The Flying Eight, the smallest member of the Standard Flying family, was launched by the Standard Motor Co Ltd in late September 1938, ahead of the 1938 Motor Show. It marked Standard's first entry into the 8 hp market. The chassis frame was new, featuring box section longitudinals and independent front suspension (IFS) by a transverse leaf spring, making it the first British 8 hp family car to include IFS. The engine was a development of the previous Flying Nine/Ten, with a counterbalanced crankshaft and an aluminium cylinder head. Its bore was reduced to 57 mm to fit the 8 hp class, while the stroke remained 100 mm, resulting in a 1,021 cc swept volume and a maximum power of 31 bhp at 4,000 rpm. It used a 3-speed gearbox and Bendix mechanical brakes.
At its launch, two versions were available: a two-door all-steel saloon and a 2/4-seat open tourer. Fisher & Ludlow built the saloon bodies at Tile Hill, Coventry, while Carbodies at Holyhead Road, Coventry, built the open tourer bodies, which featured cut-down door tops and a fold-flat windscreen. Around late 1938 or early 1939, a drophead coupe became available, with bodies built by Mulliners of Birmingham.
Series production of saloons at Standard's Canley plant began in early September 1938. Approximately 23,069 home market (RHD) saloons were assembled by the end of August 1939. Around 1,500 home market open tourers were produced, with assembly starting in early November 1938 and continuing until about July 1939. Fewer than 1,000 drophead coupes were made, with only one batch of 500 identified. 550 left-hand drive (LHD) completely knocked down (CKD) sets were supplied to Denmark for assembly by Bohnstedt-Petersen AS, consisting of 500 saloons and 50 open tourers. CKD sets were also supplied to Australia and assembled by Mortlocks of Perth, using locally built bodies by Richards for open tourers. Production at Standard's Canley plant continued into early 1940, with the highest known chassis number being 33433, registered on July 11, 1940. The Glass Guide quotes 34,601 as the final pre-war chassis number.
The Autocar magazine road tested the saloon on September 30, 1938, and the drophead on May 26, 1939. Both achieved top speeds close to 62 mph (100 km/h). The saloon accelerated from 0–50 mph in 26.2 seconds, while the drophead, being 57 lb (26 kg) lighter, did so in 25.3 seconds.
Prices for the pre-war models were £125 for the tourer, £129 for the saloon, £139 for the saloon de luxe, and £159 for the drophead.
After the Second World War, the 8 hp model, without the "Flying" name, was rapidly re-introduced, with the first models appearing within ten days of VE Day. It is sometimes referred to as the Standard 4/8A. The main update from the pre-war model was the inclusion of a 4-speed gearbox. The cylinder bore was reduced to 56.7 mm, resulting in a 1,009 cc swept volume and a tax horsepower rating of 7.98. Maximum power was quoted at 28 bhp at 4,000 rpm. Visual differentiation from the pre-war Flying Eight was provided by the absence of bonnet louvres. The pre-war tourer body by Carbodies was replaced by a new tourer body in the form of a simplified drophead coupe, featuring cut-down door tops, detachable sidescreens, and a fixed windscreen frame. Estate cars were produced only in 1948 and were not generally available for sale.
Standard positioned the 8 hp against rivals such as the Austin 8 and Morris Eight, pricing it at £314. After this version was phased out, Standard-Triumph's next small car was the Triumph Mayflower. A new Standard Eight was launched only after the Mayflower failed to meet its sales targets.
The 1953 Eight was a completely new car, featuring unit construction and the new Standard SC overhead valve engine. It was offered exclusively as a 4-door saloon. The 803 cc overhead valve engine initially produced 26 bhp at 4500 rpm, which was increased to 30 bhp at 5000 rpm in 1957. A 4-speed gearbox, with synchromesh on the top three ratios, was available with optional overdrive from March 1957. Girling hydraulic drum brakes were fitted.
To maintain low prices at launch, the car was very basic, featuring sliding windows, a single windscreen wiper, and no external boot lid. Access to the boot was achieved by folding down the rear seat, which had a divided backrest. The 1954 De luxe model introduced wind-up windows, and the 1957 Gold Star model included an opening boot lid. By mid-1955, all Eights were equipped with wind-up windows. At launch, the car cost £481, including taxes, on the home market.
An example tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 achieved a top speed of 61 mph (98 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–50 mph (80 km/h) in 26.5 seconds. A fuel consumption of 43 miles per imperial gallon (6.6 L/100 km; 36 mpg‑US) was recorded.
The Standard Ten, introduced in 1954, shared the bodyshell and running gear with the Eight and continued production until 1961, outlasting the Eight.
The Standard Eight was replaced in 1959 by the Triumph Herald, which utilized a slightly enlarged version of the same engine.
A Standard 4/8A Tourer is driven by the main characters in the 1951 film, The Man from Planet X.
Gallery · 3 related images
