Triumph Herald 948 Saloon (1959 model)

1959 model Triumph Herald 948 Saloon.  Registered Jan 1960 (you will need to obtain a Heritage cert to prove 1959 build date if you wish for it to become MOT exempt).  This car has been local to me in South London all its life with only three previous owners.  Was bought new from Huttons of Lewisham. The first two owners for over 45 years were husband & wife who lived in Blackheath. The third owner was also local. being in Belvedere (Kent / London borders).  Full extensive history from new including original purchase order form dated 11 Jan 1960. price list. colour schemes & trim choice. welcome booklet. ALL service & repair receipts (all in date & decade order). owners manual. etc.  This is an original unrestored car that was a daily driver until around 2005 ish & was always garaged.  The only major work I can find any evidence of was done in 2002 & was a full outside respray & the original worn out engine being replaced with an 1147cc unit. but with all the early 948 parts retro fitted to it. thus giving the illusion of the engine still being a 948.  Apart from the pass front wing & pass door being replaced due to a documented accident in 1971. there appears to have been no welding ever done to the body. only to the chassis.  The only modifications done to the car was a replacement carpet set & the larger engine in 2002.  Plus the addition of seatbelts fitted after that accident in 71.  Otherwise its all as it was upon leaving the factory.  She runs & drives really nice for an unrestored 56 year old car (with plenty of characteristic squeeks & rattles).  Very rare piece of history that has always been kept & driven locally.  Being the early 948 model it has many interesting unique features & is ultimately a far simpler car than its later 1200 counterpart & a world apart from the 1360 that was built until the early 70's. Features such as less chrome trim (none around the windows. no tread plates. heater grill. etc. ) but more round the rain gutters.  Fold down rear seat. Fibreboard dash. Open glovebox. Letter rack under the dash. Grey switch gear. Grey steering wheel. White speedo. Smooth body colour bumpers. Central bonnet handle. Pass door lock. etc.  Plus much less obvious ones that you would have to park next to a 61 onwards model to spot.  Things like the shape of the heater box. the size of the rubber boots on the master cylinders. the shape of the inner front arch / splash guards. engine mounts position. the list goes on & on.
Condition wise.  Well your not going to be winning a concourse trophy at a prestige show. but its all very honest & original.  The respray is not the best & is now 14 years old.  The reason behind the respray was because the original paint had been polished to death & was through to the primer in most places.  Id have preferred the original worn out paint personally. but the 80 something year old owner wanted it shiny & new again.  Some little bits of rust are appearing in corner & edge places on the outside where inperfections were filled for the respray.  There are also what looks like all the original parking dents & bad panel fit of old still present.  All honest original steel.  The Chassis has been welded in the past in a few places & undersealed.  But is rust free & straight.  The interior is 99% original (the carpet set is a replacement set).  The stitching has started to come apart on the top central edge of the back seat by the piping (but can easily be re-stitched as its not damaged).  The seats & door trims are dirty but still all good (front seats could benefit from hew base webbing supports).  The dashboard has some sun damage to the corners but has no cracks or deformity like most of these early fibreboard ones did.  Basically inside looks kinda how you'd have expected it to look by the late 70's (condition wise that is).  Full of character & still keeping that old Triumph smell.  She starts easily (still wired positive earth) & ticks over nice.  Doesnt smoke or rumble & drives well from cold.  The steering is light. the brakes (drums all round) pull up sharp & square. nbsp;The gearchange is light & has that unmistakable whine from the non syncro straight cut first gear.  The gate between first & reverse has worn out. but you instantly get used to it.  The whole car squeeks & rattles like a Triumph Herald should. these early ones being the worse due to less sound proofing & not having rubber bonnet stops like the later ones. only some thin fabric straps.  You hear & feel every clunk as you change gear & accelerate. Just like the early Spitfires & Sprites.  
Anyway.  The V5c Log Book is in my name & address.  Mot'd until April next year & obviously tax exempt.  All the keys are present & working like they were new.  She has a new battery & new matching set of tyres.  Ive also just serviced the engine & fitted a new starter solenoid. as she sat for a couple of years before I bought her.  Better to be safe than sorry.  The reg number is non transferable before you ask.  Plus I am not interested in any swaps or part ex's as I could do with the space for my F100 thats coming home soon.  
The price is £2500.  The car is located in Plumstead SE London.  You can message me on Ebay or call / text me on 07930 890427.  This is a classified add so you can buy the car the old fashioned way.  Call or message me any questions you like. come & look. if you like what you see. pay me & drive it home.  Obviously this is a CASH SALE ONLY.  
Thanks. Andy.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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