Triumph Herald project.

[Nick DV]

We did a gearbox swap on this one as the owner is a young man of 80 and he has better things to do and he is a very nice guy.
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Nice looking car When I was a kid, I always got a bollocking from my mum cos I used to push past a neighbours and get white 'rubber' marks all over my school trousers from the bumpers

 

[addjunkie]

I owned one in 1981, cost me 35 quid, as spares or repairs. Couple of patches on the chasis and brake pipe sorted. Nice car really liked it, but was far better with the 1500 spitfire engine in. Ran it for about 6 months while I did up a mk1 1300e. Shame about the metal they used to build them though.

 

[Olderisbetter]

I've always thought they're very neat well balanced looking cars.

Sadly, as with all British made cars of that era they were badly put together using poor quality materials.

I have to agree they all seem to just need rebuilding and a few upgrades but then they are great for a while

 

[RWD3M]

Never had a Herald but did have a Mk1 1600 Vitesse for a while back in 1977. Got a GT6 Now!

 

[minimutly]

Gt6 - 10 out of 10 for looks, the rest?

 

[Nick DV]

Only Triumph I owned was a TR6, which I had for just under 13 years Biggest mistake of my life was selling it

 

[RWD3M]

Gt6 - 10 out of 10 for looks, the rest?

Quicker than a B, what else do you want?!

 

[Cato]

Quicker than a B, what else do you want?!

Everything to still be attached to it and working when you've finished proving it's faster?

 

[moose]

I had a Bond Equipe 1300 GT that had originally had the Spit mk3 1300 engine, and running gear but herald chassis, The engine was sent to Oselia (Oxford) for engine works returned, gas flowed, lightened and balance, bigger carbs etc etc engine was classed to be stage 2 tuned. The list of mods to the car was extreme, front uprights were GT6 mk3, rear brakes upgraded to Vit mk1 2000.The car was nicknamed the black monster. Went on a rolling road company based along the A30 just outside Basingstoke.

On the rolling road it was putting out the same power as the 6 cylinder 2000 engine, but because it was lighter it was more useable. It was very quick. Someone mentioned the bonnet, I was over taking a lorry coming up the A30, as the bonnet lifted up to over half way up the screen, I had forgotten to check the catches after checking oils, a slight b*m twitch moment. But even with all the mods etc it was still a very easy car to drive, people complained about the handling, ok so all the back end was lowered and strengthened, but it was still the same layout, never had a problem of the dreaded tuck under, it was rear wheel drive so you drove it as a rear wheel drive car. Rust got it in the end, and run out of time, energy etc. Engine was sold and is in a Dolomite

I have 2lt Mk2 Bond Equipe Convertible that used to be raced, fitted now with a 2.500 engine on carbs (from a Triumph Saloon) This is fairly quick

 

[minimutly]

My long term customer has a number of mgb's (plus the tb, tf, ta), I must have built 4 mgb engines for him, but he has a roadster with the 1900 Oselli conversion fitted. We I've driven it, and was not impressed - it was hardly quicker than a std car. Looked Oselli up recently - they now just sell cars.
Having said all this, they ground, tuftrided and balanced my first 1400 mini crank, and that lasted forever.

 

[stuvy]

My long term customer has a number of mgb's (plus the tb, tf, ta), I must have built 4 mgb engines for him, but he has a roadster with the 1900 Oselli conversion fitted. We I've driven it, and was not impressed - it was hardly quicker than a std car. Looked Oselli up recently - they now just sell cars.
Having said all this, they ground, tuftrided and balanced my first 1400 mini crank, and that lasted forever.

looked after a few mg’s with oselli engines overpriced rubbish that always needed work

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Is it right that Heralds were shipped with a spare key hidden in the rear [n/s?] lamp lens.

 

[Nick DV]

Is it right that Heralds were shipped with a spare key hidden in the rear [n/s?] lamp lens.

Not heard of that one, but would not surprise Mind you, back in the day you could open a car door with anything that would fit in the lock

 

[optima21]

Not heard of that one, but would not surprise Mind you, back in the day you could open a car door with anything that would fit in the lock

and if you now have a mismatched set of locks, this guy can re-barrel the locks so they all use the same key......he did a set for my herald at very reasonable prices

https://www.swampysoldskoollockshop.com/

although I think I was lucky when I decided to get a new glovebox lock off ebay from an MGB and when it arrived it was the same as my ignition key.

ohh and Ive got a herald in pieces, was planning on getting it rebuilt last year but that didnt go to plan, and covid this year has meant Ive just been working on smaller projects.

 

[Nick DV]

and if you now have a mismatched set of locks, this guy can re-barrel the locks so they all use the same key......he did a set for my herald at very reasonable prices

Nah, I just used the same bent 6" nail for the locks and ignition in my MkII 1600 Super Cortina

 

[Rannsachair]

Not heard of that one, but would not surprise Mind you, back in the day you could open a car door with anything that would fit in the lock

My brothers mini clubman ignition key would open the door lock on my escort Mk2 mexico, there were advantages and disadvantages to that.... next owner had it pinched!

 

[northwest]

The Herald Vitesse front struts and disks were a good upgrade to the Hillman Imp, if you were racing or rallying them.

Which I might, or might not, own up to.

:-)

 

[minimutly]

My brothers mini clubman ignition key would open the door lock on my escort Mk2 mexico, there were advantages and disadvantages to that.... next owner had it pinched!

Must have been an early one (clubman) then? Unless Escorts had symmetrical locks in those days?

 

[a111r]

Is it right that Heralds were shipped with a spare key hidden in the rear [n/s?] lamp lens.

Was a TSSC member for years and never heard that one.
In the late 90s in Brixton, I found that a local weed dealer was using my rear over riders to conceal his morning's wares. Which were confiscated.

 

[Rannsachair]

Must have been an early one (clubman) then? Unless Escorts had symmetrical locks in those days?

1970, ignition key looked similar to 2002 Defender.