1975 Triumph Dolomite Sprint

[anonymous-user]

I have picked up a Dolly. Apols for crarpy photos (can't see phone screen in bright daylight). Drives very pleasantly, I must say.

[anonymous-user]

Mimosa Yellow, which is an uber Triumph colour, also good on a Staaaaaaaaaaag. BL, you betcha!

[anonymous-user]

1970s advertising rocked:-

[anonymous-user]

Yes, but I think they put those decals on later in the model run, although I'm not sure.

This Dolly seems to have been well looked after. It has some sensible upgrades including electronic ignition, an electric fan, polybushes and adjustable shocks. The stereo plays bangin' 70s choonze. Mrs BV approves.

[anonymous-user]

Cheers! The full length Webasto sunroof would have been an aftermarket or dealer option. The standard roof was covered with black vinyl. A Webasto can be a rust trap, but when open gives the car a semi convertible feel (for much less money and petrol than a Stag).

[anonymous-user]

The Toledo was not a bad little yarmouth, IIRC. This Sprint seems to be a good one, on a so far brief acquaintance. It's not a rocketship by modern standards, but it is fun to hustle along a country road, and is a reasonable motorway cruiser.

[anonymous-user]

Then seats are a sort of grey corduroy, but these ones are pretty unsaggy compared to some that you see. Comfy, but could do with more side bolstering.

I haven't yet tried the car in the wet (its previous owner only drove it in the dry). I suspect that it may be a tad gingerish. I haven't yet really pushed the car in the dry, but it seems to hang on reasonably well in swoopy bends. The tyres are decent Michelins all round, which may help a bit, but I will be cautious!

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 25th June 20:57

[anonymous-user]

I reckon that Dolly has aged better than i have........ ;-)

[anonymous-user]

There are currently two yellow ones, one green, and one white on sale online, AFAIK. I think that I may have made one of my better decisions on this one, but time will tell. I am glad that I resisted buying a cheaper but possibly wonky one a month or two ago.

[anonymous-user]

The HPE is now with a bloke in Reading being restored after I borked it. I am also moving on my Eclat, but pondering an Excel.

Today I drove the Dolly from South Oxfordshire to North East Norfolk to collect my daughter from school, sat through Speech Day, and then drove the jalope home again. The car was very goody two shoes all day, including a spell in a sweaty traffic jam near Cambridge. Must sort out noisy exhaust bracket.

[anonymous-user]

Women seem to like Sprints! My wife hates most of my cars but she, and various female friends who also deplore most heaps that I buy, like this one. You could get an iffy Sprint for 3K, an OK one for 4 to 5 (eg the green one on eBay at 4200). 7 is too much, I reckon. 5 to 6 ought to get a straight yarmouth. I saw two others and discussed one before I bought this one.

[anonymous-user]

[anonymous-user]

Resto photos from 2012, supplied by previous owner.

[anonymous-user]

Michelotti's only stinker that I can think of was the Reliant SS1.

[anonymous-user]

Small to medium saloon, comparable to a BMW 2002. The 2000/2500 range were the big saloons. The legroom in the back of a Dolly is pretty reasonable, given the small platform.

[anonymous-user]

Fronty bits -

[anonymous-user]

I sort of see your point. I might get a 1976 one. The car was registered on 31 December 1975.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 27th June 22:45

[anonymous-user]

I have sold my Lancias and Rangey. My wife has a reliable but slightly dull Peugeot 206 CC. I have a series 3 Landy and a Lotus Eclat, but am about to sell the Eclat, and may get a Lotus Excel instead.

[anonymous-user]

In a parallel reality, Triumph would have become the British BMW, but the crappy management at BL ruined this (people always blame the unions, but the management were blunderful in many ways).

[anonymous-user]

Nope, the Excel is a much better car than the Eclat (although the Eclat is maybe more funky), and is one of the most robust and reliable cars that Lotus have ever made.