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May 4th 2007
Leather Interiors

Available as an option the leather interior didnt seem to catch on too well in 1959.
So far I have only managed to track one down - a Monaco Blue and White Coupe Comm Number Y3655L, destined for Portugal.
"I suspect the main reason was that Standard Triumph weren't geared-up for supplying customer options at this time - they were seriously overproducing/underselling cars, and needed to sell the cars that were stockpiled.
My father ordered a twin carb saloon around Christmas 1959, specifying Black with Grey leather, he eventually had to accept a Coffee car with Vynide upholstery, taking delivery at the end of March.
There are a few UK cars around with leather trim; I remember two coupes turning up at a TSSC Stafford meeting in the mid-1990s, and I think there was also one saloon around at the time."
Mike Costigan
www.triumph-herald.com

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May 4th 2007
Belgian 948s

It seems that Triumphs first export push, for the Triumph Herald 948, was for europe and, in particular Belgium.
The first car G68L (L denoting Left-hand drive) built on 27th march 1959 was despatched as a Belgian Press Car. A Powder Blue saloon, with grey vinyl interior. Also sent were G71L Alpine Mauve, G74L Red and G78L White all with uk spec vinyl interiors, then G80L Litchfield Green and White with the Imperial Cloth interior.

After the press coverage the exports started, with the majority of cars being Monaco Blue and White, again with the Imperial Cloth interior.
All were Left Hand drives. By the end of May 1959 238 Saloons had been sent to Belgium.

It would be interesting to know if any of these early Triumph Herald 948s still survived today.
www.triumph-herald.com

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May 3rd 2007
Twelve hundred and counting

The figure has swelled to details of 1,245 cars, due to a number of factors.
The coverage in the classic car press has been fantastic with many non Triumph club members getting in touch with details of a previously owned car. The website itself is perfoming well and is currently number one in the listings on MSN worldwide - which helps the global search through which details of an argentinian Triumph Herald 948 has surfaced.

From all the feedback for previous owners, the general concensous is that the Triumph Herald were well loved little cars, performed well (for most of the time) and owners were sad to have let them go.

Each story, that is sent in, helps add a little more to the bigger picture about the production of the early cars.

Latest car to the fold is YYP 893 a Targo Purple car complete with a great black and white period photograph thanks to Bob Mocks who commented "...it was a very dark purple colour when iI bought it, but I added a go faster stripe in grey, from the headlamps following the metal strip along the bodywork, gradually getting thinner. It looked great , the seats were one of the comfiest I have driven in, they were two tone grey.
The engine was very reliable and the handling was light and precise. If these cars had been rust protected they would still be around today.
www.triumph-herald.com