Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2024 - Cars on Saturday the 9th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. The Dolomite Sprint was launched at the 1973 Earls Court Motor Show as the sporty variant of Triumph’s ever popular Dolomite. While the standard Dolomite and the Sprint shared the same platform, the upgrades were plentiful with the Sprint. Mechanically, it benefited from a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) 2-litre engine now producing 127bhp, a near 30bhp uplift over the standard 1. 8-litre Dolomite allowing 0-60mph in 8. 5s! The handling was more performance orientated with independent front suspension and a tweaked live rear axle. Aesthetically, the Sprint had a sportier look with a more aggressive stance and the all-important ‘Sprint’ badging. In the seven year production run between 1973-1980, according to the records there were 22, 941 Sprints produced, with a worryingly large number of those cars now being laid to rest in the great scrapyard in the sky due to chronic rust issues. To find an untouched example in lovely condition these days is a hard task, but that is exactly what is on offer here.
The story behind this 1975 Dolomite Sprint is wonderful. It was bought new, enjoyed, then parked up in the owner's garage and left untouched for decades. The original owners were certainly perfectionists as the car still retains its original plastic interior door card covers.
Since its discovery, it's been entrusted to marque expert, Ken Clarke Motorsport, for a full mechanical recommissioning with the emphasis on maintaining originality and that has undoubtedly been achieved. The car now runs and drives beautifully, whilst retaining all its original features, paintwork and chromework. It's accompanied by invoices, bills and paperwork that corroborate the remarkable indicated mileage of 11, 846.
The Dolly Sprint was rightfully lauded in period as it was an approachable and affordable way into a sporty small saloon. Rear-wheel drive, powerful revvy engine, competition pedigree and all in a 1970s saloon with not a Blue Oval badge in sight. They sold like 'hot cakes' and, in common with 'hot cakes', there aren't many left.
The words ‘time warp’ and ‘barn find’ are thrown around a lot in today’s classic car market, however to find a car that is unequivocally a 'time warp barn find' yet functions exactly the way it should is very special. The words ‘find another’ couldn’t be more prominent with the Dolomite, and what a fabulous example this is.
