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December 2011
To date, I don't think we've produced a summary of cars within the database. The database seems to be updated every month (still!) and so the number of records we have increases. So as the year ends I thought it would be a great opportunity to take stock of cars we have information on and publish some findings. Of course, by the time you read this it will be out of date as the database will no doubt have increased as we head into 2012. Traditionally the Christmas break always seems a good time for owners to surf the net and send details to us - hence the new year tends to offer a healthy crop of new additions. Year end our data was thus:



5,611 cars within the database. Saloons, Coupes and Convertibles, with a breakdown of how they fit within the list by numberplate reference, commission number or unique reference. Clearly the numberplate reference seems to be the most popular way to find a particular car - as the numberplate is often seen within an accompanying photograph. Where possible we like to have the numberplate, commission number, photograph and any details relating to the car, but we know this will not always be possible.

2011 added a lot of cars, a year ago we were arounf the 5,000 mark. That's adding over 600 cars in the year. That said there are not another 600 cars 'discovered' on the road as many of the cars we add are from period photos, records and memories and certainly do not no longer survive.

The count for surviving 948cc coupes stands at 195 (plus the half Motor show car) which amazes me as when we first started the best guess from most people was 25-50 cars. 195 is a worldwide figure with many fine examples surviving in warmer, dryer climates such as Australia and New Zealand, with late Convertibles seeming to pop out in the US and Canada. Talking if which, the Convertible count is 41 - again thats worldwide. Only 12 of these cars are based in the UK.

Top of the list for 2012 is a tally up of existing Saloons. We'll go through the records and publish the findings adding a counter with the Coupe and Convertible. Whilst made in higher quantities, it will be interesting to see the number.

In the UK. 'How Many Left' was launched. Using DVLA records it says how many of a particular model are still on the UK car database. We applaud the idea but it has had a mixed response from car enthusiasts and the figures must not be taken as gospel. Many models are lumped together and some do not feature at all. Some cars, it seems, there are more around now - particularly Triumph Vitesses and TRs in the Triumph marque. Other cars are seemingly still in production with original Cooper S Mini's increasing year on year and Ford Escorts - Mexicos and RS models, appearing in alarming numbers - and the Triumph Italia? The DVLA has none yet they still do exist in the UK!

The 'Official' figures for 948cc Triumph Herald surviving cars for 2011 were:
Licensed
Q1- 181
Q2- 177
Q3- 175
Q4 - N/A

SORN'd (thats means taken off the road but not scrapped)
Q1- 44
Q2- 46
Q3- 54
Q4 - N/A

The two figures kind of makes sense. Assuming at the start of the year there were 181 cars on the road, during the year 6 were sorn'd or (or scapped). The total then sorn'd was 10 - thats plus 4 cars. 'Found' cars? We certainly know of 948cc cars that were found in 2011 that have had new owners and which have possibly been Sorned thus adding to the sorned number.
Interestingly, or bonkers though, dependant on your outlook we have owned early cars that have been off the road many years that are not on the DVLA database as Licensed (ie not roadworthy) or Sorn'd. We have spoken to the DVLA to which they have told us again and again the partular car"'is not required". To me that doesn't make sense and thus dents the credibility of the 'official' DVLA numbers.

So according to the DVLA the total 948cc Triumph Heralds in 2011 were 229 (Thats UK only remember) (and theres no split between Saloon, Coupe or Convertible).

The previous years (back to 1994 - apparently the cut-off point for Sorning your car). Here are these figures:
2010............ 177 (Plus 49 Sorn'd)
2009............ 180 (Plus 46 Sorn'd)
2008............ 176 (Plus 50 Sorn'd)
2007............ 179 (Plus 55 Sorn'd)
The following have no Sorn figures
2006............ 182
2005............ 201
2004............ 215
2003............ 206
2002............ 211
2001............ 221
2000............ 233
1999............ 240
1998............ 254
1997............ 250
1996............ 268
1995............ 217
1994............ 224

So taking these numbers 2012 will see if we can account for ALL these cars. Does our list have 229 UK-based cars? Less or more? We'll address this and come back with our findings in due course.

Assuming around 50 would have been Sorn'd condition, the figures seem to indicate around 50 cars have been lost/scrapped since 1994, or 18%. That cannot continue so for 2012 if you do come across a 948cc Triumph Herald for sale perhaps it could be you that saves it!

The next set of figures are interesting as they do split the year of first registration. These are based on licensed and sorned cars in 2010. Again, in the great DVLA tradition some dates are wrong with cars apparently being first registered in the eighties and nineties!
1959 Cars - Licensed: 24 Sorned: 9..................TOTAL: 33
1960 Cars - Licensed: 72 Sorned: 26..................TOTAL: 98
1961 Cars - Licensed: 37 Sorned: 7..................TOTAL: 44
1962 Cars - Licensed: 8 Sorned: 2..................TOTAL: 10
1963 Cars - Licensed: 9 Sorned: 0..................TOTAL: 9
1964 Cars - Licensed: 3 Sorned: 0..................TOTAL: 3

1965 Onwards - Licensed: ? Sorned: ?..................TOTAL: 29 (We came to this figure with 226-197)

Total cars for 1959 to 1964 is: 197
1965 onwards
226 cars on DVLA for 2010

Thats the summary and I'm afraid I'm not going to re-read to check for typos or grammatical errors. Apologies for any that are present.

www.triumph-herald.com

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