Retro Stories by David Burrell
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The Standard 8 is one of those small 1950s British cars that sold in reasonable numbers, and was built in Australia, but is now largely forgotten.
In 1950, Standard-Triumph boss, Sir John Black, challenged his design and engineering teams to develop a modern small car. Black insisted the car be of unitary construction, priced less than its main competitors and deliver a reasonable profit.
And he got what he wanted.
Called the Standard 8, it was unveiled in late 1953 at the low, low UK price of £481, which undercut the Austin A30, Ford Anglia/Prefect and Morris Minor.
The 8’s engine was an all-new 803cc four-cylinder ohv unit linked to a four-speed gearbox. That put it on par with the Morris and A30, and well ahead of the side valve powered three speed Fords.
The 8’s styling was as modern as anything designed in the USA, and certainly looked more svelte than the Austin and the Minor. The interior was quite spacious for its size, beating the A30. No doubt about it, Black had a winner on price, space and engine technology.
But, to achieve the low price, the 8 came with cost-saving design compromises. For starters, no boot lid opening. Luggage had to be loaded through the back doors and into the boot via a fold-down rear seat back. Dealers were told to promote this as a way to prevent theft of luggage.
But wait, there’s more. No wind-down windows. Money was saved by using sliding glass, which resulted in reduced air flow. No grille, hub caps, passenger sun visor and windscreen wiper, either.
This car was basic.
These unappealing specifications overshadowed the car’s modern styling, interior space and the engine’s excellent performance and fuel consumption. In fact, the 8 quickly gained a reputation for being too cheap.
The company quickly recognised it needed a better equipped model, and so the 10 was released in March 1954. It boasted a bigger 948 cc engine, chromed grille and all the “extras” the 8 was missing.
To maintain buyer interest, Standard progressively expanded the range through the 1950s with a four-door station wagon, wind-up windows, a boot lid and partial automatic transmission called Standrive.
The Pennant was added in October 1957. Distinguished by a new grille, larger rear window and fins attached to its rear fenders, the Pennant sold alongside the 8 and 10.
The 8 and 10 were built in Australia in the 1950s. An 8 graced the cover of Wheels magazine (in the AMHF collection) in April 1954. Wheels listed the local price as £747, which compared to £806 for the Morris Minor, Austin A30 at £747, Ford Prefect asking £830 and VW Beetle’s £893.
Wheels road test of the 8 concluded:
“To sum up, we say the Standard Eight is a very comfortable family saloon in which no part of the mechanical specification has been skimped… on the debit side must go the austere interior finish and inadequate ventilation in hot weather.”
The 10 was even exported to the USA, where 18,000 Americans bought one.
The 8, 10 and Pennant were replaced by the new Herald model during 1959-60, at the same time as Standard-Triumph was absorbed into Leyland.
The success of this economy car always been overshadowed by Triumph’s more flamboyant models: the TR sports cars, 2000 sedans of the 1960s/70s and the Stag.
Their legacy is that they were simple transport, sold at a low price which allowed many people to buy their first new car.
And, Sir Stirling Moss raced a Standard 10 in the 1955 Sporting Life Trophy race at Oulton Park. He finished 2nd in class.
