VPF 169 1954 Standard 10 Rear end view. Photo © P. Hetherington 24.06.06

Specification

VPF 169 is a very, very early example, and as such has some very rare features. This was really why I bought it - I'd never seen one like it before!

I got quite excited(!) when I saw the 'rear end' picture. The first thing I noticed was the petrol filler, which protrudes through the bodywork on this car, whereas on PCD 716 it comes through the wing. This was probably changed in early 1955; my guess is that they found that a leaking rubber grommet on the older version would allow rainwater or spilt petrol into the luggage space.

Next, the tail lights. PCD 716, like most Standard 10s, has three red lights at the back. The two tail lights are combined with the indicators (which flash a brighter red) and the centre light doubles as the single brake light. Now, the centre lamp here is clearly not red - the arrangement here is the same as on early Standard 8s, whereby the centre light is only a number plate lamp and the tail lights are combined with the brake lights. So what of the indicators? Well, the answer is... it has semaphore indicators, or trafficators if you prefer, which pop out from between the doors.

© P. Hetherington 24.06.06

I've seen many examples of Standard 8 fitted with semaphore indicators, as that model was in production from 1953, but I had never before seen a 10 with semaphores. But the first 2650 cars were built with them - and, unlike the 8, had an opening bootlid and wind-down windows - so this really is the 'holy grail' of Standard 10s as far as I'm concerned! Hence my excitement at seeing it, and hence my buying it!

One other 'rear end' difference between this car and PCD is the rear bumper. On this car it is a very close-fitting 'wrap-around' affair, whereas PCD has a much simpler arrangement which stands off the bodywork on some sturdy brackets. I wonder why they changed this?

The other thing that this car has which PCD doesn't have is a heater. These were an optional extra when new, although many cars have been fitted with them subsequently. It sits on the shelf at the back of the engine bay, as seen below:

© P. Hetherington 24.06.06

The other strange thing I noticed about VPF's engine bay is the position of the horn - it seems to be attached to the steering idler, out of shot in the above photograph. On PCD it is in the top front corner by the battery, and on later cars it was moved to about half way down the opposite side, so they really weren't sure where to put it, were they?

No doubt I'll find other interesting little quirks as time goes on!