Beschreibung
HERE we have an absolutely beautiful Triumph Herald 12/ 50 Skylight. And, in case you are not aware of the actual model, let me tell you a little about it. While the Herald 1200 was still in production, the 12/ 50 ran between 1963-67. The "50" was a nod towards the up-rated power as, while the basic Herald 1200 knocked out 39 bhp, the 12/ 50 kicked out a hugely improved 51 bhp. That gave the Herald a massive 30 per cent increase in power. And that's what we have here. High compression ratio and some other clever tweaks produced the enormous improvement in power - and it makes the 12/ 50 a totally different animal to drive when you compare it with the basic Herald. It was, in essence, a "GT" version of the Triumph Herald.
Identifying factors included a webasto sunroof (hence Skylight), disc brakes, 12/ 50 badges and a finely meshed aluminium grille.
Now to this fantastic old girl. Finished in her original factory colour of Green Olive, she has superb contrasting interior trim in Cactus. Her bodywork and paintwork can only be described as excellent. Anything other than that would be an insult to the car. To be fair, I think (I say think as I cannot be totally certain) that the paintwork is the factory original. You rarely see Heralds as sharp as this. Indeed it is my opinion that she is EVEN BETTER in the flesh than she appears in my photos taken this morning in extremely strong sunshine.
Her deep lustre to the paintwork is not truly portrayed here. Seeing her will not disappoint anyone.
Her underside is superbly straight, solid and clean. All floor pans are original and in body colour. Carpets are the originals - heavy duty but fading and showing their age at 52! However, if it was down to me, I would keep them for the sake of patina.
She has covered a mere 48, 000 miles in her 52 years and this is backed up by service stamps in her ORIGINAL Triumph service book. It looks as though she spent some time in hibernation between 1995 and very recently when she was removed from her warm garage and gently re-commissioned and given a fresh MoT with no advisories.
The task of awakening her saw the following done:
* Brand new Britax sliding sunroof (there is no damage or even marks to the roof where the sliding takes place!
* Full service with new oil and filters
* New regulator
* New thermostat
* Front brake calipers and pads
* Rear wheel cylinder to one side (other one supplied).
It would be hard to find a better and more original Herald 12/ 50 and the pure 60s colour combination is a total joy on this small sporty saloon!
I accept all major debit/ credit cards and a ten per cent deposit is required at the point of sale with the balance due within three days. I can also assist with delivery and so please ask for a quote.
All my classic cars are treated as the equivalent of motoring antiques. This one, for example, is 47-years-old. They cannot be compared to the wife's six-month-old Chelsea tractor and they are bound to come with imperfections, quirks and bits and pieces that will need attention even if it is some time in the future. They do however come with oodles of charm, appeal and are there to be loved like a family pet. If you are new to the classic car scene, then please bear all this in mind. Demand is outstripping supply these days and they don't make the old girls any more. So, make some allowances and drive away with a smile on your face! Thanks for reading, Martin. the details below).
