The Standard Fourteen was a British car produced by the Standard Motor Company from 1945 to 1948. It was offered as a four-door saloon on a 100-inch wheelbase with a 1,776 cc side-valve four-cylinder engine, and drophead coupé and estate versions were also available.
Standard Fourteen at a glance
| Maker | Standard Motor Company, Coventry |
|---|---|
| Production | 1945–1948 |
| Bodies | four-door saloon, drophead coupé, estate |
| Wheelbase | 100 inches |
| Engine | 1,776 cc side-valve four-cylinder |
| Origin | modified pre-war 12 hp car with a 14 hp engine option |
| Visual difference | no bonnet louvres on the post-war model |
| Engine also used in | Jaguar 1½ Litre (Jaguar Mk IV) |
| Luggage | external folding bumper carrier |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Standard Fourteen. The article is short, so this page is shorter than usual.
History of the Standard Fourteen
A pre-war car with a bigger engine
The Fourteen was a modified pre-war 12 hp car fitted with a 14 hp engine option. The post-war model could be distinguished from its predecessor by the lack of bonnet louvres. Alongside the four-door saloon, Standard offered a drophead coupé and an estate car. The engine and transmission were also supplied to Jaguar for the 1½ Litre, retrospectively known as the Jaguar Mk IV.
Contemporary reception
Press reports praised the economy, smooth running, roominess and finish of the Fourteen. Luggage had to go on an external folding bumper carrier, which at the time was not unusual. The model was replaced in 1948 by the new post-war Vanguard design.
Design and features
- Four body styles: saloon, drophead coupé and estate were listed.
- 14 hp engine: a 1,776 cc side-valve four in a modified pre-war 12 hp chassis.
- Jaguar connection: the same engine and transmission were used in the Jaguar 1½ Litre.
- Smooth and economical: contemporary road tests praised its refinement and running costs.
Standard Fourteen versions
- Saloon: the standard four-door on the 100-inch wheelbase.
- Drophead coupé: open version of the same car.
- Estate: a load-carrying body offered alongside the saloon.
The Fourteen was replaced by the Standard Vanguard, while the small-car line continued with the Standard Eight. More cars are in the Standard collection.
Sources
- Standard Fourteen, English Wikipedia: production, bodies, engine, reception
