The Ensign was supposed to be the stripped-down, budget Vanguard. Instead it became the first Vanguard-based car to get a four-speed gearbox.
Lead trim: Ensign 1670 cc OHV four
Standard Ensign1957–1961
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Standard Ensign yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe Ensign was supposed to be the stripped-down, budget Vanguard. Instead it became the first Vanguard-based car to get a four-speed gearbox.
A basic model, the Standard Ensign, with a 1670 cc engine, was announced in October 1957, restyled by Michelotti: it shared its body with the Vanguard Series III but had a cheapened specification (mesh front grille, simplified instruments), and despite that was the first Vanguard-based car with a four-speed gearbox (floor-mounted, overdrive optional). Many were bought for company fleets and the armed forces; 18,852 were produced before production ceased in 1961, including 901 Mk II versions made only in 1961. In January 1960 a diesel Ensign was announced with the compact Perkins "P4C" 1.6-litre four (1622 cc), claimed output 43 bhp and "about 50 mpg". A 1958 Motor test of the 1670 cc car recorded 77.6 mph and 0-60 mph in 24.4 seconds.
Collectors Spotted in the Standard Ensign Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Standard Ensign yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ensign 1670 cc OHV four | 1957–1961 | 1.7 L Inline-4 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| Ensign Perkins P4C 1622 cc diesel four (43 bhp, 1960–1961) | 1960–1961 | 1.6 L Inline-4 | 43 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
The Ensign De Luxe was the last car of its kind: when the Triumph 2000 replaced it in 1963, the 60-year-old Standard marque vanished from Britain for good.
The Ensign was supposed to be the stripped-down, budget Vanguard. Instead it became the first Vanguard-based car to get a four-speed gearbox.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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