This 1951 Phase I Standard Vanguard still exists today. It was originally purchased by Mr George Hoult in 1953, probably from a dealer in Coventry. The car was kept and maintained by him until July 2002 when he finally gave up driving at the age of 90. When George died in December 2002, the car passed to his son Keith.
Keith's father bought the Vanguard when Keith was 12 years old. The only other car he owned throughout his life was a 1938 Standard flying 12, which he sold when he bought the Vanguard.
Keith's father had his own business in the Midlands with a lorry, initially a 1934 Morris Commercial 30cwt, for making deliveries. Except for holidays and an occasional Sunday evening trip out, he always used the lorry rather than the Vanguard! Keith remembers going to Coventry pot fair (about 10 miles from their house) with his brother and sister standing in the back of the lorry while the Vanguard stayed in the garage at home. Perhaps this is why the Vanguard only had an average annual mileage of 2,000!
Keith remembers cleaning and polishing the Vanguard on a frequent basis to earn a bit more pocket money, and in the late 1950s he learned to drive it.
One Sunday afternoon, Keith's father took him out for a driving lesson. The car was low on petrol so they called in at the first open filling-station they came to. In those days very few filling-stations were open on a Sunday afternoon. Self-service was not an option and the attendant's kiosk was located between the petrol pumps.
Keith pulled in to the forecourt, misjudged the width of the car, and buried the front wing in the attendant's kiosk! To Keith this was a disaster and he refused to drive the car again. His father, however, made him reverse the car out of the kiosk and continue the lesson after filling up with petrol. Keith may never have driven again if his father had not insisted.
Keith's father had a 22-foot caravan which was towed by the Vanguard from Coventry to Tenby (South Wales) every Easter, and fetched back in September or October. The first time Keith was allowed to drive the Vanguard/caravan combination, the outfit started swerving violently at about 20mph. "What shall I do?" screamed Keith. "Accelerate out of it!" said his father.
This soon had the desired effect but, as Keith slackened off, the outfit started to swerve violently again, but at a much faster speed! "What now?" Keith screamed. "Accelerate again!" was the reply. Keith did, and they settled down to snaking at 30mph.
This went on for quite some time and Keith was getting very worried about the outcome. He says, "I'll never know to this day how I sorted it out, but suddenly the whole combination of car and caravan (about 40 feet long) settled into a smooth comfortable ride, and I continued quite happily at about 40mph with no more problems."
In the 1950s, Keith's brother had a Vanguard van (registration number UOG 841) with a diesel engine fitted. One day his Father's lorry, a four ton FORD THAMES, broke down about 2 miles from home with practically a full load (around 5 to 6 tons deadweight). Keith's brother took his Vanguard van, hooked up the lorry with a tow chain and pulled it back home. Even though it was a reasonably level road with no severe inclines, it is still a remarkable feat.
Because of the cost of insurance, annual MOT and general maintenance, plus the fact that Keith is also interested in old motorcycles (he owns a 1955 BSA Golden Flash), he decided to sell the Vanguard to someone who would look after it. A retired gentleman who had owned a Phase 1 Vanguard when he met his wife, bought the car for nostalgic reasons and to re-live his youth!
Although Keith feels a little guilty about selling the car his father so much treasured, he is sure it was the best thing to do. If he had kept it, it would inevitably have had a major problem one day (as cars do if they are kept long enough), leading to massive bills or a totally scrap vehicle. And that would have been the end of another unique Vanguard.
Click on any of the pictures below for a larger version of Keith's 1951 Phase I Standard Vanguard.
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Home address of this page: http://www.johnw55.freeuk.com/vanguard
Page updated 22 July 2008