BY CSMI STAFF WRITER

There are few classic cars that spring to mind when you think of India. One that is held in high regard is the Triumph Standard Herald. This 2-door saloon came into existence back in 1959 in Coventry, UK. Triumph had great success with the Herald in the market and the saloon can still be seen on the roads of the UK.

Watching the success of the Herald globally, Indian automobile manufacturer Standard decided to bring the car to India. Initially after the collaboration with Triumph, Standard used to source the majority of parts of the Herald from the UK. Indian customers had two options: a 4-door saloon or 5-door estate version.

Talking about the car, a 1.0-litre engine powered the Herald which produced around 42hp of power and 67Nm of torque. The Herald could easily reach a top speed of 112kmph, which might not be much but was enough for cruising in luxury at the time.

The Standard Herald was equipped with independent suspension at all the wheels, a feature which is still not present in every car. This made the Herald a highly comfortable car. The car was available in 5 different colours: Sebring White, Powder Blue, Phantom Grey, Black and Conifer Green.

The Indian automotive industry had just begun to take off. There were very few cars that had a design other than the old school saloons. The Standard Herald came in as an exception. Although one might say that the design is still a traditional one, the Herald sported a bolder and sleeker chassis. With optimum curves and cuts, the Herald easily stood apart from the key opponents.

The round headlamps with a chrome grille at the front and a sloping bonnet with the badging added to the luxury looks. The interiors were pretty good too. The separate front seats with adjustable driver seat just added more. The upholstery was another addition to the grandeur of the Standard Herald. The extremely slim front and rear pillars of the car made it a pleasant car to drive.

The first generation of Standard Herald did pretty well in the Indian market. This generation was based on the Triumph Vitesse. This model of Herald was pretty well received too, all thanks to the unique design and reliable luxury.

In 1972, the company revamped the Standard Herald which came with a different front grille and wide-apart headlights. For the suspension duties, the Gazel had independent wishbone suspension at the front and coil springs at the rear.

Today these cars are highly collectible. They come with loads of memories attached.