The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

…of a ‘series 2’ car being registered on a ‘P’ plate?

I would have thought just possible…but very slim…

Are we talking about the £26K Sprint advertised as 'original' on eBay that is not original with coilovers, braided brakelines etc. etc?

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1979 Dolomite SE (Black Obviously)
2000 Saab 'Viggen' Convertible in 'Lightening Blue'

Dave

What's a "series 2" car? There are early & late cars.

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Sprintless for the first time in 35+ years. ... Still Sprintless.

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1997 TVR Chimaera 450

Since we OWNED, between us, a series 1 auto Sprint on a P plate with a VA number in the mid 10k range, i'd say there's a very good chance it's legit. Don't forget the P plate was first issued on 01/08/75. I think the series 1 was still current then, or only JUST out of production.

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.

Maybe I have imagined this, but doesn't Rob Marshall own (or has owned) a P reg Dolomite 1500?


Ian

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The"series" definitions only really apply to Sprints as the other models don't have such clearly defined production boundaries.

Series 1 is VA1-VA14999 (actually only about 11500 built) Series 2 is VA15000-VA19999 (roughly 3000 actually built) Series 3 is VA20000-VA29999 (almost 7000 built) and series 4 is VA 30000> and includes all VIN numbered cars. Though the series definitions were never used by the factory, whose opinion was that a Sprint is a Sprint, end of, each series has subtle but recognisable differences that were introduced at the chassis number breaks. So anyone in the know can tell the differences from looking round the car (and, most frequently, pick holes in other peoples restos ) It's a handy shorthand to use.

The dates of these series changes can be found elsewhere on this forum. I just can't be bothered to look it up right now, it's past my bedtime!

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.

I checked…the dash revisions (all models) started to be produced in May ‘76, I thought from memory it was July ‘76.

Anyway, tandem brake systems on UK cars were much later still.

I however have fairly reliable information that the Sprint in question was a different colour when it left the factory and probably in a different shell!

Mine is an "early" VA15xxx series 2 chassis number, though the car has a lot of series 1 features. 1st reg 1/8/75

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1975 Sprint Man O/D in Honeysuckle Yellow
1971 Stag Auto White

Too many cars, too little time!

I have a May 76 P that I bought as my daily car 33 years ago and it is definitely original and a round hazard switch dash. It is a few numbers short of VA15,000 too, so I suspect as Alan intimates, the second series started around the April/May time 76. It had 18 owners in the 15 years before I owned it too - one every 10 months! With the engine rebuilt, I then added 50,000 miles without touching it, all on standard carbs and points & condenser - never even had to replace a coil - everywhere flat out and bar the odd usual regular mechanical maintenance, never once let me down. All for £500!