The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi,

Got couple of Questions if anyone can help! Taken purchase of my Dads Dolly Sprint. He got it in June 88, Date of registration is 13th May 1976. When would the date of manufacture be? Is it one of better ones regarding the metal, and the colour just says yellow but not sure which one. Also how can i find out any history pre 88 regarding owners and stuff?

thanks

If you tell me the VIN number, I can give you an approximation of build date. '76 was the cross over year, so it could fall either side of the changes...

And likewise the colour code from the commission plate, could be Mimosa yellow or Inca.

If the comm number is over VA15000, it's a "facelift" car. Only a Heritage certificate will give you an accurate-ish build date but we can make an educated guess from the comm number.

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

Vin number is VA20398DLO. Colour code 64

OK so your car is a so called "series 3" car and was indeed built in 1976, the 1154th Sprint built that year from a total of 4035, 756 of these were the series 2 models. So if we arbitrarily divide annual production by 12 to get a monthly figure and do some sums, that gives a probable build date in the first week of April 1976.

64 is Mimosa Yellow.

Hope this helps, Steve

_________________
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

Thanks, thats cleared that up... Now to order the Paint.

Only Mimosa was dropped with series 2, series 3 should be Inca...shouldn't it?

I was thinking just that, unless it's a case of 'using up the dregs in the bottom of the can' before moving on to inca?

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Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3

Well I thought it was strange too, but the 20,000+ vin makes it a series 3 and the colour code is definitely Mimosa. So what we all thought we know is obviously wrong! Mind you, it IS a very early series 3!

Every day a school day!

Steve

Regarding the OP's other questions, I would say the build quality and steel used on his car falls into the "intermediate" category, it didn't get really bad until 77. But it's not the best! Regarding history, a form V85 (V88? the number escapes me temporarily, must be getting old!) from your local PO sent to DVLA will get you a list of ALL registered keepers since computer records began. A heritage certificate will get you at least a dispatch date from the factory, possibly a build date and the name and location of the dealer it was sent to when new.

_________________
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

I guess hixy comes from the land Down Under

There's a couple of early VA 20,000-ish Sprints with 64 Mimosa colour, but only the cars destined for Australia. All other yellows from VA 20,000-on are Inca (94).

Hope this helps

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Ronald
Club Triumph Holland - Dolomite Registrar




www.triumphowners.com/tahitisprint

And I think you made some pics overthere last month.

Jeroen

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Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com

V888 is the form you need:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -a-vehicle

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1978 Triumph Dolomite Sprint (project thread)
1966 Volkswagen 1300 (project thread)
1962 Austin Mini (project)
1962 MGA 1600 Mark II
1965 Mobylette SP50 (project)
2001 Rover 75 2.5-litre V6