Description
Triumph Dolomite Sprint - £15, 495 (offers welcome)
The specification:
- 2. 0 liter 16 valve slant-4 engine (127bhp/ 0-60 8. 4 seconds)
- Four speed manual with overdrive
- Vermillion paint
- Bri-Nylon seats with matching black carpet
- GKN Alloy wheels
- Black vinyl roof
- Sundym tinted and laminated glass
Mechanicals:
- Engine is in excellent condition. Plenty of torque down in low RPM and pulls well all the way up high. It still feels surprisingly quick, even in modern traffic. Neither is it burning oil - it barely requires top ups and there’s no smoke from the exhaust (can send video on request).
- No overheating issues. Having read all the forums I expected to fit an electric fan once I bought the car, but it’s always held a consistent temperature with the mechanical fan so I’ve left it as original.
- Gearbox shifts through the gears and has that very mechanical feel which I recognise from other Triumph models.
- Overdrive is fully functional in 3rd and 4th gears. Engages and disengages instantly from the gear knob switch.
- Brakes, whilst not a strong point of a Dolomite Sprint, function well stopping the car without pulling to either side. Handbrake holds the car on modest hills.
- Steering is straight and smooth all the way up to motorway speeds. However it’s a little heavier at parking speeds.
- Ride is comfortable and there’s no noticeable bumps or knocks to report.
- Handling is authentically 70’s (there’s some body roll!). Could benefit from polybushing or adjustable spring/ damping if restomodding is your thing - though perhaps at detriment of the supple ride.
- Front anti-roll bar bushes are past their best. New ones included in the sale.
- No significant whining from the drivetrain.
History:
- MOT certificates going back 34 years.
- British Motor Industry heritage certificate.
- Loads of invoices under my ownership and previous owners.
- Period sales colour brochures.
- Original handbook and sleeve.
Electrical:
- The switches, interior lights, exterior lights function and Triumph’s ‘all-systems-go’ warning lights all work.
- Condition of all the wiring looks good. Unusually for a British car, the electrics have been surprisingly reliable.
Exterior:
- Body panels look good. All doors and boot lid close and lock. Both sets of keys.
- Chromework still has plenty of shine but does have some patena, as you would expect.
- The Vermillion red paint (orange) still really pops. No evidence of fading, cracking or crazing. Small bubble on the bottom right corner or the driver's door skin (roughly 20p coin size - see photo). Previous owners have evidently washed the car quite well, as the paint doesn’t appear to have any obvious swirl marks. All in all, the paint presents well for its age.
Interior:
- Instrumentation is in great condition. Everything works from volt gauge to speedo.
- Original walnut facia is in perfect condition. No cut outs, or peeling veneer.
- All original switchgear present and functional.
- Heater works well, putting out a considerable amount of heat. Heated rear screen also functions fine.
- Doors/ boot are watertight and no sign of historic water ingress. Seals for the bonnet and boot are fresh.
Underside:
- No holes in the floor pans and the subframe looks intact.
- Both the differential and gearbox weep some oil. However not enough to require a top up between services.
Work undertaken:
- Full coolant flush, and new thermostat.
- Coolant pipes on radiator and heater replaced.
- Refurbished wheels.
- Stainless sports exhaust (standard stainless system included in sale)
- Lumenition electronic ignition and coil (old points ignition included in sale)
- Brake servo replaced.
- Front brake calipers reconditioned.
- Brake master cylinder rebuild.
- Boot Lid repainted.
- Carburetor float valves and chamber seals replaced.
- All rubber fuel lines replaced.
- Rear o/ s chrome bumper corner replaced.
- Bonnet and boot seals replaced.
- Airbox filter box repainted.
- Gearbox/ differential fill plugs replaced.
- Door mirrors replaced.
- Radio coaxial cable replaced.
- Horn replaced.
- Indicator light seals replaced.
- Brand new battery.
- Underside waxoiled yearly.
- Generally tidy all the electrics, cleaning contacts on gauges, switches and ground points.
- And the usual service items, including all fluids. Overall this Dolomite Sprint is a solid, usable example. Under my ownership I have driven it regularly and kept it maintained. My priority has been to make sure the car drives well and has reliable mechanicals, for a classic at least..
The condition of the exterior is consummate with its age, so is certainly not concours, but still presents well enough to take to local shows.
I have made mild improvements to the car's usability with the electronic ignition, and exhaust note with the stainless sports system - the standard parts are included in the sale just in case.
This car can either be enjoyed straight away without requiring work, or given the millage, improved to a collector level.
Please feel free to message online, text or call for questions and booking in-person viewings. Happy to do walk arounds via video call if preferred.
