Posted By : William Davies, 18-Nov-2004,
11:29pm
Hi Paul,
Reliability at least will be similar to that of the Spitfire, mechanically there is little to choose between them. While I feel a Herald 1200
Convertible on the Mk2 chassis gives the best all round package, the 1147cc engine is going to be working hard to regularly haul 4 passengers. The
earlier cars certainly had a better quality feel to them with decent quality wood on the dashboard, later cars have little more than varnished plywood
in many cases.
Assuming you're not contemplating a project, there's little to choose - the 13/60 has the edge in terms of available panels.
The hood mechanism on the Herald & Vitesse is quite sophisticated for it's time, a properly fitted hood is quite effective at keeping out the rain.
I have used Heralds of all types throughout the year, they cope well with all driving conditions. Annual mileage was generally around 12,000 with no
major problems. Things can break, the same with any car, but any weaknesses will already be familiar as they are common to the Spitfire, ie, breaking
front suspension links if they're neglected, rear wheelbearings and UJs, again routine maintenance generally takes car of these.
Ultimately, for daily use I would suggest a post 1962 1200 Convertible, with either a 1300 or 1500 engine installed. Overdrive will top off the package
nicely, another advantage of the Mk2 chassis.
I can see that you've also posted the same question regarding the Vitesse. No objection there, but the Herald is far closer in handling to the
Spitfire. Physically similar, the Vitesse is quite a different animal on the road. Substantially faster with a lovely exhaust note, they can be quite
heavy at parking speed with the weightier engine over the front wheels. By the same reckoning, they tend to understeer. The Viesse 6 (1600cc) is lovely
and underrated, it's engine lacks the absolute grunt of the 2L cars but is the smoothest of the lot. The 2L Mk1 has all of the quality advantages noted
for the earlier cars, plus the extra 400cc over the 1600. The 2L Mk2's styling and interior is far more 1970s, not to my own taste but plenty of people
like it. The best and worst point of the Mk2 is it's modified rear suspension design, which improves handling dramatically, while introducing a degree
of complexity and (arguably) unreliability. The Mk2 back end must be looked after as, unlike the simpler system of the earlier cars, there are few
warning noises before things break, the rubber doughnut in the halfshaft effectively damps out the noise.
Hopefully that's some food for thought,
Cheers,
Bill.
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Posted By : Chris Taylor,
19-Nov-2004, 06:43pm
I agree with what Bill (right Davies this time!) has to say about the Herald and the Vitesse. Both should be capable of being just as reliable (and
UNreliable!) as your Spitfire. It's all a matter of getting a good one that has not been messed about and bodged, and then keeping it well
maintained.
You have to drive both the Herald and the Vitesse to appreciate the major difference in the feel of the two cars, despite the many shared
components.
The six cylinder engine makes the Vitesse feel both much quicker and more refined, but the HEAVY front end also makes it FEEL much less chuckable,
and dare I say it, less fun? (Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Vitesse as a much underrated sports saloon. It was the spiritual predecessor of BMW's
3 series in my view. It's just a pity in hindsight that the 1600 Vitesse was not launched with the Stromberg carbs, and that the swing spring was
not used early on, certainly on the 2 litre. It had been "invented" by then, and allegedly would have added &163;1 to the production cost.
If that had been done, then perhaps the Vitesse would have sold in much bigger numbers and not been overshadowed by the Cortina GT and Lotus).
A Herald with a tuned (ie Spitfire) 4 cylinder engine will be as quick as a Vitesse (if you thrash it) but it will feel quite different. You will
have to rev it harder, but it will also feel more nimble having less understeer. (But the rear end will eventually bite in just the same way if you
try too hard, just as with an early Spitfire or GT6).
While I love the 1200 Herald, I would not dismiss the 13/60. A DECENT small crank (ie GE not GK engine prefix) 1296 engine can be just as sweet as
the 1200, the extra power is useful, will pull an overdrive ratio more easily, and it does not use significantly more petrol for the better
performance. The interior is still pleasantly 1960s Triumph, and switch gear better to use in daily use. There are even fewer parts supply issues.
If you want more power, the 1296 engine has more potential, although the 1500 should not be discounted, and you will be familiar with that engine
already.
It all comes down to a matter of preference in looks and style, and of what is available on the market at the right time, right place, and of
course at the right price.
I'm not sure if the Honeybourne Mouldings hardtop is still available, but if not they do come up secondhand and that can make a Herald or Vitesse
completely snug and waterproof, although the standard hood is not bad in the winter.
However, just one word of caution: the Herald convertible is not a Stag, and the rear seats are a compromise. Fine on space for children, but a
tight squeeze for adults, and the upright seat back is not so comfortable for long journeys. Rear seat passengers get quite blasted by the wind
with the hood down at speed (MUCH more so than the front seat passengers) so the kids might find it fun for a while, but again not for a long or
fast journey with the hood down. Take them for a test drive if you can.
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Posted By : David Rumens,
19-Nov-2004, 08:11pm
I would agree with both Chris and Bill on the points they have raised.
I agree with you Chris re the Strombergs that they should have been fitted them a lot earler than they did. I converted the 1600 I had back in
the 1960's to the full Stromberg spec and what a difference it made. Still that's another story.
The point I would raise is if you are fitting a 1500 into a Herald then fit overdrive. The 1500 is a lower revving engine than the other types
in the series and the only way you fully gain any advantage of its use is to change the gearing to suit. The performace should be similar to
the 1500 Dolomite. i.e. 92 MPH top speed and zero to 60 in 14.5 Secs.
Just my ramblings
