The Last Herald

[Gary Flinn]

Came across this Image whilst reading up on the History of the Canley Triumph Factory, the Last Herald made, a White 13/60 Convertible by the looks of it.

I wonder if the car survives?

Regards

Gary

[Colin Lindsay]

Bill Sanders in the driver's seat - he was director of Standard Triumph or something like that. 

Going by commission number records the last Herald should be GE83432CV if it's this convertible, but there was a later estate GE83433SC. Maybe it wasn't as iconic, to drive off the production line in front of the camera...

It's interesting that the last cars were convertibles and estates, ending in May (or September according to Langworth / Robson) 1971, but I've no details of the actual registration number.

[Gary Flinn]

With it being over 51 years ago I suppose there's not much chance of most of the people in the Photo still being alive?

I know the last 3 Vitesse's where all convertibles, presumably finished early May too, this letter gleaned off the internet is regarding the third from last one made.

Gary    

[Colin Lindsay]

Just found the same photo! Interesting for two things: the BL badge by the bonnet lever, and the lack of crossed flags at the rear. I know the BL badge was added to the 13/60 in 1971 but not sure when they stoped adding the flags.

[Gary Flinn]

Colin

Yes I have read all 1971 Manufactured Triumphs had the BL Logo Badge fitted, I wonder if they had run out of the Cross flag badges, earlier 13/60's Convertibles certainly had them fitted?

No doubt this car would have had a Steering lock fitted too, as this became a legal requirement for any cars Manufactured in 1971. 

Gary

 

[Colin Lindsay]

The bonnet catch lever also looks white, or is that just the lighting?

[Gary Flinn]

30 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said:

The bonnet catch lever also looks white, or is that just the lighting?

Colin

It does look white, maybe it is masking tape that's not been removed?

I know the fixings screws for the Bonnet catches are painted body colour originally. 

  

[Josef]

2 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said:

Just found the same photo! Interesting for two things: the BL badge by the bonnet lever, and the lack of crossed flags at the rear. I know the BL badge was added to the 13/60 in 1971 but not sure when they stoped adding the flags.

My 13/60 convertible has no crossed flags (or signs the holes have been filled or similar) and was built 1st/2nd Dec 69 according to the heritage cert. 

[PeteH]

Interesting, Mine is a 13/60 C-V, GE77***. 1970 Build. Reg 1st Jan 71. No holes for crossed flags either and the BL logo badges are in the "kit of parts". It also came with all alloy fenders?. (A-La Vitesse?)

Pete

[Josef]

39 minutes ago, Gary Flinn said:

Colin

It does look white, maybe it is masking tape that's not been removed?

I know the fixings screws for the Bonnet catches are painted body colour originally. 

  

I’ve read somewhere that the bonnet catches were coated in a wax before fitting, painted over and then the wax and paint was scraped off. By the final Spitfires they’d stopped bothering with the scraping off part. Can’t remember the source of this though… But it would fit with the appearance of the photo.

[Works Spitfires]

On 14/01/2022 at 17:11, Josef said:

I’ve read somewhere that the bonnet catches were coated in a wax before fitting, painted over and then the wax and paint was scraped off. By the final Spitfires they’d stopped bothering with the scraping off part. Can’t remember the source of this though… But it would fit with the appearance of the photo.

It was a green plastic film that was easily pealed off after painting. We still have some NOS bonnet catches somewhere with it on.

[Stratton Jimmer]

My 1971 GT6 Mk3 has BL badges although I suspect that the PO added them as the bonnet is a hybrid made up of its original bulge welded into a Mk4 Spit bonnet.