Standard (1912 automobile)

Standard, Standard Eight
1917 Standard Eight Touring Car
Overview
Manufacturer	Standard Steel Car Company
Production	1914–1923
Assembly	Butler, Pennsylvania

Standard Steel Car Company, whose primary business was railroad rolling stock, announced in the summer of 1913 that a new $2,000,000 factory was nearing completion for the production of automobiles. The first Standard was a six-cylinder which began limited production in early 1914. This was joined by an eight-cylinder in 1915.^[3] This was a 29-hp engine of 4.6-liters and was joined by a 34-hp V-8 in 1917.^[4] In 1918 both engines were replaced by a larger 5.2-liter V-8 of 70-hp.^[5] "Monarch of the Mountains" became a company slogan, later replaced with the tagline "A Powerful Car".^[2]^[1]

From 1917, only the 70-hp eight-cylinder cars were produced. All cars were given a twenty-five mile road test in the Butler area before distribution.^[2] In 1916 Standard Steel purchased the Model Gas Engine Company factory and assets to expand production.^[6]

Standard's best year was 1917 when about 2,300 cars were built. The standard Eight was initially a mid-priced car growing annually until by 1920, the lowest priced Standard Eight Touring Car was $3,000, (equivalent to $47,088 in 2024) with the limousine model luxury car priced at $4,300, equivalent to $67,493 in 2024.^[2]

The Post-World War I recession and Depression of 1920-21 hurt Standard Steel Car Company and in January 1921, bankers from New York joined Standard Steel, which included Don C. McCurd, formerly with American Mercedes, Flanders and Willys. In 1923 Standard Steel Car Company divested itself of any interest in the Standard automobile and McCurd reorganized the automobile division as the Standard Motor Car Company. McCurd announced the Standard Eight and a new lower priced four-cylinder model would be produced, but the four-cylinder never arrived, and the Standard Eight production ceased by year's end.^[2]

The factory in which Standard cars had been built was sold six years later and a new car called the American Austin was built there.^[2]^[1]