Something about the car...

The Triumph Herald was launched  in 1959, replacing the "ditch water dull" Standard Eight.  The Herald was to be the first of a big family of saloons (sedans) and sports cars that sold well for more than ten years.  In 1959 the car was available as a saloon, coupé and convertible.

In 1957 Standard-Triumph was looking to design a conventional replacement for the Standard Eight, to use the same running gear, but could find no supply of unitary construction body shells.  They took the decision to revert back to traditional separate chassis construction.

The team leader Harry Webster hired a talented young Italian designer, Giovanni Michelotti, to style the car.  This he did with flair and nerve, a radical departure from the old Standard Eight and disastrously styled prototype "Zobo".

When launched the Heralds performed well when compared to the competition in their class, they were reliable (two were in fact driven from Cape Town to Paris to prove the point) and had all round independent suspension, something of a novelty in 1959.  It was however the styling that really made them stand out.  

They were not without their problems though, the early 948cc cars were a little heavy and performed less well than their looks promised.

In 1961 the Herald 1200 was launched, with a 1147cc engine, channeling an earth shattering 48bhp into the drive shaft and propelling the car to a decent 80mph (128kph), 0-60 in 23 seconds.  The 1200 also introduced the Herald estate (station wagon).

The 1200 was followed in 1964 by the 12/50, available as saloon with sunshine roof only.

In 1967 came the 13/60 with a radically re-styled front end, closely following the lines of the Herald's big brother, the Vitesse.  The 13/60 increased the top speed to 85mph and cut the 0-60 time to 17 seconds.  Like the 1200, the new Herald was available as saloon, estate and convertible, but the coupé had disappeared.  The 13/60 was manufactured up until 1971 when the Herald ceased production. 

Not content with a respectable production run of its own, the Herald also spawned a number of off-spring;

  • The Triumph Vitesse (1962 - 1971)
    At its most powerful a Herald chassis and restyled body with a 1998cc / 95bhp engine and top speed of over 100mph.
    Also known as the Triumph Sports 6 in the US.
     
  • The Triumph Spitfire (1962 - 1980)
    A rival for the MGB, this spirited little sports car lasted for an eighteen year production run, all on a shortened Herald chassis.
     
  • The Triumph GT6 (1966 - 1973)
    A sporty fastback with similar looks to the Spitfire, also based on the Herald Chassis.
     
  • The Triumph Courier Van (1962 - 1964)
    A Herald in van form, the Courier was not a great success, mainly due to a price tag that was just too high.
     
  • The Standard Gazel (1971 - 1977)
    The Herald modified and simplified for the Indian market by a long lost relative/subsidiary of the Standard-Triumph company.  Alleged to be India's first "home grown" car in concept and construction.

Perhaps the most bizarre Herald relation is the quirky and truly unbelievable Amphicar.  This German vehicle was as happy in the water as it was on the road, with both land and nautical miles powered by a rear mounted Herald 1200 engine.  It could manage 70mph on dry land and 7mph in water.   
Produced between 1961 and 1968 just under 4,000 were built and sold for between $2,800 and $3,300US.  
More details at www.amphicar.com

 

Things people always tell you about Heralds...

Oh, and of course there's the turning circle, you can't describe the Herald without mentioning that it has the tightest turning circle of any production car... but be careful about going around corners at speed, the rear swing axels can lead to an unpredictable turn.  In the 60s motoring magazines would print pictures of Heralds on their roofs in ditches, with headlines such as "Hark the Herald axels swing".  The car is not inherently unstable, in fact you have to be something of an idiot to throw it off balance, but put some people in a sporty feeling little car and the results are all too predictable!

 

Production History...

Herald 948 Saloon 
Produced from March 1959 to June 1961 
Total built : 76,860 
Chassis numbers G1DL to G73751DL 

Herald 948 Coupé 
Produced from March 1959 to June 1961 
Total built : 15,153 
Chassis numbers Y1 to Y23428 

Herald 948 Convertible 
Produced from March 1959 to June 1961 
Total built : 8,262 
Chassis numbers Y1 to Y23428 

Herald 1200 Saloon 
Produced from February 1961 to December 1970 
Total built : 201,142 
Chassis numbers GA1DL to GA249873DL 

Herald 1200 Coupé
Produced from February 1961 to October 1964
Total built : 5,319
Chassis numbers GA609CP to GA162103CP

Herald 1200 Convertible
Produced from February 1961 to September 1967
Total built : 43,295
Chassis numbers GA266CV to GA234868CV

Herald 1200 Estate
Produced from March 1961 to September 1967
Total built : 39,819
Chassis numbers GA4414SC to GA234990SC

Courier Van
Produced from February 1962 to October 1964
Total built : 5,136
Chassis numbers GA44651V to GA163205V

Herald 12/50 Saloon
Produced from December 1962 to Sept 1967
Total built : 53,267
Chassis numbers GD1RS to GD55689RS

Herald 13/60 Saloon
Produced from Aug 1967 to December 1970
Total built : 40,433
Chassis numbers GE1DL to GE78335DL

Herald 13/60 Convertible
Produced from August 1967 to September 1971
Total built : 15,467
Chassis numbers GE5CV to GE83432CV

Herald 13/60 Estate
Produced from August 1967 to September 1971
Total built : 11,172
Chassis numbers GE4SC to GE83433SC

TOTAL : 515,325 vehicles built