The Standard Motor Company was once a leading company exporting Standard cars all over the world, in particular to Australia and India and was a favourite with Royalties around the world. Baden Powell exclusively drove Standard cars.
The Royal Navy ruled the waves in the thirties under the Ensign flag, Standard Motors joined in this patriotic euphoria by announcing their new model, the Standard Ensign.
Nick-named Dolly, she is the sole remaining Ensign of this model in the UK, a second Ensign recently being found in Sydney, Australia.
Dolly was built in 1930 and registered in 1931. There is a high probability that this car was specifically built to take the then King and Queen on a tour of the Standard workshops, explaining the high standard of build which includes leather seats, extra leg room in the back (for Royalty and Brides!) and a smooth six cylinder engine which can pull away at ten mph in top gear.
Dolly was fully restored in 1990 keeping as many of the original components as possible, this included restoring the body to her original colours.
Since she has been in our ownership all she has needed is a decoke, something that was done regularly in the thirties by most car owners.
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This quaint car was imported to Coventry from France in 1990. She was taken back to France to appear in Agatha Christie's 'Poirot' "Murder on the Links" in 1994 where she appears often throughout the programme.
This car can be described as one of the first true hatchbacks, the rear doors splitting in half allowing the upper door to lift and rest on the roof while the lower door folds down revealing a flat surface from which to serve your picnic.
The interior is in first class condition with comfortable upholstered seating and by rearranging the seats she can convert into a camper having a full length double bed!
She is only one of ten Citroen AC4's known in the UK and has been nick-named 'Ade ', short for Adelaide.
Since I brought her to Cornwall from Gloucester in September 2009 she has been prepared for her role as a wedding car and is proving to be very popular.
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