased in a varnished wooden box.
The radiator has the characteristic shouldered shape which epitomises Standard cars of the nineteen twenties together with the Union Jack badge surmounted by the Ninth Roman Legion Standard mascot, the registered trade mark of the Standard Motor Company. The cooling matrix is of the gilled tube design, very vintage in appearance. There is a water pump which helps to ensure adequate cooling should you get caught in a traffic jam.
The interior has been completely renewed, as original, in buttoned, blue leather, dark blue carpets and light blue headlining. A period cigar lighter (not wired in), a parcels net, a rear window blind, rope pulls and an interior light complete the original fittings. The rear passengers’ footrest opens to reveal the accommodation of the large tools. The front seat backs also fold forwards to further allow access to the large tools. The small tools are accommodated under the seat of the front passenger.
The dashboard is really splendid with matching, nickel plated bezels to the instruments, new nickel plating to the instrument light, St Christopher plaque, indicator switch and electrical switches. A button on the dash actuates the “Clearhooters” electric horn. Under the bonnet a set of spare spark plugs are mounted on the firewall and also an oil tin. The tin is an original “Royal Snowdrift” brand. Like the car, a rarity.
The correct, original, painted headlights and sidelights are fitted at the front. The headlights have “Lucas Diffusa” lenses. At the rear diver’s helmet lams contain the tail and brake lights. Flashing indicators and red reflectors are fitted for safety. They are all fitted with LED bulbs so the dynamo easily copes with any demands made on it. All original wiring has been replaced. All the road springs are enclosed in leather gaiters.
The engine starts on the button and pulls well with the ignition fully advanced. The brakes pull evenly. Steering is easy once on the move.
The toolkit is close to complete as originally specified, the small tools are held in a lovely, period leather wrap. The car is complete with a near mint, original driver’s handbook which includes a fold-out chassis lubrication chart, an original parts book, an original wiring diagram, an early buff log book and a portfolio of documents relating to work carried out. There is a collection of photographic prints illustrating the “body-off” restoration..

This is a lovely example of a vintage car in superb condition with all its vintage features preserved.

£18, 500