Description
Triumph Vitesse: Utterly Original/ 1st Owner 50 Years
The Triumph Herald was launched in 1959 and, like the Spitfire, was designed by Giovanni Michelotti. The Vitesse was introduced in May 1962 and was an immediate success providing sports car performance (it was faster than the Sunbeam Alpine) with four seats.
Our original Signal Red/ Black stripe with black trim interior Vitesse was bought by Mr Gordon Stokes from Camden Motors Birmingham for the princely sum of £788 on 17th November 1965. He negotiated a 10% discount and options selected included the smart duo-tone paint, tonneau cover and chrome extension to the exhaust pipe!
The car has never been restored and is utterly original – right down to the protective padding in the hood aperture under the rear deck – we have never seen this still in place. Maintenance items that Mr Stokes did replace in later years included reconditioned gearbox, new clutch, unleaded head, starter motor and ring gear.
In 2003, after nearly 50 years of ownership, Gordon and the car won the "Best Unrestored Vitesse" at the 2003 TSSC international Show – he had been runner up for a number of years. The car passed from his ownership to a close neighbour on 16th November 2015…1 day short of 50 years of ownership
On the road the car drives much as it did when it left the factory in 1965. The willing 1600cc six-cylinder engine is beautifully smooth, and the gearbox was rebuilt (there was a weak synchro on third gear) by Milestones when we marketed the car previously. Brakes, suspension, steering are all excellent and the car is a genuine pleasure to drive.
The body has never been removed from the chassis, the panel gaps are as good as when they left the factory (it is a Triumph), around 90% of the paint is original and the chassis is superb.
The interior again is utterly original – seats, dash, carpet and those pads in the hood stowage area…there will be very few Vitesse’s in the country with these.
The history folder contains original Bill of Sale, Factory Guarantee, invoices / MOT’s / service information + paperwork from Mr Stokes when he sent his agreed value letter into the TSSC each year – he was a detail man.
Milestones have sold this remarkable car on three occasions, and we are always delighted when she comes back to us. Original, unrestored Vitesse’s in this condition are almost impossible to find and we expect this lovely example to find an appreciative new custodian very quickly.
