Triumph Herald 948 Coupe 1961

Description:

For a short video of the vehicle please click here

A very original matching numbers 948 Coupe in Coffee and Sebring White with rare leather faced seats. Last MOT expired in May 2003 and has been off the road since, now on SORN. Engine turns but has not been started for a few years. Will require restoration, a small amount of welding was done in 2000. Was sold new by Lankesters in Surbiton Surrey delivery date 23.03.1961, Maintenance Voucher Book stamped up to 1970 or 71 (difficult to read). There are MOTs from 1975 through to 1997 then a gap with further MOTs from 1999 through to 2003 (there is one certificate missing from this period). The speedo was changed at 38,015 (miles noted in handbook), the mileage recorder now reads 16,138.

A letter from the vendor:
In May 2000 the TSSC (Triumph Sports Six Club) South of England Meet was held very close to my home in Leatherhead and as I had owned a Herald convertible back in the 1980s I thought I would take a look, the idea of buying a car that day was the last thing on my mind.
However I had always thought the Coupe was the most appealing variant of the Herald family, and amongst the usual saloons and convertibles on show there was a very pretty early Coupe in very original if slightly patinated condition and it had a “For Sale” sign in the windscreen.
Heart ruled Head and a week later it was mine.
My idea for the car was a sympathetic running restoration and for the first couple of years this was how it was, then when the MOT ran out I took it off the road thinking it would only be for a few weeks. As is often the case the weeks turned to months and the months to years. Over this time I did a few small jobs and I did think one day I would return it to road.
This is a lovely little car supplied new by Lankester Engineering Co. Ltd in Surbiton and not traveling far since. I think now is the time to pass it on to a new owner who can give it all the care and attention it deserves.

Auctioneers Note: The vendor has owned this car for many years. The history file is amazing, MOT’s’ go back to 1975, old tax discs, build certificate, showing that she was built on 25.1.61. In all the papers you will find original service book, sale and service dictionary, owners handbook and a very useful owners repair manual It is possible that this rare coupe could have only covered 54,000 miles. There has been a speedometer change at 38,015 miles in ’71 ’72 and the speedometer is now reading 16,138 miles that gives a total of 54,153 miles, which is stacked up by the service history, old MOT’s and the vendor’s letter.