1947 flying 8

[trcountry]

I have a 1947 flying 8 that I found about 10 years ago and stored it in the back of my building.I usually work on tr's but I think I will work on this Standard if I can find some parts for it.I live in Canada so I assume this car is very rare over here.I might have to change to a more modern engine if I were to drive it on our roads because everyone seems to drive so fast I would never be able to keep up.Are there any parts available for these cars?...Gary

[Ian Leggett]

Hi Gary, It is going to be extremely difficult to source parts for this car. We as a Club cannot sell items to North America/Canada and there are few suppliers with items simply due to the small number of cars running. If the body is fairly solid then panel welding will be enough, the brakes are cable (Bendix) and these can be sourced from specialists. Suspension items and gasket sets etc are advertised on ebay. If the engine needs a rebuild we can direct you to a piston/bearings supplier. If you feel that a faster engine is desirable be aware that the brakes are not suitable for more the 45mph safely. They are a car with character and we have several in the UK/Ireland but they simply are a car to drive fairly slowly and enjoy. You will find trying to keep with fast traffic very hairy. Regards Ian.

[tinawalker]

Try looking in e bay regularly and you will occasionally come across parts for these cars advertised there such as pistons,big ends, gaskets, etc there was even a pair of front wings advertised recently. Also try andvertising in the club magazine for bits - I don't think there is any law against buyng things privately from a fellow member, as opposed to the problems of the product liabilities laws you have there. But "seek and you should find" .
They are nice cars though. Allow yourself plenty of time to get places with one. They will get you there all in their own good time - although avoiding the motorways/freeways might just be a good sound advice. Tina

[trcountry]

Thanks for the info...I have since found the chassis to be very weak in places so I was thinking of building a new one.Maybe update the suspension and brakes and use a Spitfire engine and gearbox that I have sitting here...at least the car would be more driveable over here....What do you think?...or should I leave the mechanicals original?...not sure what to do!...Gary

[Ian Leggett]

Why not make it a unique car which it certainly will be with a Spitfire engine. It will probably cost a fortune to restore to original so have some fun. WHAT HAVE I SAID? THE PURISTS WILL BE AFTER ME NOW. Regards Ian.

[trcountry]

Thanks Ian, I agree with the "purists" but better to make the car safe and driveable than have it sit in the garage.Our speedlimits on the highways over here are 100km which means some people drive at 120km,most at 130 and a few faster still.Can you imagine driving the Standard at 45 m.p.h. flat out? ..not me! So I think I will proceed with my plan.I'll keep everyone up to date as I move along.Does anyone have a grille and a emblem that fits on top of the grill?.Take care...Gary

[fussyoldfart]

Hi Gary,
Your 1947 Flying Eight sounds interesting. Where are you located? Are you a member of the British Saloon Car Club? I'm just beginning on a 1950 Vanguard here in the Niagara Region. Let's keep in touch.

Darrell McDonald

[tinawalker]

Hi a Spitfire engine in that may well make go like a rocket BUT- how would you stop the thing?? Before doing anything I would look very hard at how to increase to stoppers power. I regularly drive my two Standards on motorways and fast roads, always at about 50mph maximum,(for economy and to save some wear on the mechanicals), and have never come to grief, even with lorries and coaches passing at about 90+mph. The only thing that does wory me is the foreign drivers (and even some local ones) who have never ever seen a Standard before, coming to about 3 feet behind my rear to read the name on the back. That IS offputting, but apart from that most other drivers give me space. So really fear of driving on a motorway is more in the imagination than a real threat. OK a 1920s SLO or similar going down hill with a tailwind at all of 30mph might make things a bit hairy, but 45 to 50mph is not that bad. You must of-course NOT drive too close to the modern cars infront either, as their stoppers with discs and servos can out brake you by some way - so you do have to make an allowance for that.

Do you realise that the 8s body can be removed from the chasis for repairs, which I would feel was the better of the two options than trying to build a new one without a jig, and probably could be cheaper too in the end. Good luck with it. Tina

[P.Ging (1939 Std 8 Tourer)]

Gary,

I am the owner of a 1939 Standard Flying 8 Tourer. This would be the pre-war version of the Standard 8 and also 8 years older.

Our max speed limit on the motorway here in Dublin is 120 kph (75 mph) and I do mix it with the modern cars every so often. The max rated speed for the Standard Eight was 61/62 mph. I must admit that the day I purchased the car I hit this speed in trying to catch a ferry home to Ireland. However, when I do drive on the motorway I will travel at 50 mph (80kph)..... as much to get me off the motorway as quickly as possible..... if I want to fly ... I'll take a plane.

So I can do 50mph in my car which being pre-war has only 3 forward gears ... while yours has 4 forward gears.

However, the real joy in driving the car is taking the time to visit and view the countryside especially on the old roads.... and this cannot be done at high speed.

The original engine is a side-valve unit which itself has a noise/tune all of it's own. It would be a pity to lose that. People drawn by the outside view will be disappointed to see a 60's engine in the car... unless you are looking to make it a hot-rod.

Can I suggest that if you need to travel long distances to get to a show or to a place of interest, you buy a trailor (Standard is very light). This way you can mix it safely with the modern traffic on the motorway..... and still have a very unique car to show off when you get to your destination. This also gives you extended time as you can more easily travel in the dark. (Lights & indicators not suitable for modern speeds).

I think even over here (where the distances are not as great) we could all do with a trailor. The fun is not in getting to the area of interest but in being there and enjoying it at your leisure.

Best of luck.

Regards, Pat

[tinawalker]

;D Hi Pat, My sentiments entirely. Tina

[Ian Leggett]

Hi, Sorry to disagree (slightly) I get as much enjoyment from driving to the events as I do being there. That is why come rain (masses of it lately) wind (well over 50mph lately) I still drive my Standard as I did last Saturday on a 250 round trip in all those weathers. As the car purred along all day without missing a beat it had a pat (not you Pat) on the dashboard when I arrived home totally unstressed. No trailers for me ,not ever. Regards Ian.

[Tinaw]

OOH - I certainly didn't mean take it on a trailer but to drive it everywhere like I do with mine. Tina

[herald948]

Gary, there seem to be more than a few of these cars in and around North America. Just a month or two ago, I was contacted by someone else with a Standard 8 tourer. I have no sales figures at hand, but they were sold in Canada and at least in one or two major US cities (Fergus Motors in NYC was one such dealer).

The purist in me always likes to see such cars preserved in as original a form as possible, but the reality often isn't quite that easy. While a Spitfire motor might be overkill, a 948 or early 1147 Herald motor might be a decent compromise. Of course, you can save the original motor in case a future owner wants to return to original, but meanwhile you'll have something to enjoy on "quieter" roads.

[trcountry]

Hi Everyone,
Well that didn't take much to get everyone talking!....I might just use the original motor if I can get parts for it...then I also have a Morris Minor engine and transmission in the corner....lots to think about I guess.....does anyone have a workshop manual for this car?...Thanks,Gary

[trcountry]

Hello Darrell McDonald,
I live over by Caledonia a couple of miles out in the country.I also belong to the British Saloon Car Club. So we live about an hour or so away from each other...small world!
Gary Rosewell