Exhibit 23.1

               CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Standard Automotive Corporation
Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

      We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting a part of this
Registration  Statement  of our report dated June 3, 1997 (August 11, 1997 as to
Note 11,  November 7, 1997 as to the last  paragraph of Note 10 and December 10,
1997 as to Note 12), relating to the financial  statements of Ajax Manufacturing
Company which is contained in that Prospectus.

      We also consent to the reference to us under the caption  "Experts" in the
Prospectus.

                                               /s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
                                                BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
  
                                                Woodbridge, New Jersey
                                                January 21, 1998