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Owners Tale - Chapter One
Anything and everything Herald. Talk about anything from the first 948s to the last 13/60s.
Section : Advice for Buyers / New Owners
Posted By : Paul Norris, 15-Sep-2003, 09:50am
I've got one!
A beautiful wedgewood blue (with dark blue stripe) Triumph Herald 13/60 convertible.
I took advice from all you guys (thank you), and went for a solid body, and bought it from an enthusiast in Essex who could tell me as much as possible
about it.
Within 2 minutes of owning the car (whilst filling up with petrol), I am approached by a guy who owns a breakers yard about 200 yards away from the petrol
station. He instructs me to head to the yard (and as he's bigger than me, I agree).
He then proceeds to fill my boot with a hood cover (perfect condition), full tonneau cover (again mint) and 2 rear light assemblies.
"Do you want anything for these" I ask, fearing that I'm on the end of some kind of mafia purchase system here.
"No" he says. "I was putting one of these together, but ended up crushing it, these are the bits I kept, you can have them, good luck"
And with that, I was off to Leeds, at a steady 55mph all the way. The car ran a bit hot, but other than that, she was grand. And the waves, beeps and looks
I got were worth the purchase price and 5 hour drive alone.
Every service station seemed to be full of people who used to have a Herald, and the stories certainly slowed the journey, but it was all worthwhile.
At about 8:30pm I get within 1/2 mile of home, pull away after a roundabout, and suddenly the clutch pedal won't go down. So, out of gear, try again,
nothing, solid as a rock. Now I truly belong, sat at the side of the road, bonnet forward staring in vain at the inner workings of my pride and joy,
semi-illuminated by the street lamps.
The very helpful man with the tow-truck informs me that the clutch-bearing has gone, and shows me a little local garage that will do the work.
So yesterday she gets me home, and today she costs me £120 to be able to get me anywhere else.
Maybe my Dad was right after all, maybe I was mad to want a Herald.....!
Paul
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Posted By : Ben Ferguson, 15-Sep-2003,
10:23pm
Ah good, the disease is spread all over the country! I too have a 13/60 convertible and it certainly is difficult making progress (if you are in a
hurry!), talking to people who claim to have owned one! I think I must have met the full half million or so people who "used to have one" in the space
of about 6 months! All good fun and part of having such a great car though :-) My clutch also went in a similar situation and my engine also runs
slightly hot, do you think our cars are twins?! what year is it?
Ben
White 68, 13/60 conv
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Posted By : Paul Norris, 16-Sep-2003,
11:12am
I don't think they are twins (Wedgewood blue 71, 13/60 conv), unless mine is lying about it's age (which is possible, as I'm certain it's a female
car already!!)
Ought to add that ours has already been given a name by the 7 year old son of a friend. He has named the car 'Tricky', as that is how I described
nearly everything he asked about the car when I took him for a spin round the block.
"I'll put your seatbelt on, the straps a bit tricky"
"You need to open the door from the outside, here, I'll do it, it's a bit tricky"
"No, it will go into first gear / second gear / reverse, it's just a bit tricky"
you get the idea!
Hope that it's the done thing to name the car, not sure what the ettiquette is in such circles!!
Paul
Tricky the 1971 Wedgewood Blue 13/60 convertible
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Posted By : Ben Ferguson, 16-Sep-2003,
04:57pm
Ah yes, names- mines called Batty after my uncle's Vitesse- Hatty! god knows why! it gets called "sod" every now and again 2, but not so much
any more because she's feeling a bit more reliable now! Talking about opening doors, do you think people in the 60's/70's had trouble getting
out of their Heralds? Every passenger I take in the car always always asks "how do i get out?!"
Ben, white 68 13/60 conv
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Posted By : Mike Peake,
17-Sep-2003, 12:37pm
Mines a red 13/60 convertible. had it 2 years and my daughters (and the rest of us now) call her Poppy. registered in 1971 built in 1970
also runs a bit hot and my slave cylinder has just gone. But we have had a wonderful summer of family motoring and picnics and car shows
etc!
good luck with yours see you at a show sometime!
Mike
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Posted By : Paul Norris,
17-Sep-2003, 01:28pm
Update: The garage has phoned me and the slave cylinder needs replacing too!
If I was ever in any doubt as to the family connection between all our cars, I am now convinced!!!
Paul
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Posted By : Ben Ferguson,
18-Sep-2003, 02:35pm
If our cars are related, be prepared for a smashed windscreen soon! Some truck decided it might throw a stone out from under its
wheels and aim it at my windscreen. It was a good aim. It went straight through and hit me! This comes exactly one week to the hour
that my left halfshaft snapped in two! wonder what excitement I'm in for next week?!
Ben, white 68, 13/60 conv