Triumph Herald
A crisp Italian-styled small car that could turn on a sixpence.
The story
Triumph could not get a supplier to press a one-piece body, so the Herald was built on a separate chassis with body sections that bolted together. That made saloon, coupé, convertible, estate and van versions easy to offer.
Inside
A wooden dash on most versions, good all-round visibility and a steering wheel you could adjust.
In period colours
Tap a colour to respray the drawing.
Its turning circle was as tight as a London taxi's, and the whole front end tilted forward for servicing.
Meanwhile, in 1959
The first stretch of the M1 motorway opened, and Cliff Richard's Living Doll topped the charts.
Best-selling single of 1959: Living Doll by Cliff Richard
Before you buy a 1950s car
- Check the sills, floorpans, wheel arches and the bottom of the doors for rust.
- Ask for any old MOT certificates, service records and bills.
- Parts for popular cars are often available from specialists, but trim and body panels can be hard to find.
General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.
Rivals of its day
Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.
See the real thing
These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.
Today's money: the launch price adjusted for inflation to 2026, using the Office for National Statistics price index.