Triumph Herald at 60

Nick Larkin drives a charming early Herald – celebrating its 60th birthday this year – to see why it’s such a beloved classic

London’s Royal Albert Hall has seen many amazing performances, but nothing has ever matched an event in April 1959 when even the dancing Tiller Girls were eclipsed by nine examples of the bold and beautiful new Triumph Herald being unveiled to an ecstatic 2000-strong invited audience. The styling, by young Italian, Giovanni Michelotti, was a masterpiece, representing another bold and beautiful new world from the worthy but pedestrian outgoing Standard Eight, Ten and slightly more chic Pennant. Here was 1950s optimism in pressed metal and a range of vivid colour schemes. Underneath was a truly unique small car, with rival-beating features such as a 25ft turning circle and reserve fuel tank. But nothing could compare the audience for what happened next. Four young Standard Triumph apprentices built a Herald from its major sub-assemblies in just three minutes, even fitting the doors, roof and massive front wings and bonnet section, which lifted up to give unrivalled access to the engine and front suspension. The completed car was then driven away. This is what you could do when a car had a separate backbone chassis, complete with outriggers. A true marketing miracle was achieved by convincing everyone that this configuration was carefully chosen, yet it was born from

bleak necessity, because the relatively tiny Standard-Triumph couldn’t rely on an outside source to build complete bodyshells. Fisher and Ludlow was a no-no because BMC had taken over and Pressed Steel was struggling to keep up with existing demand. There were advantages to this, though, because the chassis would be used as a basis for further Heralds and eventually the Vitesse, Spitfire and GT6. The new Herald created a massive stir, with Motor Sport magazine saying that it was ‘way out ahead of all other small cars at present being made in this country.’ There was a catch, however – a Herald saloon cost £702 including taxes, and a twincarburettor coupé £732, which would have bought you a Vauxhall Victor. By further comparison, a Ford Anglia was £100 less and a BMC Mini would have saved you £200. Advertising showed potential customers as happy and affluent stylish couples who listened to jazz rather than Adam Faith, had been abroad and ate vol au vents. The Herald’s versatility would keep it in production until 1971, with bigger-engined convertible, estate and van versions joining the range. But we are celebrating the car’s 60th by sampling an astonishingly original example of its pure first flowering – a 948cc 1960 saloon.