[john a milne]

I was told that this car is up for sale either in Guwahati or Shillong and thought I would let the Club know. Don't have much information, but was told it could be driven to Calcutta and could check it out further. The Photo looks great to me but I'm not a "Standard kind of Guy - yet".

[wasif]

Guys.

Back in the late 1990's I had a herald in convertible in Hyderabad.

It was white in colour. For many years it used to belong to a lady on Road No.4 Banjara Hills whose husband used to work for Brooke Bond.

Does anyone remember this car ?

It had a beautifully amd professionally made soft top. The top anchored on the leading edge of the windscreen with two beautifull chromed catches.

Other than this there were two extra latches on the doors, around halfway to the middle of the door. They were visible when one opened the door.

I sold it to a gentleman who used to live behind Mahaveer Hospital and was a Journalist. He had if I am correct four sons and they were all Herald fans.

Now what I want to know was that did Standard ever sell any convertible versions of the Herald or were these aftermarket creations.

Look forward to some clarifications on this issue.

[Cyrus43]

Nope, Standard never sold any Convertibles. They were all made later. Anywyas, I think Stanher is the best person to answer your query.

[amit V8]

nope wasif, standard never sold any convertible versions in india. (as far as i know.)

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by wasif

Now what I want to know was that did Standard ever sell any convertible versions of the Herald or were these aftermarket creations.

Great to know about another Herald in Hyderabad!

Firstly, could you let me know whether your Herald was a Standard or an imported Triumph? The extra door catches you mention came only in the original UK convertibles. So I'd find it curiously interesting to know about these in a Standard one!

These are the only 2 professionally done convertibles I know of in Hyderabad. The white one was first owned by a Parsi lady in Secunderabad; I'm told she'd got it turned into a convertible by a dealer in Bombay (maybe Metro motors) when the car new itself.
It's now owned by a gentleman in Adarsh Nagar since many years. His son mostly uses it.

The red one I'd seen in Masab tank close to the Mahaveer Hospital area. 'never met the owner. This car was on sale then, for a rather steep price. I don't know if it's still around.

Both these cars have been fitted with 'TRIUMPH' badging!











AFAIK Standard Motors Madras did not ever sell the OE convertible version in India. They would've suspected that it wouldn't have much of a market then. Many as it is felt that Herald initially being a 2-door itself was a mistake for Indian families. Although some erstwhile Standard dealers did convert a few on special orders, using the correct specs. as per UK convertibles, as seen on the above white (and red) car.

[wasif]

Hey Stanher.

Thanks for the pictures. I remember the white car, used to see it quite often at Secunderabad Club.

Never seen the red one though.

There was a deep green convertible in Marredpally which used to be a daily drive. Any idea what happened to it.

My car was a Standard Herald. I bought it from Ghanshyam who was one of the only vintage / classic used motorbike parts dealer in the Ganj area.

I mentioned to him that i used to see a similar car on Road No 4 Banjara Hills driven by a lady when i used to go to school at HPS. The car had later disapeared without a trace.

Ghanshyam said that this was the same car and the lady's husband who worked for Brooke Bond had parked it at his office in the factory.

The body and paint were good but a lot of rattles in the doors and the enjine needed a rebuild as it didn't pull too good.

The canvas roof had a scissor like frame which had a small catch on both sides, just behing the closing line of the doors, to lock the scissor mechanism when you were driving with the top up. The locks would also lift the frame up and give the soft top a uniform height.

The two catches on the windscreen were neat chrome fittings which
looked too well made to be a local job. The side latches on the door were also something i had never seen on any car earlier.

The dynamo, distributor etc all were British made Lucas items but there was no triumph badging anywhere.

After i bought this car Heralsds became a rage with car lovers at ther Sec Bad Club.

DKG's uncle Kewal wanted very much to buy this car but i didn't want to sell it so finally he went and bought another one and had the top removed. I wonder if he still has this car. I m sure he remembers my car.

I really didn't want to sell my Herald but it so happened that the Gentleman who I sold it to knew my grandmother. When he found out about this car he would come over to my house with his kids and bug me to sell the car.

It was amusing the way the boys and their father would land up every weekend wanting to buy the car. They wouldn't leave so finally I gave in and sold it to then.

The last I knew he had had the car painted and was going to have the engine done.

He used to live in one of those small government style quarters behind Mahavir Hospital. I would love to know what happened to this car.

The top when folded slid into a cavity behind the rear seat flat with the body line. If you look in the white car in your pictures you will see that they have moved the back seat a little forward to accomodate the top but in my car the seat was as standard

All ponting to this being a factory convertible. What do you think

There was also a metal X brace under the flooring which i don't remember much about now.


I also remeber another Herald with one of my fathers friends. It had the slanting front corners where there normally were one headlinght and two small indicator and parking lights.

This car had two headlights on each corner instead and he used to use it for ralleying even taking part in the charminar challenge.

The car was modified and had a twin carb setup. I am not sure if this was a Standard or a Triumph but it was very fast.

The owners owned the Mico/ Bosch dealership Paramount Entps.

[TuffRyder]

Here are some pictures of a Triumph GT6 from the Haig Rally held in Delhi last year. The car is owned by Mr. Harinder Singh (spelling?)

Note: I haven't blanked out the number plates as these pictures are taken from a rally. Pictures taken by a friend of mine.

[Stanher]

Apologies for the delay in replying.

Originally Posted by wasif

There was a deep green convertible in Marredpally which used to be a daily drive. Any idea what happened to it.

Nope sorry, I've no idea about such a Herald in Marredpally (I wish!:( )
Do you recall the number?
That area, incidentally, used to be full of Heralds a couple of decades ago, I'm told.

My car was a Standard Herald. I bought it from Ghanshyam who was one of the only vintage / classic used motorbike parts dealer in the Ganj area.

Ganj? You mean Afzulganj??
I think I've heard of him...

The two catches on the windscreen were neat chrome fittings which looked too well made to be a local job. The side latches on the door were also something i had never seen on any car earlier.

As I'd said, these were fittings that were standard on UK Herald convertibles. So, they wouldn't be local fittings but imported from the UK for sure- maybe the previous owner's husband was aware of Triumph clubs in the UK and had ordered parts (inc. maybe the soft-top kit) from there as well?
BTW, do you recall the chassis no. prefix? If it started with 6G, then it was definitely a saloon-turned-convertible. (6= serial no. for India in list of CKD markets, G = 948cc saloon)
The white conv. APU 4126 in my pics. also has such a prefix, which is how I concluded that it's an owner-done mod., even before I was told that it had been done so.

DKG's uncle Kewal wanted very much to buy this car but i didn't want to sell it so finally he went and bought another one and had the top removed. I wonder if he still has this car. I m sure he remembers my car.

Well, he certainly didn't mention his own Herald to me when I'd met him (just once at the DHAA 15th aug. rally in 2005, when I had a ride in his austin)....'never occured to me that he'd liked buying one!

I really didn't want to sell my Herald but it so happened that the Gentleman who I sold it to knew my grandmother. When he found out about this car he would come over to my house with his kids and bug me to sell the car.He used to live in one of those small government style quarters behind Mahavir Hospital. I would love to know what happened to this car.

I incidentally do know of just one muslim gent (a retired govt. officer) with 2 grown-up sons who lives in one of those tiny little old, yellow houses you mention (originally given as quarters for hte Army I'm told) who had a white '64 Herald (for sale)...BUT it's very much an owner modded soft-top, I mean nothing like the ones on the cars I've posted (nor presumably your car either), but a shoddy local job (although he claims it to be original itself and quoted a rather steep price for the car! ) AND he got his car from a dealer in Masab tank, not direct from the owner.
So it couldn't be your car. Maybe someone else in that same locality.

If you look in the white car in your pictures you will see that they have moved the back seat a little forward to accomodate the top but in my car the seat was as standard

The seat in this car looks normal as per UK convertibles to me (they do have a slight "straight-backed" appearance) and the seat is a little cut out at the top and even slightly less in width- was your car's rear seat like this?

All ponting to this being a factory convertible. What do you think

Well, if you have any old pics. of the car it'd help. All the more useful if you recall the prefix of the chassis no. I'm sure though, that standard motors, madras didn't give an option of convertibles for the heralds they produced. Maybe because of fear of lack of mass-appeal or government restrictions of that time.

There was also a metal X brace under the flooring which i don't remember much about now.

If you mean the diagonal outriggers off the chassis where the rear bodytub sits (see pic.)



Or was there a X-brace fitted to the rear of the chassis (although this was only in the later Heralds for carrying the spare tyre)

[harit]

Hi,

This is a Standard caught by chance on a Bank of India card.
Note the following, other than the car, there the Standard specialists can comment:
Malabar Hill branch was on Hughes Road.
The bank's name includes The & Ltd, so before nationalisation.
This is probably near Kemps Corner before the flyover was built, and the building probably still exists.
Bombay telephone no is 5 digits.
Now enjoy the car and comment.

Cheers Harit

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by harit

This is a Standard caught by chance on a Bank of India card.
Note the following, other than the car, there the Standard specialists can comment:
Malabar Hill branch was on Hughes Road.
The bank's name includes The & Ltd, so before nationalisation.
This is probably near Kemps Corner before the flyover was built, and the building probably still exists.
Bombay telephone no is 5 digits.
Now enjoy the car and comment.

Nice pic.! And interesting inputs you'd given about the time the pic. was taken as well! Incidentally, Hughes road was also originally where Metro Motors (the Standard Motors showroom in B'bay) was based.
Might I add one more to your notes: Employed men in those times commonly wore white shirts and white pants, with black shoes!
I've noticed this even in old movies!

As for the car, it is a mid '50s Standard 10/late 50s Super 10, although I would say that the car wasn't too new when the pic. was taken as it seems to have gone through a repaint, with it's originally cream/ivory rims painted black.

[harit]

Originally Posted by Stanher

Nice pic.! And interesting inputs you'd given about the time the pic. was taken as well! Incidentally, Hughes road was also originally where Metro Motors (the Standard Motors showroom in B'bay) was based.

The Metro Motors still exists, but is now a dealer for Mitsubishi vehicles. That is located at the other end of Hughes Road. There were many more car show rooms located in that area, but slowly they turned into Jewelery show rooms. There was French Motors selling Ambys, now Crossword. Then Sanghi exists. Then United Motors, now Westside. Then Sanghi Motors for Mercs, earlier leased to Tata for Tata cars. Then Sah & Sanghi, I believe now selling 2 wheelers and partially closed. Then Royal Car, Noble Motors and Brookland Garage, all shut down. Metro Motors exists. Then Bombay Cycle & Motor Industries, now having restaurants. Then Dhadajee Dhakjee, now with a Bank. Then you come to Opera House area which has many spares shops, though many have shut down. In that area there was also a Ford Assembly plant. On Hughes Road where Dharam Palace now stands there was a Dunlop godown.
Anyone knows of any more such showrooms in that area?

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by harit

The Metro Motors still exists, but is now a dealer for Mitsubishi vehicles. That is located at the other end of Hughes Road.

I understand it is now at "NyAyamurthy SAdhuram PAtkar road"? Also someone here said they still have a Vanguard and a Super 10 (ie. like the car in your above pic.) displayed in their showroom (NOT for sale though!)

Anyone got any pics. of those??

[SuperSelect]

Originally Posted by harit

The Metro Motors still exists, but is now a dealer for Mitsubishi vehicles. That is located at the other end of Hughes Road. There were many more car show rooms located in that area, but slowly they turned into Jewelery show rooms. There was French Motors selling Ambys, now Crossword. Then Sanghi exists. Then United Motors, now Westside. Then Sanghi Motors for Mercs, earlier leased to Tata for Tata cars. Then Sah & Sanghi, I believe now selling 2 wheelers and partially closed. Then Royal Car, Noble Motors and Brookland Garage, all shut down. Metro Motors exists. Then Bombay Cycle & Motor Industries, now having restaurants. Then Dhadajee Dhakjee, now with a Bank. Then you come to Opera House area which has many spares shops, though many have shut down. In that area there was also a Ford Assembly plant. On Hughes Road where Dharam Palace now stands there was a Dunlop godown.
Anyone knows of any more such showrooms in that area?

Harit, the STC showroom located before the Kemp's Corner flyover - always a visual treat, with lots of droolworthy cars ! As a boy, I remember walking down from my house on Pedder Road, just to see "phoren" cars. Isn't it where the Porsche showroom now stands ??

Originally Posted by Stanher

I understand it is now at "NyAyamurthy SAdhuram PAtkar road"? Also someone here said they still have a Vanguard and a Super 10 (ie. like the car in your above pic.) displayed in their showroom (NOT for sale though!)

Anyone got any pics. of those??

I'm trying to get them machAn, may spring a surprise one of these days.

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by SuperSelect

I'm trying to get them machAn, may spring a surprise one of these days.

Uh, get what exactly?? You mean the pics. only right?

[Jai3033]

Picked up my first standard car, a 1961 Standard Pennant last week in Bangalore. Inspite of a history of 3 owners this car surprisingly has some original parts like the "Made in England" wiper blades, keys and other small bits. Also the car was mechanically sound prompting myself and my friend to drive from Bangalore to Chennai almost non stop except for a 15 mins break at Cafe Coffee day in Kolar.