The Standard Motor Club will be presenting a remarkable cross-section of pre- and post-war Standard models, with a stand that celebrates engineering innovation, rare survivors, and living history. Visitors will be able to see cars at every stage of the journey – from long-restored classics to vehicles about to begin a brand-new restoration live at the show.

• Standard SLO (1921)
  The SLO name doesn’t stand for speed, but for Short wheelbase, Long stroke, Overhead valve – and it was the first Standard car to feature an overhead-valve engine. Last restored some 60 years ago (before many of the cars at the show were even built), this rare survivor will be starting a brand-new restoration live at the event.

• Standard Eight (1955)
  An example of the famously pared-back “Basic Eight”, launched in 1953. While the engine design was advanced (with derivatives later used in Triumph Herald, Spitfire, 1300 and Dolomite), the specification was delightfully spartan: no opening bootlid, a single wiper blade, no hubcaps, cloth seats, and no heater as standard.
  In 1995, the car appeared on Top Gear, presented at the time by the late Quentin Willson. His description of the car as “ditchwater dull” caused uproar among club members and even led to a protest letter appearing on Points of View. The story snowballed into national press coverage – one of the few occasions where a motoring presenter was left with egg on his face!

• Standard Flying 12 (1937)
  A factory prototype and believed to be the oldest known Flying 12 Drophead Coupé in existence. Originally offered by the factory to an engineering supplier in lieu of an unpaid debt, it was purchased by its current owners in 1983 and returned to the road in 2003 for the Standard Motor Company Centenary celebrations. A further restoration was completed in 2024.

• Standard Vanguard Estate (1952)
  Due to emerge from the workshop following major rectification work to the steering and front suspension, this Vanguard is intended to act as the club’s hardworking stand vehicle, transporting display furniture and equipment. If it’s not quite ready in time, a suitable alternative will step in.

Three of the four cars on the stand are believed to survive in single-figure numbers, making this an exceptionally rare opportunity to see them together. The only model existing in anything approaching larger numbers is the Standard Eight – and even that is now a scarce sight on UK roads.

For anyone with a love of early British motoring, unusual engineering, and true survivors, the Standard Motor Club stand is not to be missed.