Blast from the past

I was contacted a few months ago about a "big, old" Standard Vanguard car that had been spotted in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape in the mid-50s. The person felt sure it was diesel powered — could that have been the case?

THERE is not a mainstream carmaker today – with the exception of Japanese manufacturer Subaru without a diesel model in its current line-up, but, in the early 1950s, that simply was not the case. Just about the only one you could buy was a Mercedes – and even then it was only available almost exclusively in Germany.

The Standard Motor Company launched one of its most famous and successful post-war models in 1947, the Vanguard. The Vanguard was a completely new design, its exterior styling being reminiscent of many contemporary U.S. saloons. The bold four-door body featured a distinctive, sloping rear boot lid and an attractive "wrap-around" grille.

The Vanguard was a four-door, body-on-frame design, which was soon joined by a station wagon. Styling was contemporary and pleasant, although the car's quick fastback treatment did appear a little stubby to some eyes. It had a horizontal bar grille, and an envelope body with fully integrated fenders. The rear wheels were exposed, but would soon be enclosed by removable "wheel spats" that gave the car more flowing lines.

Although the Vanguard still had a separate chassis the mechanical specifications was thoroughly modern and included all-synchromesh gears, front coil suspension and hydraulic brakes. Beneath the Vanguards bonnet sat an all-new four-cylinder petrol engine of 2088cc complete with overhead valves. A bench-type front seat with folding centre armrest would carry three people comfortably. The relatively short 2,388 mm wheelbase necessitated a between-the-wheels rear seat that could, in a squeeze, accommodate three passengers, although two were more comfortable. 

Britain’s first diesel car was born into this era, a ponderous, oil-burning version of the Standard Vanguard. Fitted to about 30,000 Ferguson* tractors, the two-litre lump of an engine necessitated a much stiffer chassis, while the four-speed gearbox got electric overdrive on second and top gears to help punt the car along.

Apart from being horribly noisy, the diesel Vanguard was tortoise-like – the wind would have to be in the right direction for the adventurous driver to beat 105km/h (65mph). Downhill! The clattering, smelly promise of 18km/litre (50mpg) persuaded the Port Talbot Steel Works in Wales to run a large fleet of them in and around South Wales, but the car only lasted for two years (1954-55) and was not replaced.

Overall the Vanguard was quite successful and sold well at home and abroad in the all important export markets. Production of the initial Phase I Vanguard ceased in 1952 after 184,799 units had been sold.

Whether any of the nearly 2,000 diesel versions manufactured made it over here and found its way to the Eastern Cape is impossible to say but I know of one that certainly made it through to New Zealand!

*Ferguson had arranged with Sir John Black, owner of the Standard Motor Co, to produce a tractor to his design. As the Standard Co. owned a factory at Banner Lane Coventry, which had been a shadow factory during the war, it was turned to tractor production in 1946, and the TE (Tractor England) was born. These were initially powered by a Continental petrol engine, until the engine that was being designed and made for the Standard Vanguard was in full production.