My very first car was a 1970 Triumph Herald 13/60. I loved it. I paid £500 for it, which was a fair amount back in the day. I sold it 18 months later for £550. It never let me down in many thousands of miles. They handled like a dream, easy to get the back end out.
When Michelotti designed the Herald for Standard-Triumph, it was intended for the car to be a monocoque, but it's body panel supplier (Fisher & Ludlow) had been swallowed by BMC (Austin-Morris), who decided it couldn't supply it's rival with the more innovative structual shell design. But that meant the car needed a chassis, which allowed Triumph to have the clam-shell front end and tight turning circle. It also enabled them to use the chassis (modified) for the Spitfire & GT6 as well as supplying it for the Bond Equipe.
That Herald is a 13/60 in a fetching shade of Valencia Blue which is a typical 1960s colour. It has a Stromberg carburettor and the Triumph 1300 has the exact same engine. You mispronounced Michelotti's surname slightly wrong. The first part is pronounced like "mick". Don't worry about it, I used to do the same myself. There was also a coupe body style (very rare and I know of one locally that has appeared in magazine articles) and the very early Heralds had a 948cc engine as used in the Standard 10. The 948 Heralds were underpowered so Standard Triumph started developing a replacement which became the Triumph 1300.
Stef I love your channel and thought you might be interested to know that there's a white triumph stag just parked up in the corner of the yard at swiftys garage in Stanley Square in Stalybridge love - he tells me that it was brought in by a customer years ago who never returned!! - it's now in dire need of restoration and I don't know if the owner is ever planning on returning (might have even died by now)!! - maybe you could take a look and put old swifty on the map eh cos it's well worth a look and looks all original from the seventies!!
That's one of my favourite cars for sure 👌 always liked the Herald . Also the first car I ever had anything to do with at 14 years old I had one while studying "Motor vehicles studies" that was the start for me ,best car ever to work on 👍 😁
My Dad persuaded my Mum to get one, thinking of the growing kids, sadly she hated it and only kept if for a few months in the early 70s. She went back to her MGBs, which meant my Dads cars were the family cars exclusivly after that.
Back in the 60's my uncle ran his own driving school for years in East Kilbride Scotland and always depended on Triumph Heralds which we're his favourite up until the last few years. Recently saw one at a local car show here in Canada....only the 2nd or 3rd ever. Thanks for taking us along again! 😎
My Dad had one of these and it took a family of four on camping holidays, complete with trailer. This was quite a challenge as it wasn't remotely roomy. Like all cars of the period it was a dreadful rot box but the design made it easily repairable by anyone who could do a bit of welding ; I seem to remember that the sills were nearly always replaced by fiberglass ones after a few years. I'm not sure what those white bumpers were made of but it rubbed off on your clothes if you brushed against them. It was eventually sold to a new driver in 1979 when it was 10 years old and we had definitely outgrown it. My dad was sad to see it go because it was obvious even then that it was a future classic; if he had had somewhere to store it away he would have done. Sure enough, by the late 80s there seemed to be a sudden surge of Heralds and Vitesses on the road when they became trendy. I'm not sure where they had come from but maybe people had the foresight to store them. I may be wrong but I think quite a few convertibles didn't begin that way but had the roofs removed to make them more desirable. Interestingly, there was an Indian version, called the Standard Gazel, made for years after the Herald had ended production. I'll stop rambling now but thanks for bringing back childhood memories.
George has got a lovely Herald there, very nice car in a beautiful design. The Herald's turning circle is pretty impressive as well. Thanks for another lovely video Steph.
I absolutely love the look of this 13/60, particularly in this colour. Not surprised they were used by a lot of driving schools, the visibility looks really impressive.
Great review 😉 I’ve had three Herlads… 1200 saloon, 12/50, 13/60 convertible - my favourite was the 12/50 with the Wabasto sunroof in Valencia👌 (Your 13/60 above has a Stromberg carburettor though… not an SU as the chap states)
The Triumph Herald was a great car to drive and very easy to work on with it having a lift up bonnet by releasing the two locks on each side of the car. The Herald was the second car I owned after previously having a 1964 Austin Mini which I really loved driving. Because I bought my Herald 2nd hand it had a lot of mechanical issues on it so traded it in for a Morris 1100 four door car. The Morris 1100 was good for me because the military also used them and I was able to exchange parts easily if I needed them. I was at the time serving in the RAF and my alternator packed up and a friend of mine in the Motor Transport section at the base I was on put a brand new one in for me on an exchange basis, it's the only time I did this however but it at the time saved me a lot of money.
Steph, you are just SO DAMNED ADORABLE! The CUTE just never stops! (You forgot to mention that the 60s German Amphicar was powered by a Herald engine).
Triumphs especially six cylinder models are just about the most tactile driving experience one can get. Far superior and faster point to point, than any thing else I have driven in that respect. I did very long distances in Aus in Triumphs often at over 160 KPH, BR. Before radar. It is torque coming in at low revs along with simple artistic dash boards, that give older cars that special feeling and makes them a joy to drive. You are one lucky lady.
Great video, Steph. What a gorgeous car. When I was in grade school, so 1966-74, the librarian had a Triumph in lavender and white. I think it was a Herald, although my memory is telling me it had the 4 headlamps of a Vitesse. Either way, I loved the style of it. Michelotte got the proportions and details spot on, and that wood dash was always a winner. I've always been such a sucker for a wood dash I am considering making one to fit my 1990 Volvo. Great trip down memory lane.
Thanks for the Herald 13/60 review. You mentioned the skinny body of the car and accidents: I had a 1963 Herald 1200 convertible which ended up 2 feet shorter in 1968, when someone drove out of a side road onto a three-lane major road, just as I was passing, scraped the side of my Herald and pushed me into the middle lane and a head-on collision. I'm sure the Herald's chassis saved my life, but without a seat belt I was thrown forward and my forehead hit the pointed edge of the wooden bar over the windscreen for connecting the hood - giving a 7-inch scar that didn't disappear for 40 years. You also mentioned having trouble reaching the pedals - if my memory is reliable, the pedal bar under the fascia can be loosened, moved closer to the seat and refastened (easiest doing that when sitting upside down in the driver's seat!)
My Dad had a Triumph 1300 FWD lovely car very reliable, there aren,t many cars where the clutch can be changed easily without grazing your knuckles. Lovely smooth ride thanks to rubber mounted sub frames and rubber doughnuts on the drive shafts.
I am looking at buying one or a Morris Minor of these as my first car, cheap to insure because it has a small engine (1.0 for the Moggie and 1.3 for this) and definitely more fun than a 1 litre Corsa
I talked my girlfriend into buying a 1600 Vitesse (I had a TR6 at the time) and she loved the woodgrain dash and smooth little six, not to mention that legendary turning circle!
This is one of your videos I overlooked when it came out. My late father had 3 Heralds and when I acquired Spitfires and a GT6 years later he drove them better than I ever could -- a matter of 'class' maybe. Your point about 'formal' seating is a valid one and cars based on this chassis [yes, they had real chassis and not sub-frames] all had that air of 'proper driving' about them and contact with the road but not in a harsh way. This made even the earliest Heralds sporty and the ingenious 'leaning wheels' gave a very small turning circle as well as positive steering which never caused tiredness. Uneven tyre wear was never an issue on these cars as it was on so many others. Obviously the entire bonnet opening made maintenance very easy and tracing any leaks a doddle -- perhaps best avoided in gale force winds though. I hope you will review a Vitesse this year.
My first car 13/60 in 1981, used to love drive at night it had a certain sound, loved it. Paid 95 quid and my first insurance for it was also 95 quid for a year, imagine an 17 year old trying to insure a car for that money nowadays lol
Yup, my mother-in-law had one. She was of smaller stature but she did okay with the seat pulled forward. I used to drive it then mid-70's. Owned grotty Morris, then too. Whe we went out it was down to me to drive. Went touring a few times, in it; the whole family. Yup, zippy...
You're right Steph!Michelotti did indeed design Leyland trucks,namely the Scammell (part of BL) Routeman,Handyman and the Trunker,which all used the same Michelotti designed cab. (Spot the trucker....). Very nice Herald,and top review😎👍!
I had a 13/60 convertible, BLO 406H (same colour) back in the glorious summer of 1976. Very happy memories of whizzing (as much as a 13/60 can whiz) around Somerset with the top down!
I think the triumph herald is a true classic of its time, so easy to work on etc and also has rakish good looks and its muscle siblings the vitesse were lovely cars and I would love to own any one of them, Im so jealous you get to test such tasty motors.
Great video as per usual, loved it! Moved my last Triumph on last year, a 13/60 convertible. One of the biggest herald overseas markets was India , they actually kept producing it after ‘71, they did a 4 door version. Also, did you get a chance to try it’s turning circle? Yup, the last mass produced fully chassised car came out the same year as the original mini. Good work! Thank you.
Another great review the Daf has many similar design keys to the herald. The Pugeot 404 is a ded ringer for the early 60s BMC badge designed Cambridge Oxford etc looks most like the Westminster variant. I still think the Austin A40 was underrated at the time, such a practical car a hatchback before it's time. BL in the 70s failed to put hatchbacks on designs that cried out for them.
these were a good car , i owned one and worked on them at a local garage repairs or replacement of the outrigers and welding was the the thing . and of course some were towed in with the supension torn out as they aged that turning circle was a bit too good . another good video steph thanks
Fab little car Steph. Triumph were a very advanced manufacturer in the 50's /60's. We need to get you in a 1300 FWD.(same engine as the Herald) Very plush and technically very advanced being the first UK FWD vehicle with North South mounted engine.... way before Audi picked the idea up. Keep up your great reviews. 😉
Errm Craigey, Audi merely revamped the old (pre-war) DKW layout that also ran its engine North-South... way before Triumph ever thought of designing a front-wheel-drive car. In fact, all front-wheel-drive cars had their engines placed that way - until the Morris Mini-Minor (aka Austin Se7en) changed that and made the transverse mounted engine the norm...
Have to correct the owner. That is not an SU carb, it is a Stromberg. Works on same principles of constant velocity, but the piston is sealed at the top with a rubber diaphragm that deteriorates, causing poor running and it requires a special tool to adjust idle mixture. Diaphragm is cheap to replace and best considered a regular service item. My nan had Heralds and Vitesses and they were infamous for their incredible turning circle.
Another great review Steph a lot of driving schools had them back in the day due to the aforementioned turning circle, they are a good little car and that is a lovely example.
I learn to drive on a Herald (1966) - great steering lock for a learner! Yes, wing mirrors meant you didn't have a blind spot behind the rear offside. The USP about the Herald was its modular construction - I remember on BBC's Tomorrow's World a mechanic driving up on just the chassis and then they fitted the whole body in a few minutes, the idea being that after an accident it would be easy to replace a section. Not very crash resistant I suspect.
Hi ye another great video well done one thing I'm sure the owner said it had an single su carb on the engine but I'm sure it's a single stromberg carb that's on it cheers keep up the good work 👍
The Herald, when new, we’re actually intended for men, but more women were buying, or more men were buying for women than themselves. After a while Triumph decided to market the car for women and offered a free lipstick and bouquet of flowers with each sale. I’m a male and I love these cars. I’m learning to drive soon and really want one of these as a first car (12/50) as I hate modern cars. They’re so uncharacteristic and boring. It’s great to see someone my age group reviewing these cars. You have a great channel and im about to binge watch! Another interesting fact about these, is that when they were first showcase, there was a triumph in its 3 main parts, which was bolted together in a minute (i think it was a minute, could be wrong) and driven out. That same car then went on to drive across Africa!
When I had my Escort 1.3L mk2 1980V I stopped at the Traffic Lights &a Taxi crashed into the back of me. My Escort had superficial damage&the 3 of us were uninjured but the Taxi had caved in.
Triumph 13/60 was the car I learnt to drive in, back in 1971. My Dad had a dring school and throughout the 60s we only had Heralds, the 13/60 being the last model before he moved to Vauxhall Vivas. The weak points on the Heralds as far as driving school cars were the wear in the trunion bushes, accelerator cables that went "gritty" and needed frequent replacement as well as the wear in bushes in the gear change linkage which if left made gearchanges real hut and miss. The heaters were crap after a few months usage and the tiny interior light was mounted in the centre if the dashboard, weird. A particular fault of the 13/60 was that the engine develooed enough torque to actually bend the rear half shafts, this manifested itself in a clunking sound. Lift the car under the diff, start it up, put into 1st gear and you could see the half shaft running out of true. Fortunately the scrapyards were full of Heralds.
They also built one In India, where it was under the name Standard. They also built a 4dr version, unique to India. There was a face-lifted successor, called the Gazel, which later received a conventionally opening bonnet rather than the whole front being lifted to get to the engine.
My mate had one of these (the earlier model) as a first car in British Racing Green. I had an HC Viva in pink :( Mum had a '67 Mini, Dad a MK II Zephyr, other school friends Vauxhall Chevette, Morris Marina, Ford Anglia, Triumph Toledo and 2000. Deputy Rector cosseted his Daimler while the art teacher waxed lyrical over his Princess, my cousin less so on a Hillman Hunter she rolled. Another mate's parent's had an Austin 1100 (which I raced in my sporty Viva!) Yes, us in NZ did get a LOT of English metal in the day! My experiences are from the late 80's, early 90's just before the Japanese import flood.
Well steph michelotti also had bills to pay so he worked for daf. But at least the daf 44 has some italian style. Pininfarina worked for Daewoo and giugiaro for Hyundai.. also bills to pay i suppose. I worked for a turbo manufacturer and yes we sold to Peugeot or PSA... But we did not refuse the small repair shop... Kr Paul from the netherlands
Really enjoyed this video. Was so glad to hear that someone shares similar views in relation to liking upright seating in cars, problems with thick blind spots (in modern cars) and better visibility in classic cars.
Volvo bought Daf the reason behind this was the automatic transmision in the Daf Volvo at that time had no in house autotransmision. And Daf was upp fore the grabbs so Volovo got Daf. One fun fact is that Volvo 340 is the sucesssor to the Daf but sadly to they tended to rust away.
Nice car . I’d love it if you could get a drive in a mk4 zodiac. When I was 6 we moved to Derby and at that time my dad had a triumph Herald estate and our family friends who we stayed with for a short while whilst the house we were moving into was ready had a ford zodiac executive. My parents friends had kids similar ages to me and my siblings myself paring off with Dawn also 6 . Both my dada and “ uncle “ Franks cars were parked side by side in Franks garage and every time whilst playing mums and dads with Dawn I always went for the zodiac to plat at driving ( cars were never locked in 1974 ) and I’ve always been in love with the zodiac ever since . I had the chance 20 years ago to own one but it wasn’t a executive and had a manual gearbox and I didn’t like the idea of that in a luxury car . I remember Love your videos. Kind regards David
The problem with watching Stephs channel is, you think you have an alltime favorite classic British car. Then you se her presentation.....and another....and another. Then you realize that you just don't have one favorite, but some weird kind of polyamourous approach to classic British cars 😊
I've heard jokes about DAF's - Rubber Bands for transmission. Great presentation of this Triumph Herald. Lovely car. Lovely presentation. Does it justice.
DON'T get me wrong, my first car 1200 herald convertible. Paid £15 for it in 1976 ! Way ahead of it's time in 1959 but completely obsolete by 1971 ( poor Leyland no cash ) No one wanted them in the eighties but great to see are much appreciated now ! Not sure about being sturdy Steph ! Had a low speed crash in my vitesse, front end ripped off ! Interesting if not deadly handling in the wet !
Wish i could show you the pic. My X has had the 1300 Herald estate since 2001. they are as rare as rocking horse manure. in short keep it nice, fun for years
11:50 it's pronounced "ay-keep" - Equipe is the French word for "team". Strange choice of word, but it was also used by BL on the Allegro and Ford on the Escort in subsequent years. The 4-cylinder Bond Equipe used the Herald chassis and its body structure, but with Spitfire running gear, whilst the 6-cylinder model was a re-skinned Vitesse, with the soundtrack to match. Here's mine :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vdxs-DcSG3M.html
Ah my first car a '67 Valencia blue Herald 13/60 with sunroof (SGH685F is still on the road now painted white) back in 1981. A learning curve for me on how to maintain a car, I have to say I was rubbish, long story. Sold it to a bloke in West Hampstead and he painted it red similar to the Vitesse Mk2 I owned. Went over to Humbers and Rovers after the Vitesse. But owned a low mileage 13/60 estate from '71 in brown, called the 'Fying T*€@', I installed twin SU's onto it from a Spitfire Mk3 (swapped for a Rover P6 2000 TC and a Bond Equipe 2 Litre Mk1 (had to sell not using it at all), which was hilarious, a true Marmite car, the reactions were funny, people laughed at it, looked at it wondering what it was, loved it or if you were that idiot in a BMW 8 Series driving up the A1M in 2003 did a rude hand gesture as he drove by. Laughed my head off. The joy of classic ownership. Go get a Herald girl… Must have ago in my mate's 1960 Herald 948 bet that's slow. At least I have a Humber Super Snipe Series Va which goes round corners if you push the loud pedal to drive around in.
There’s definitely something about classic British vehicles, despite sharing many parts they were still different. Only in this country could we have competing brands owned by the same company and sold at the same dealerships.
@@idriveaclassic ive loved all the cars ive seen so far makes me wish i was a driver myself but i will live vicariously in you during these car reviews
Oh bless you! It took me ages and ages to pass back in the day because I was so nervous, so if you’re ever able to go for it in some way, you should! Until then, I hope the videos make up for being the passenger 😊
I've just found this channel - I'm a huge fan of this sort of thing, you've probably heard of HubNut which I love, but you can't have too much of a good thing can you?
Yeah Ian at HubNut is awesome - love his videos! He’s so clever and an entertaining, lighthearted watch 😊 Thanks ever so much for the kind comments Steph x
I've only just discovered your channel, love your videos. And if I can so so without sounding sexist, it's really refreshing to see classic cars being reviewed by a woman. Yes, the Herald was a very popular car with women. have you tried a Hillman Imp? That was another car loved by ladies with its light controls, super light steering (thanks to its rear engine), opening rear window great for shopping and, like the Herald, superb visibility which made it so easy to park. My mum learnt to drive in one in the 60s and I used to accompany her on lessons, aged 4. I fell in love with the car then and bought the Imp I still own in 1984. I think you should try one, I'm sure you'd like it. Grahame
i had my 1st white triumph herald 13/60,it broke down on me stupidly,my dad fixed it saying it was the rubber in the carburettor stromberg,it carried on driving but still cut out..My dad searched all the pipelines through the car,until it went into the boot were a small piece of rubber going towards tank..i m from Coventry..my next next car was a 71 escort gt..your a babe..
Can I have some advice please going to view one of these tomorrow just wondering what I should look out for.I heard on a video he did that it sounded smooth then abit of a knocking sound a few mins later stationary.
Great review on a perfect little family saloon. I've a spitfire 1500 myself as a restoration project which you can review when its completed if you like?
How was the steering as i know it doesn’t have power steering? Was it easy to steer? I’m looking to buy one of these and just wanted to make sure before I go and view it
I have to dissagree with one thing: you actually see a lot of larts sharing with different manufacturers. Just to name a couple: the older Mercedes Sprinter and VW Crafters were basically the same Vehicle with a small restyle and one had Mercedes Engines while the other one used VW Engines, same with the MAN Vans and VW Crafters now. Nissan and Mercedes also use Renault Engines on some Cars and Vans, the Mercedes Citan is just a Rebadged Kangoo and the X Class is also just a Rebadge, Nissan uses a lot of Tenault engines, Renault uses a Lot of Nissan Engines.
The stationwagon was the better vehicle,more versatile, less spring on the rear swing axle. Beware of the bronze front trunnions,they don't do neglect.
