An extra-long classic road test this time, as Peter Simpson drives a slightly modified Herald Convertible over 400 miles from Scotland to Peterborough.

Words: Peter Simpson

Standard-Triumph was still independent in 1959 when the Herald was launched as a replacement for the Standard 8 and 10 family, a far smaller company than either BMC or Ford. It therefore had its work cut out to produce something that was a viable competitor for the big boys’ offerings. That they managed this, and in doing so produced something so innovative and different was, frankly, pretty amazing.

The new car used the same engine, drivetrain and brakes as the Standard 10, but was in all other respects totally new. Specification included independent suspension all round (rear courtesy of a single transverse leaf spring), an extremely tight 25ft turning circle and modern body styling courtesy of Michelotti.

Most surprisingly, it featured a separate chassis. Some thought this a retrograde step when everyone else had moved over to chassisless unitary construction, and it was to some extent forced on Triumph by their usual bodyshell manufacturer Fisher and Ludlow now being part of BMC, but in a stroke of genius it was turned to Triumph’s favour. The Herald’s chassis wasn’t an old-fashioned two-parallel-rail job; rather it was a ‘backbone’ arrangement on which the main members ran down the middle and outriggers with side rails supporting the body which bolted to the chassis in three sections.

The main advantages from Triumph’s point of view though, were that a chassis made it easier to export the car in CKD form for local assembly; Standard had always done well overseas. Just as importantly though for a small manufacturer, a chassis providing all the structural strength makes it far simpler to produce different body styles. Consequently the Herald was made in saloon, convertible, estate, coupe and van forms.

For much of its life the Herald was the only small four-seater British convertible you could buy, and as such it appealed to young and old. The eleven-year production run also meant that from the late sixties onwards there was one to suit all budgets. Students could buy one for under £100, while Surrey stockbrokers bought them so their wives could enjoy open-topped motoring in a car that could also carry the kids around.

To read the complete road test see the December 2011 issue of Classic Car Mart - available here