In 1956, the Suez Canal Crisis spiked gasoline prices, particularly in Britain, but throughout Europe. In Britain, gasoline was rationed. This sobering experience galvanized auto companies: the drawing boards came out and small, fuel-chintzy cars took shape at BMC, Standard Triumph, and Ford Europe. Triumph’s entry – penned by Giovanni Michelotti – was the Herald, a body-on-frame saloon powered by a tiny 948 cc four-cylinder and designed to accommodate four. A coupe was also available. Most of its parts came from the Standard bin, but the sheet metal was new and buyers responded well. Later, a van and a convertible were introduced. An engine upgrade in 1961 to 1147 ccs boosted output; christened the 1200, these Heralds are the sweet spot for many collectors. Here on craigslist is a 1962 Herald convertible in not-so-mellow-yellow, looking for a new home. The price is $3800 and the car is located in Farmingville, Long Island, New York. Thanks to Roger for finding this cheerful Brit!
The 1147 cc engine managed 39 hp breathing through a single Solex carburetor. Gears shift via a four-speed manual; there was no overdrive option. Rack and pinion steering, an independent front suspension with swing axles in the rear, and optional disc brakes for the front round out the mechanical profile. Top speed was about 70 mph. The car has a very short turning radius, and while handy in the curves, you’ll want to watch those swing axles at speed around the corners! The seller notes that his car does run and drive.
The interior is… bold! That said, it’s tidy, and while I don’t care for the steering wheel, that’s what you do when it’s hard to fit into your small British roadster – install a small-diameter, dished wheel. Early Heralds made do with a plain black dash but in 1961 with the advent of the 1200, buyers enjoyed a wood laminate instrument panel, a feature usually reserved for finer cars.
The sharp-edged lines of the Herald were fashionable in the day – with Ford’s Anglia and Citroën’s Ami among the more extreme. Note that these bumpers have been painted black – the original finish would have been white rubber. The seller mentions rust in the body (certainly the sills are infected) but the frame is said to be solid. Though Standard Triumph aimed to export the Herald to the US, the model wasn’t popular here. Our long highways and vast distances were not well suited for an engine barely capable of 40 hp. That said, over half a million Herald variants were sold through 1971. Someone spent a lot of time crafting this Herald; here’s hoping it finds a sympathetic home.
Actually, the Herald was a popular car, I remember several. We must remember, inn the early 60s, small cars were slim pickens. Renault, Opel, maybe a Fiat, Minis never really caught on, I guess Americans didn’t want a car designed like a top hat, the Herald was a logical choice. Even my old man had one,,that’s right, it wasn’t a coupe, the regular hardtop. Not sure how he got it, it was so unusual seeing him actually driving it, so out of place. I remember sitting on the front tire changing plugs, and was a pretty cheap car. Dad didn’t have it long. Performance was not its strong point, with a 0-60 time of 31.1 seconds, 1/4 mile, never made it, and an alleged top speed of 70, clearly not made for our use,,at the time, that is, but then, in true British logic, what’s all the rush about? Great find.
Thanks for the story Howard. The car was actually not popular in the US. Out of half a million sold worldwide, only 23,206 managed to make it here (ref. Graham Robson), in fact Triumph didn’t even bother to bring the 12/50 over at all. Exports of coupes to the US were terminated long before the body style. The last hurrah here was not a Herald at all – it was the Sport Six, aka Vitesse. The failure of Standard Triumph to export successfully into the US – thereby earning USD for the Brits – drove it into the arms of British Leyland where it was passed around from division to division, underperforming financially the whole time. About 80k TR6s were sold into the US, against over 300k MGBs. Don’t think for a minute I don’t love Triumphs – I have a few – but let’s not kid ourselves about their overall popularity.
My dad had a Triumph Herald vert that was baby blue. It was shipped to Clark USAF PI and a couple years later traded in on a Chevelle.
These were fun little cars. I rarely see them these days other than British car shows.
Good luck with sale.
These do make quite fun top-down cruisers, though as noted by others here, not if you are in a big hurry. it would suit an urban/suburban, or quiet back-roads environment, but not for the open highway really. Unlike the contemporary Spitfires/MGs it even has a back seat, though really only sized for kids.
Performance-wise, as this car shares much of its underpinnings with the Spitfire, it’s not hard to subtly swap in one of the 1296 or 1493cc engines, to get a more useful 50-70 hp (depending on tuning/mods) the later Heralds had the 1296cc motor also I believe – though I think you’d need to be careful how much power you add before you overwhelm the chassis/brakes, before anyone shouts “drop a SBC in there”.
If I were looking for a Herald, I think I’d keep looking past this one. I’m not a stickler for 100% originality, but this one has been a bit messed about with, and the rust would be a worry
There’s also Dolomites and Toledos as parts sources, although I don’t know whether they made is over to America.
My first European car, but a paler Yellow and a White top, SU carbs – not real fast, but on CA 1, North of the GG Bridge, it was quick enough. Fun little car.
ruined
The color is not my cup of Earl Grey (hot_) but I live at the southern end of the Driftless Area with plenty of twisty hilly roads. For under 4k it would be a fun summer cruiser.
All the elements of a fun little cruiser. Something you can run flat out, all the time. Like others have said, don’t try to mix with faster heavier traffic.
As they say: “It’s more fun to drive a slow car fast, then to drive a fast car slow”
I remember seeing one of these in an old episode of “THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES”.
I didn’t know what it was but was intrigued by its unusual style. I was probably about 14 at the time and starting to get interest in cars. But like most of my then friends Corvette was the only car worth talking about.
Those were the days my friends.
God Bless America
Largely a 4-seat version of the Spitfire. As I recall, the “Spit” had a solid rear axle which, if grafted in, would likely give more predictable handling than the swing axles. Also, in the past, Triumph supported the Spitfire with an entire catalogue of speed parts and modifications to the engines to provide substantially more power from the asthmatic engines.
Back in the mid to late 70’s I belonged to the local Triumph Register club with my 58 TR3. A couple of enthusiasts had Heralds. This one seems to be a deal, much less than TR now days. Check the rust but not much in photos. Don’t need to worry about being seen, at least in the day.
This car needs to be bought by a person that lives in one of your dry, dry, dry states and then undo a couple of bolts in the trunk, take the sun visors off, remove the hard-top and you have an instant convertible! Been there, done that, in Durban, South Africa. The day after I took the roof off I drove it up to my classic car club while sitting on my sheep skin seat covers. Much later, and after a heavy shower of rain, I remembered about my removing the roof! The seat covers were saturated, as were the floor pans but being as it was still raining slightly I just jumped in and drove it the 15 miles home. Wonderful, fun experience!
Anyone else remember that Spitfire song? –
“HARK!,THE HERALD AXLES SWING!”
Aye. Pal of mine put a GT6 backwards into a ditch with me and my then girlfriend in the back seat.
My younger brother had one of these, and beat it unmercifully like a high school senior is want to do. The car arrived in April of that year and lasted until the end of August. The final straw was a road trip to New York.
I actually went to look at this one two weeks ago, it was originally on eBay and barely made reserve but buyers kept backing out. The pictures are fairly old and the rust is pretty severe, it will need new outriggers and potentially an overhaul for the engine. I only saw 35 psi at idle (although it did sound fairly healthy for a car sitting). I wanted it for round headlight rally but the quotes I got to repair the outriggers were more than this asking price. Seller was a great guy and was also the owner of that Alfa that was listed on eBay a few weeks ago.
Thanks to Top Gear I can’t picture a Triumph Herald without a mast and a sail.
would buy this car at asking price right now but I,m in Montreal and importing can be a pain. Also couldn,t make contact through Craigs list. I,m resoring another one right now but would like this one as a runner.