Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
The Standard Vanguard Vignale Utility designed by Michelotti.
The Standard Vanguard Vignale Utility was a light commercial vehicle produced between 1958 and 1961 as part of the final generation of the Standard Vanguard series. It was derived from the Phase III Vanguard platform and featured revised styling executed by Carrozzeria Vignale of Turin under the direction of Giovanni Michelotti. The Utility variant was developed to serve markets with demand for dual-purpose vehicles combining passenger comfort and cargo capability, particularly in Commonwealth export markets. The vehicle retained a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and utilized the 2088 cc inline four-cylinder overhead-valve engine common to the Vanguard series. The engine produced approximately 68 horsepower at 4,200 revolutions per minute and was paired with a manual gearbox, offered in either a three-speed column-shift or four-speed floor-shift configuration. An overdrive unit was optional. The suspension system consisted of independent coil springs at the front and a live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear. Drum brakes were fitted to all four wheels. The body style was configured as a two-door coupé utility, with a fully enclosed cabin for two passengers and a rear load bed designed for light-duty transport. The Vignale restyling included a new front grille, modified lighting elements, and a more steeply raked windscreen. The overall design was intended to impart a more refined appearance than that of a typical utility vehicle. Interior fittings were basic but functional, featuring bench seating in synthetic trim, a simple dashboard layout, and standard heating equipment. Optional features included an AM radio and upgraded upholstery materials. The vehicle’s construction allowed for a moderate payload while preserving the comfort and driving characteristics associated with passenger car derivatives. Production of the Utility model was concentrated in Australia by Australian Motor Industries (AMI), with limited additional assembly and distribution in New Zealand. Total production numbers for the Utility variant remain unverified but constituted a minor portion of the overall Vanguard Phase III output. The Standard Vanguard Vignale Utility exemplifies post-war British automotive adaptation for export markets, incorporating Italian coachwork design into a platform intended for practical use. It remained in production until the phasing out of the Vanguard range and its eventual replacement by newer Standard and Triumph models.
The story of Carrozzeria Vignale represents one of the many somewhat forgotten success stories born against the backdrop of an Italy that was torn apart by the Second World War and which, starting from the end of the 1950s, was able to recover enough to know a real miracle. economical just a few years later.
