GRAHAM ROBSON
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Timeline
1. Raising the Standard 1903-1906
2. Standard and the Union Flag - building the brand 1906-1914
Interruption: World War One and airvraft 1914-1918
3. Vintage Standards 1919-1927
4. The First of the Nines 1927-1935
5. Flying Standards for all 1935-1940
6. World War Two - aereo engines and aircraft 1939-1945
7. The takeover os Thriumph, and after 1944-1946
8. Tractors, Banner Lane, and jet engines 1940-1959
Interlude: The BRM project - dabbling with Formula One
9. Vanguards, Renowns and Mayflowers 1947-1953
10. Eights, Tens, Triumph sports cars - and a new Vanguard 1953-1960
11. Triumph takes centre stage 1959-1960s
12 Leyland taker over - the final years
- Standard and SS - an important commercial link
- "works" rally cars in the 1950s
- Series-production petrol engine "family" dimensions
- Standard and Triumph model launches
- UK-produced Standard production models 1903-1963
- Production figures- year-on-year
- Index
Features
This is the first complete book to cover this marque
Standard was one of Britain's largest car-makers for many years
For years Standard was the largest motor industry employer in Coventry
Standard also rescued Triumph from oblivion in 1945
Standard produced tractors (more than 500,000) on behalf of Ferguson
Standard was one of the biggest contributors to Britain's WW2 efforts
The story is not merely technical, but financial too how did Standard stay afloat
Personalities and products are covered in equal measure
How/why Standard was gradually overshadowed by Triumph
How/why Standard was taken over by Leyland in 1961
Description
Starting with the original Standard prototype of 1903, this book covers the scores of Standard models built until the brand was discontinued in 1963 (Britain) and 1987 (India). It also covers the Ferguson tractor involvement, millitary aero-engine manufacture, military aircraft manufacturer (including Beaufighter and Mosquito fighter-bombers), Rolls-Royce Avon turbo-jet military engine manufacture, and Triumph cars.
Independent Reviews
"Too little seems to have been written about Standard over the years, but now prolific automotive writer and author Graham Robson has put that to rights with this definitive volume. Tracing the company's history from its earliest roots, Robson gives a thorough and in-depth account of not only vehicle production but also aero engine and aircraft manufacture."
The Caravan Club Magazine
"Starting with the original Standard prototype of 1903, this book covers the scores of Standard models built until the brand was discontinued in 1963 (Britain) and 1987 (India). It also covers the Ferguson tractor involvement, millitary aero-engine manufacture, military aircraft manufacturer (including Beaufighter and Mosquito fighterbombers), Rolls-Royce Avon turbo-jet military engine manufacture, and Triumph cars."
Startline
"You know you are in safe hands with a book thoroughly researched and written by my former colleague Graham Robson - and you are in doubly safe hands when the subject matter is anything to do with Standard/Triumph because the author actually worked in both the experimental and competition departments."
Big End
"This hardback is the first book to cover Coventry maker Standard, and chars its history from the start of last century until its takeover by British Leyland in 1963. From limited editions to mass-produced models such as the Ten and Vanguard, there's a huge amount of detail."
Auto Express
"Fair play to the hugely prolific Robson: this is a thoroughly researched and enlightening history of a marque that isn't exactly heartland Octane fareÂ
An interesting tale, told comprehensively."
Octane
"This book serves as not just a historical look back at a once-common make of car, but also the diverse uses to which a company's production facilities can be put at a country's hour(s) of need, in Standard's case during WW1 and WW2 alike."
