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Triumph Herald/Vitesse

With Michelotti styling, and a slightly elevated price tag, the Herald picked up an enthusiastic following – and all that really held it back was the lack of power. In 1960, the convertible was launched, and that received a twin-carb version of the engine. This was retrospectively fitted to the saloon to perk it up a little.

The Herald Coupe, launched a couple of weeks before the saloon was reportedly what Michelotti’s Herald prototype originally looked like. Initially all Coupes were sold with a twin-carb 948cc engine, but this was increased to a single-carb 1147cc along with the rest of the range in 1961. Front discs became optional just before the engine swap. The Coupe failed to meet sales predictions and was discontinued in 1964.

The Herald 1200 arrived in 1961, and continued almost to the end of production. The 1147cc engine produced
less power and more torque, and a higher axle ratio was fitted for easier high speed cruising. Along with the larger engine, came the pretty estate and convertible versions. They were more luxurious than earlier Heralds and disc brakes were an option across the range.

Two years later, the higher powered 12/50 was launched, and pretty much instantly became the range’s best-seller. A higher compression ratio and other tweaks took power from 39 to 51bhp, disc brakes were standard, as was a Webasto sunroof. An aluminium grille and ‘12/50′ badges were the only other external giveaways – perhaps due to the availability of ther sunroof, Triumph never built a convertible version.

The final and most powerful Herald got a single-carb engine from the new front-wheel drive 1300 saloon. That makes it the most useable of the range, as they’re usefully quick and still just as easy to work on as any other Herald. A new dashboard was fitted, and more space for rear passengers was found.

But the most noticeable change is to a single-headlamp version of the Vitesse’s front end and bonnet. Saloon production ended in 1970, with convertibles and estates lasting another year.


Reviews, blogs and news stories

Development story

The cars : Triumph Herald/Vitesse development story

4 July 2011 Keith Adams 34

The new standard-bearer Alick Dick, the chairman of Standard-Triumph laid down plans for the company’s next new small car. Codenamed Zobo, it was to replace the Standard 8 and 10 […]

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Rover-Triumph story 1962:Triumph Vitesse
The Rover-Triumph Story

History : The Rover-Triumph story – Part Four : 1962

7 July 2019 Ian Nicholls 3

Ian Nicholls, AROnline‘s historian-in-residence, tells the story of Rover and Triumph, and their part in the downfall of the British motor industry.  Here, in the fourth part, a new Land […]

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2000/2500

Marques : Triumph Story – Part One

3 May 2017 Keith Adams 17

Triumph’s history was an interesting one but, following bankruptcy on the eve of World War II, it was left to The Standard Motor Company to pick up the baton and shape Triumph’s brave new world… […]

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Standard Motor Products

Gallery : Standard Gazel

3 September 2011 Keith Adams 3

The Gazel was designed in India and engineered to use a mixture of entirely indigenous parts. This Mark II Gazel demonstrates the array of styling differences (by Nasir Hussein) that […]

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Standard Motor Products

Gallery : Standard Herald

3 September 2011 Keith Adams 2

The Herald appeared on the Indian market in 1961 to replace the Standard Pennant. It went on to enjoy a long life and went through a couple of changes during […]

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2000/2500

Marques : Triumph Story, part two

26 July 2011 Keith Adams 15

The full story of Triumph – from 1959, through big success, to decline and closure in 1984. […]

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Opinion

Why we love the… Triumph Herald

17 August 2004 admin 1

“Heraldry, what it means to me”, by Dale Turley What does the Triumph Herald mean to me? When I was a small child, my parents always changed their car more […]

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Archive

Archive : Herald upgrades

19 October 1961 Keith Adams 0

In line with the general trend for more power, Standard Triumph announces the introduction of an engine conversion kit for the Triumph 1200 range. This comprises twin carburettors, redesigned inlet […]

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