RAF truck? What is it?

[vanguardslive]

Thanks for the Vanguard pics, the pick up is very rare here.
I know the Vanguard was marketed in Canada. I know that it was not successful in USA. in fact a story that was related to me some years ago from someone who worked in a Standard Triumph Dealer in California was that they were sent 3 cars
(saloons/sedans) of 1953 model, along with a container of spares anticipating further sales. After some 6 months without a sale the instruction came to sell the cars at below cost and this man working there bought one for his wife as she found the 6 cylinder US cars too heavy. It was in a distinctive export colour of metallic graphite. He sent me a photo of the car with his wife at that time. The spares were tipped into the ocean, Oh IF ONLY WE HAD THEM NOW.

Now if you come across anything Standard or Triumph ATLAS, which was a forward control 12/15cwt van or pick up, a friend in Indiana has bought a van which was used in a Triumph dealership in Canada and is restoring it. I have sent him some spares from the UK, but if you know of anything suitable in the North Americas I know he would be over the moon.

Changing the subject we have just celebrated DRIVE IT DAY in the UK. This is a day which we try to get every road legal vehicle on the road for that one day to show the general public our vehicles and make them aware of out motoring heritage. Even cars not road legal were parked in front gardens. Many vehicles were just driven to museums, shops, parks, along the road, although many went to shows, including myself, with St George flags (Red cross on white background) or Union Flags flying. We have a body known as the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC)and represents the historic vehicle movement (inc Buses,commercials,motor cycles, steam engins, tractors etc)in the UK parliament and at European Parliament levels to ensure we have a right to the road as any other vehicle does.
More on this if you are interested, but does any other country have this type of day to celebrate the historic vehicle movement?

Regards vanguardslive

 

[Sherlock]

You said Standard/Triumph Atlas? I assume you're referring to John, he purchased that truck from a collector in Ontario, and also purchased a 1956 Vanguard from Ontario, and may have purchased another Vanguard/Ensign I believe (1959 vintage)

I've met John a couple of times when I lived out in Ontario, a rather interesting guy, who was <span style="font-style: italic">raiding</span> into Canada a little to purchase Vanguard's.

And there is one Standard/Triumph Atlas on the west coast of Canada (Victoria) in excellent shape! https://www.bcluv.austingipsy.net/standard.htm I assume you were aware of that example?

 

[vanguardslive]

Hi Sherlock, Yes that is the one. Have seen pics of the Victoria one also, looks great.

The home market Atlas only had a 948cc engine in so were only meant for town deliveries, but with the body capacity it was easy to overload and then they were not only difficult to get any power into, but also difficult to stop, and the body over hang made them top heavy, but it was the style at the time.
Later the 2136cc engine was fitted here (I believe a 2088cc was on export models) and that certainly helped the performance. I drove an Austin J2 van the day after I passed driving test at 18, and that was very similar to an Atlas, and although it had a 1600cc engine it was gutless when you put any weight in it.

Regards vanguardslive