The Avon sports cars were special-bodied versions of various Standard chassis. Based originally on a Standard Nine, devised by the Jensen brothers, the type achieved great popularity, resulting in the formation of a special company to produce the cars. The Avons were exceptionally good, low-priced sporting cars, appealing more to people who wanted a car that was sporty-looking without having the drawbacks of the pukka competition type.
All the cars used side-valve engines, and the quality of the coachwork was such that Avons generally managed to obtain awards in concours d'elegance events following rallies. The largest model produced was the 20-h.p. car, which bid fair at one time to rival the SS in popularity. Its sweeping lines and streamlined wings have been imitated by many designers. Typical of the open sports Avons was the Ten-Twelve Speed Model marketed around 1935. This car was powered by a four- cylinder 1,609-c.c. (69.5 x 106-mm.) side-valve engine, which was fitted with twin Solex carburetors and had a high-compression aluminum cylinder head. The sports-tourer ten had a 63.5 x 106-mm. (1343-c.c.) power unit, also with side valves. Many of the Avons had really fine closed bodies; the Continental drophead coupe was probably the most popular convertible type. |
