When the Vitesse 6 was introduced in May 1962, Standard-Triumph created something of a stir, with the unusual combination of an existing compact car (the Triumph Herald) with a larger six-cylinder power plant to produce an up-market model with better performance from a smoother, more torquey engine, which made for a more pleasurable car to drive.
The 2-door Triumph Herald (introduced in 1959) had sharp looks styled by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, who also provided the revised front end for the Vitesse, which feature a slanted 4-headlamp design. The Vitesse also received a more luxurious interior in comparison to the Herald, with better seats, door trims and wooden door cappings to match the wooden dashboard. After 1963, a full range of Smith instruments was fitted to the Vitesse dashboard. The engine used is a 1596 cc version of the traditional straight-6 motor derived from the larger cars in the Standard-Triumph range, developing a claimed 70 bhp.
The new Vitesse 6 sold very well for Triumph, receiving praise for its performance, fuel economy, interior design and tight turning circle. With over 30,000 manufactured by the time production ceased in September 1966, it was a better seller than the 2-litre Vitesse model introduced as its replacement.
This car was first registered, new in Jersey, in September 1964. It has remained in the island all its life with only a handful of owners, the car having been in the same family from 1988 to 2020. The recorded mileage – under 63,000 – is genuine, supported by service history documents.
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