Triumph Herald 1200

A few flypasts and demonstrating the rear-wheel tuck-under while turning!
Footage from early 90's.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• triumph
• herald
• 1200
• burnley

[mrspivvy]

The problem comes when people who buy a small, cheap family runabout expect it to handle like a golf gti. witness all those idiots with original VW beetles on the nurburgring wondering why the back end suddenly lets go.

The herald tended to get bought new by wealthy middle class people as a second car for the wife to go shopping so handling was not a concern. if you want to go fast around corners in a 40 year old car you need a mini

[kpomonaco]

Best way to keep a Herald on the road was to never, EVER brake in a corner but to accelerate This keeps the rear down and stops the ridiculous rear suspension from chucking you in the ditch. Also carrying a couple of big chaps in the back has the same effect. Oh happy days; 50000 utterly reliable miles. Thanks the TSSC.

[lossadjuster1]

I have driven a total of 3 Heralds for the past 18 years, a 13/60 convertible, a 1200 and now a 12/50 and i can honestly say i have never had a problem with the handeling, driven with respect they are fine. My family also had Heralds in the 60s and 70s and i dont remember any problems! Any car will behave badly when driven to the limit.

[jjbtwf]

You need to treat them with respect and they are quite safe, handling is unusual admitedly. I did over 100000 in my 13/60 convertible, no problems. Wish I still had it, it was brilliant.

[newsnetuk]

Freedom - well obviously my Triumph was in the hands of an expert when it flipped over on its roof in 1964. I can only recommend you try out a Triumph yourself. I'm sure you will be surprised.

[FreedomForTooting]

I still think it's got more to do with the driver, your Herald wouldn't have flipped "itself" if it had been parked. I currently drive a twenty eight year old Cortina which was a lot of fun in the snow a few weeks ago. The Taunus/Cortinas are notorious for thier rubbish handling, but perfectly safe if you know where the limits are.

[newsnetuk]

I'm sorry to say I am in a position o being able to personally testify to the Triumph Herald's terrible roadholding - having been at the wheel of a Herald Coupe when it decided to flip itself over several times on a bendy road between Monmouth and Hereford. I still bear the scars to prove it ..

[FreedomForTooting]

Nader's book was concerned largely with the Chevrolet Corvair I believe (I haven't read it). Chevrolet added a transverse leaf spring after the criticism to alleviate the problem. In any case, you've gotta be pushing hard to make it happen. "Any speed" includes zero MPH remember.

[newsnetuk]

Tooting - Well yes of course it the problem is caused by the swing axle but this and the rudimentary transverse leaf spring created a lethal combination which allowed the outboard rear wheel to tuck under and the car to trip over itself on a tight bend. Read the Ralph Nader book!

[FreedomForTooting]

Ensure? So you're saying it happens every time, despite the evidence in the video above. It's caused by the swing axle anyway, not the spring.