Triumph Herald Coupe - 948cc - 1959 - smooth roof - 14th oldest surviving Coupe

So here we have a first year of production. 1959. Triumph Herald 948cc smooth roof Coupe. in two tone Targo Purple and Sebring White

Commission number Y2233. engine number Y2184HE (high compression). body number YM796.   I believe the car was built in August/September 1959. then registered on 1st October. 1959 after a pre delivery check at 209 recorded miles

Nick Price who runs the fantastic 'Triumph Herald' website and database tells me this is the 14th oldest surviving Herald Coupe!

This car is quite well known in Triumph circles as it had one owner from new for the best part of 40 years between 1959 and 1998; it was then bought from the original owners deceased estate by a serious Herald enthusiast.   He kept the car for 4 years before selling to the next owner. who was also a serious Triumph nut who kept the car for 10 years.   I have owned the car for just over 3 years and covered 2. 00 miles in that time

The original dealer brochures plus delivery paperwork. owners handbook. maintenance voucher book. service records and old tax discs etc. come with the car

The car is original and unrestored.   All the rare and unusual features specific to these early Heralds are retained and have not been messed around with!

The car was featured in Triumph World magazine. issue number 28. October/November 1999 - to celebrate 40 years of the Herald - a copy of this is included in the sale

The mileometer shows a recorded mileage of approximately 52. 00.   There is a documented speedo change in 1966 at 31. 00 miles. so the overall total mileage is 83. 00 - an average of just 1. 00 per year!

Just prior to my ownership the entire braking system was replaced by leading Triumph specialist Jigsaw Racing Services - this included shoes all round. master and wheel cylinders. plus copper brake lines - I have since fitted Goodridge braided hoses to each corner. plus a set of new rear shock absorbers

The exhaust is stainless steel. to the original specification with the correct middle and back silencer boxes.   This was fitted by Bell Silencer Services in June 2013 who manufacture the exhausts for the TSSC

The only other maintenance I have carried out is oil and filter changes. plus the usual fettling associated with classic car ownership.   I will include a couple of new old stock oil filters in the auction.

Being registered in 1959 the car is both mot exempt. and qualifies for Historic £nil road fund licence - to give the new owner some peace of mind I have just had the car mot'd and this is valid until 16th August 2017 (12 months)

Paintwork - please look carefully at the photographs - the majority of the paintwork is original and therefore 57 years old - there are various marks and blemishes on most panels - the Sebring White paint in particular has been polished 'thin' in places.   The drivers side door skin was replaced in 1962. and the paint on this has aged to show a slight colour mismatch between the door. wings. and sill on this side of the car.   There are numerous small scratches on the roof panel where I assume the car was stored under some form of cover in the past?  Overall I think this presents a lovely patina in keeping with the car's age. but your view may be different so please come and view the car to satisfy yourself - it does NOT have a concours show paint finish!!!  Dare I say the photographs make the car look nicer than it is?

The interior is all original; black fleckle fibreboard dash. white faced Jaeger intruments. under dash 'chip basket'. rear bench seat.   The original owner fitted a non standard 'Siran' ammeter to the dash.   The carpets are original Stanpart but show signs of wear and sun fading.   No seatbelts are fitted.   Unlike later Heralds both doors have key locks. and these open with the same matching key as the boot and ignition.


Unappreciated for years. I think interest in these early Heralds is at last on the increase. they do not come up for sale that often.   Prices for these Michelotti designed cars are on the rise. look at how much an early Spitfire now sells for!

Reluctant sale to raise funds for other projects - outright sale only - payment by cash or bank transfer prior to collection


I am located in Cirencester. Gloucestershire - please contact me via the eBay message system if you wish to arrange viewing.
  

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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