In The Dark!!!

[frenchy]

Hi All ;D
I have been a Morris man for many years, but recently thinned out my 6 vehicles and have left myself with two commercials. 1 minor van and 1 Series Z van. Having just visited my wife's relatives in Norfolk, I have been tempted to buy a 1935 Standard 10 ( which is owned by a member of her family) and have decided to trawl the net to find out as much as I can about this vehicle.
It is in top condition, legal and is used for the odd wedding or two. It was fully restored in 1993 with hardly any use since. Can anyone give me some indication of it's value as I cannot seem to find a guide anywhere. It has been left to me to make an offer and I don't want to insult anyone. I will join the club if I buy it and probably part with my Morris vans. Any info would be appreciated. Many Many thanks, Colin

[Ian Leggett]

Hi Colin, Is this car in Watton by any chance?

From the way you describe it (and if it is the one in Watton some years back) think along the lines of £3,500. You certainly have a desirable car there and we would welcome you to the SMC.
I have maintenance books and owners handbooks for this car if they do not come with it.
Keep in touch. Regards Ian.

[frenchy]

Hi Ian,
I would say it's a small world and all that, but I suppose if you're interests are these cars then I guess you'll remember there rough locations around the globe. Yes you are spot on.... Green and black and been with it's owner for years. Surprised about the £3.5k mark, I was expecting 5+. Hopefully he will be thinking as you are.
Keep you updated.
Colin.
P.S. roughly how many of these 10's survived?

[Ian Leggett]

Hi Colin, I did a video involving that very car some(!0?) years ago and went for a ride in it. Yes it is a small world. Difficult to put an exact figure on the number that survive as not all are in the Club but a calculated guess is 200. They are a usable car with a fair performance (relative) and well built compared to similar looking Fords and Austins etc. The Webmaster of this site has a 1934 model so he can tell you all about them. Keep in touch. Regards Ian.

[webmaster]

There are not many differences between the '35 model 10 and my '34 10. Standard tended to make minor changes every year to make the model seem fresh at that years Motor Show. In this case, for 35 they pulled the steering box back along the chassis, which allowed them to alter the shape of the front wings, to a more "full" design. They changed the bonnet side slats but the body tub itself is the same. The only other change was a new set of instruments.


Ian's estimate of 200 surviving (of both types) is probably about right but the number that are roadworthy is less than 20. Like all Standards they are not as sought after as they ought to be, therefore the low prices and so many still to be rescued and restored. That situation is now starting to change as more people like yourself start to appreciate them. Get in now before the value rockets! The cars are over engineered and particularly reliable, if looked after and virtually nothing is bustable. Most mechanical parts are available from the Club, though you should not need much.

Heres a 34 Ten that was in auction recently
www.standardmotorclub.org.uk/cars/post_vintage/features/brighwells10.htm

You can spot the external differences and the fact there is very little rust on this 74 year old.

I won't make an estimate for the value of your intended purchase, never having seen your car, but you wont often park alongside another at shows, which is probably not what you find with your Morris fleet

Good luck with your purchase

Phil Homer

[Kentishphil]

Well the value of that WP registration No., for that Ten must have accounted for a fair bit of its value !!

[Ian Leggett]

Hi Phil, That is what I believe pushed the price so high. £2,000 for the plate, £800 for the car. Expect to see the car being resold for about £1500. Regards Ian.

[frenchy]

Thanks Ian & Webmaster,
Info is much appriecated, I am getting married this year and I want to use this Standard for the wedding. I then want to have a week driving it around the Channel Islands. ( I wish I could see the smiles on your face's,) should I join the AA !!!!!
After a full service, It's a trip from Dorking in Surrey to Southampton, across on the ferry, then on an Island with a 35 MPH speed limit, and the return trip. Should survive that, should'nt it? He says with crossed fingers.
Just a thought, Have these cars got heaters? Even though it's a summer wedding you know how chilly women can get, especially when you get locked out of your hotel cause your car BROKE DOWN. ( Don't seem to have much faith do I !!! ) maybe I have had to many MORRIS moments.
Heres hoping I can make a deal.
Again thanks for your help.
I will keep you updated and supplied with pics of the Standard in its wedding glory and a few black and whites from the Isles.
Regards
Colin

[Ian Leggett]

Hi Colin, If you insure with most classic car insurers you will get GREEN FLAG breakdown automatically. Always a wise precaution to have cover. These Standards are reliable but you never know what will happen, could be dirty fuel, could be a puncture Heaters, well I would not rely on them. let your love keep you warm. And perhaps a few blankets in case you get locked out.
Regards Ian.
ps if you want a good insurance contact ask me first.

[tinawalker]

;D Hi Colin, I just thought I would endorse what Ian has told you bout classic cars insurance, and to add a little. I have all three of my classics - Vanguard-Pennant-and a Triumph fWD 1300, insured with the 'Peter Best' Co. who place their insurance with the 'Eclesiastical' group. Each car costs just £65 a year for fully comp insurance, with agreed value insurance, (and if it gets 'killed' they will let you have the dead body back as well), and I get free Green Flag breakdown cover - including roadside or to home recovery. To get similar benefits from joining such as the AA, you can pay them anything up to about £100 or so for membership - annually, - depending on the depth of cover you opt for. I used to be with the AA for many years, until I found classic cars insurance would include it in the one premium - which you must admit is not a Kings Ramnsom. In the last 51 years of motoring I have only once had a ride home in an AA truck, and the car involved was not mine. I was just a pasenger in a classic car that had decided it didn't want to go to the place we wanted to go to. Of course there is no reason for you not to join the AA as well as having it with your classic cars insurance. The choice is yours on that. Although our cars if well maintained will not usually let you down, there is always the "What if" factor which you can hardly ever forsee. Good luck. Tina

[frenchy]

Hiya Ian And Tina.
Thanks for the info on the insurance's, If my offer for the vehicle is accepted I will be in touch with you both. Ian, I remember the owner stating he did not have any maintenance books or owners handbooks for it, so again if I become it's next owner I will be in touch.
I have taken on board what you think it is worth and I think this is where the problems might start. When I inspected the car last week the owner stated he expects to get around £5000 for it, maybe I was being to entusiastic about it and hopefully he was just trying it on. Mind, thinking about it, I still find it hard to place it's true value at around £3500.
I remember odd things which need attention, like bonnet centre crome strip rusting, the cromework on the grill and headlights were a bit dull, a inner window surround cap rusting and the odd piece of finishing strip around the inner door frames peeling back. But all in all nothing to serious. Unfortunatly at the time I viewed the car, I did not view it as a purchase. It was just general interest so I did not go over it to much. It was only after we left the in-laws ( complete with a photo of the car ) that I realised how much I liked it.
Since this tread started I have come to realise how rare this car is and being one for over engineered rare vehicles ( mainly heavy commercials ) I've decided I really want this car, plus I feel if I need some help with it at a later date, you guys (and girls) won't let me down.
I'll keep you updated
Thanks. Colin

[Ian Leggett]

Hi Colin, These cars are worth more than they normally get at sale. But take a look at adverts when they appear in Classic Car Weekly or Practical Classics etc. A typical 1930s Austin/Morris /Ford etc will normally be £1000+ more than a similar condition Standard. It is perception, not the quality or the rarity that does this. How many times do you see articles on Standards in the main publications? Answer. Very Few.. Therefore a lot of people about to enter the Classic car world often pass them buy. There are few companies who can supply spares for Standards, unlike those other makes.,and that is why the Club holds such a good stock .
It makes it good from a first time buyer perspective (a lot for your money) but they do not appreciate in value like some other makes so when it comes to sell, not so good. Many of us have had our cars for 20+ years so it does not matter, we just enjoy them.
Hope that helps explain a bit on values.
Regarding the sellers comment about £5,000. I doubt whether you will see one of those going for anything like that regardless on concours condition, even from a dealer who will aim to make a profit. I stand by £3,500, but having been in the car and know it , it could possibly command up to £4,000. All these prices are "in the eye of the beholder". There is no price guide as such.
There is a company in Ipswich area who advertise ,"Classic Assessments", and Brian Page who runs it is an expert in valuing. It will cost but may be a way of satisfying both parties.
There are simple solutions to some of the flaws you mention ie the chrome bonnet strip. They are the same as a MG TC so are available. What I would be concerned about is the tyres. If the car has sat for 6 years, and how long before were they put on? They will not have done high miles but we are finding that old tyres will start breaking up when used regularly after standing around for a long period. You mention going to the Channel Islands. I would change the tyres before that. (Saves calling out Green Flag) Regards Ian.
ps. I have maintenance books, adverts, laminated prints, and period books of reprints of road tests on that car and other Standard models of that era.,

[frenchy]

Hi Ian and All.
Well it looks like I will NOT become the new owner of this 35 10. I made my offer of £3500 and after 3 days of consideration I telephoned to see what his decision was. I did explain that I had been advised by the Standard club and that £3500 was around the going rate, but his answer was NO. He wants £5000. I really wanted this vehicle so I raised my offer to £4000 and still he refused stating He would not go below £5000 and infact told me that it was infact worth MORE than 5k and that I was getting a good deal. So this seems to be the end of this saga!!!!
Suppose I will have to stick with my Morris Vans, But I don`t think I'll be using them for the wedding.
If anyone out there who is reading this and is considering selling their 1930's standard 4 door car, please email me ASAP as I am now looking at other makes. (it must be in wedding use condition)
Thanks for all your help and hopefully we will be talking at a later date.
All the best
Colin French. ( Dorking, Surrey.)
Email me at: [e-mail]

[Ian Leggett]

Hi Colin, Sorry to hear that the sale will not go through. We hear these tales regularly of cars left to sit unused for years and the owner expecting each year to get a better price based on age.
Last year we had that with a Vanguard, ILLUSIONS, or was it DELUSIONS. Anyway all he got was £40 which was the scrap value as it had rotted so much. If anything comes along will let you know. Regards Ian

[Kentishphil]

hi

What is a Vanguard Illusions, Ian

I have never heard of this type ! or do you mean the owner has a Illusion of perhaps a delusion