Beschreibung
TODAY'S offering from Martin Howey Classics (Est. 25 years) is an ultra-cool 1964 Triumph Herald 1200 estate. A truly rare bird with somewhere between just 50 and 60 believed to have survived.
The V5 states just one previous owner. The chap from whom I acquired said he had rebuilt in over a period of five years. The chassis, outriggers, inner sills, bulkhead and all the usual problem spots on these Heralds are all excellent and so straight, solid and clean. No-one would have any worries about any of that. So that sorts that one before we go any further as it is always the first thing people ask when thinking about buying a Herald or Vitesse. All of that is probably as good as you are going to get.
So, here is a taster of what has been done:
Braking system,
Rebuilt gearbox
Petrol tank re-coated
2 front wings
2 Front Outer wheel arches
2 Rear outer wheel arches
New Door Rubbers
New Windscreen rubber
4 New tyres last year
Complete Stainless steel exhaust
New Battery
Driver side door - new skin fitted
Passenger side door - bottom replacement panel fitted (There is a new skin that comes with the car)
Front and rear valance replaced with Vitesse alloy bumpers fitted instead of the rubber white ones !
Oil Pressure gauge
Plus many ancillary parts fitted
The engine compartment was painted in coach enamel while the rest of the car was primed and then resprayed in the original colour scheme of Olive Green and Cactus Green.
Last year the Herald completed the Gordon Bennett Rally and then went on extended tour of southern Ireland - a total distance of more than 1200 miles. The car made the trip without issue.
I have been out in here this morning, covering around 30 miles or so and she performed admirably showing oil pressure when driving of 75psi and idling at 50psi even when hot.
Having established her solidity and doubtless her reliability, I would suggest that she is a bonny enough 59-year-old classic which comes with the added bonus of being highly practical estate car. In my opinion she could very easily be used as an everyday vehicle for popping around locally. She does not show any rusty or rotten areas although, to be fair, her paintwork is a little thin and patchy in places. But this was never intended to be a show queen; much rather a practical, pretty and reliable 1964 vehicle.
This description is based on my opinion of the vehicle, the paperwork that comes with the car and anything I have been told about it. The vehicle is 59-years-old and this cannot be taken as a definitive statement for obvious reasons. As with most classic cars, there may be faults and quirks whilst, almost inevitably, some degree of tinkering and care will always be called for. Such are the joys of owning an antique vehicle and they must be taken within their own context and not compared to modern day cars. They are sold as old, mainly out-dated machines and come without any comeback whatsoever. They are my terms and conditions.
My classic cars are motoring antiques. This car, for example, is 59-years-old. It's not two, five or even ten-years-old as your own everyday car may be. It has been in service for more than half a century and so will have quirks and faults in there somewhere. However, faults on these old girls are not always apparent when buying and selling classics which is what I do. I do not restore them, nor do I pretend that they are concours cars. The majority of them go out as they came in, and I continue to enjoy finding more - a skill which is becoming increasingly difficult as many of you will be aware. They deserve to be taken on as "family pets" and cared for through thick and then. They don't make them any more and demand now out-strips supply. Please bear all this in mind, and enjoy your classic car. I can also assist with delivery and so please ask for a quote.
I have now been established as a one-man band classic car dealer for 25 years and pride myself on my buying prowess and - due to small margins - my prices which I firmly believe are up there among the very best in the UK classic car marketplace.
Thanks, Martin. the details below.
