Sunday 12 June 2011

Herald Tribute

I’ve little interest in cars these days but in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s I was truly in love with my little jalopy – a 1969 Triumph Herald.  I loved it for the throaty rumble of its engine, its small but significant tail fins (like a baby cadillac!) and a stylish dashboard in glossy walnut veneer that looked as classy as a piece of elegant antique furniture.  Even its distinctive smell of leather and petrol was a heady mixture to me.  This feisty little motor could give cars 20 years its junior a run for their money (if you didn’t mind the vibrations almost making your teeth fall out).  It was famous for its tight turning circle which got me out of many a scrape, and its quirky front-opening bonnet which meant you could almost climb right inside the engine compartment if you really wanted to get down and dirty.  I loved its shiny chrome fittings and its massive steering wheel and I adored the fact that it was a classic ‘60s car.  It didn’t matter that there were no head-rests, only four gears and the wing mirrors felt like they were half a mile away on the bonnet.  I called it - perhaps I should make that “her” - Prudence. She was a sweetie. At least, that is, until her engine finally started to give up which meant I had to floor the accelerator pedal just to reach 20mph.  Then, sadly, she had to go (albeit, very slowly…)

As a little tribute to the Triumph Herald 13/60, my first car, here’s a nice ‘60s ad I recently found:


And here’s dear Prudence!  RIP.


2 comments:

  1. What a fab car! I remember my mum having a yellow Triumph Toledo when I was younger and being dead embarrassed of it, I'd love to ow that car now tho! x

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  2. Thanks, Smashingbird. Yes I still love the look of old cars when you occasionally see them about. So stylish. I miss my lovely Herald, she was special and often a conversation piece at petrol stations, car parks, etc! But I don't know how well she'd have stood up to driving conditions now, even just 20 years on, sadly! x

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