HOW  IT  ALL  STARTED

My interest in Standard cars goes back to my early childhood when we lived out in the countryside between Coventry and Birmingham. My father worked for the Standard Motor Company for 47 years, having started as a Fitter at Canley Works in 1922. The site of the works is now occupied by a modern retail park!!

It was at this time that the Flying Standard range of cars ( Flying 9, Flying 8, and Flying 12 ) etc. were being introduced, and I was impressed by their “modern” styling, particularly the “waterfall” radiator grille with the Union Jack on top. And I said to myself  I’ll have one, one day.

While my main interest at this time was with the Flying range of cars, at the back of my mind were the pre-1930 cars, particularly the "Shouldered Radiator" models such as the Teignmouth and Selby.

When  W.W. II  broke out in 1939 father was transferred to aircraft production, at Ansty between Coventry and Leicester, working on final commissioning and testing of aircraft produced by the Standard Motor Company. The most famous of which was the Mosquito.

So, where are we now?

At this time father had a second-hand 1934 2door Standard Little 9, blue with black wings and registered KV 7350. Now Ansty was about 30 miles from our home and with no public transport father was given a petrol allowance for commuting. We also had a small allowance for private motoring, so on the rare occasions when father had a weekend off we would have a ride out into the countryside.

At the end of the War father was transferred to the Experimental Dept at Fletch North as a electrical fitter working on prototypes of new models. Consequently we were always up to date with what was happening at the “Standard”.

Well time kept passing by, I served my apprenticeship, did my National Service, got married, had a son, and moved to South Wales. But never got round to buying a “Flyer”. And then I had the opportunity to retire early and I thought to myself now I will!