What got you into Dolomites?

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algtj · #1 Post by **algtj** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:11 am

Bored with being off work so thought I would find out how people got into these cars. 
Sorry if this has been done before. 
My story started with an uncle and his russet 1500 HL (funny how years later I own one) which he part exchanged for a 1850 HL in a maroon colour. 
As I became of age my next door neighbour got a Sprint which fired my enthusiasm once more and I sold my Cortina 2.0 S. 
With the proceeds I bought an 1850 which unfortunately rotted away beneath me. 
Now having the skills to look after old cars I sold my brand new Alfa and bought a fleet of old car's, which look so much better and I can fix without resorting to main dealer support. 
With my fleet in mind I could not afford to run a Sprint which I would have loved, so I built up the next best thing from a nice 1500 HL. 
I love the car and if I can be persuaded to sell my Ascona might complete the Sprint metamorphosis..... 
Time will tell.

Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... b>algtj</A> at: 30/11/05 10:05 am

davepoth · #2 Post by **davepoth** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:59 am

My grandad had a russet 1300 which I always remember smelled nice. A few years ago I was talking to friends about cars and the Sprint was mentioned, usually when talking about our fathers' crazy roundabout related antics in their youth. That got me interested. 
 
Then a friend bought an MGB and I thought "I must have a quicker car". I've always liked BL cars, so I went and found the fastest accelerating BL cars. 
 
I couldn't afford a Metro 6R4, a MGBGTv8 or a TR5 or 6, so the next one down was the sprint. Nice, I thought. I spent my first month's wages on it and it's been mostly in the garage ever since. But I love it to bits.

ecurie · #3 Post by **ecurie** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:33 am

In 1980, when I was 12, my uncle gave me a car yearbook. In it was a road test of a russet Dolomite Sprint. For some reason I was very impressed with it, especially as it was a very rare car in Belgium. 
 
It never really left my mind and some 6 years ago I finally found my very own Sprint. Must be longing back to my youth. 
 
Benoit 
 
ps. by the way, I still have that yearbook.

tinweevil · #4 Post by **tinweevil** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:09 pm

I blame the brother of a friend. He was into Triumphs before and of my circle of friends were old enough to drive. my friend then bought a Bond GT4S when he was 16 knowing absolutely nothing and off he went down the resto road. He drove it before he was 18. The pair of them went through a great deal of older cars, fixing them up a bit and flogging them on for small profits. The only ones they ever talk fondly of are the Triumphs, a manta and an early Supra. 
 
Another friend then bent a series of classics in his youthful enthusiasm, Mk 1 escort, Crapi 2l, spit, and sprint. I loved the Triumphs and hated the Farts. 
 
Through all this my parents forbade me to waste my money (but it's my f###ing money!). I was driving a Mk 1 Fester which being a Fart had no equipment at all. Honestly, if you gutted it for track day use you'd shed about 2 kilos. I think the original buyer may have had to fill out and optional extras form to get the steering wheel. The carpet was so thin you could see through it in the right light. Thankfully some cretin helped me write the Fester off and I went my own way as soon as I could gather the beans. 
 
Tinweevil 

1978 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a> 
1972 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a> 
1968 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a> 
1973 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a> 
39 anorak points on the Nicholas scale

dollysteve · #5 Post by **dollysteve** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:12 pm

Up until the Dolly I had been in to Rovers and had an SD1, then I had a few years away from classic motoring and had a couple of Saxo`s (when they were not associated with Max Power readers) and various other modern stuff but then I started working at a Renault garage and a chap I worked with was/is in to T2000`s, this led me too a honye suckle Toledo which I bought for £50, it was more fibreglass than metal and sadly had to be scrapped. I did salvage some of it though. There started my Dolomite addiction.

1976 Dolomite was a 1500 
1976 Dolomite 1850 HL Auto 
1979 Dolomite 1850 HL Man o/d 
1989 Noisy Mini 1340 
1995 2.3 Saab 900 
1968 1300 FWD

KLJ895W · #6 Post by **KLJ895W** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:12 pm

When I was about 15 I met a friend through rowing who was into Vitesses (he had about 7 at one point). I used to get ferried around to races, training etc and thought the Vitesse was such a cool car. When he said he was getting a dolomite I was not impressed, but as soon as I had a ride I changed my mind. I went to uni in London and he went up there to work so I used to get lifts back to Cornwall in his Sprint on a regular basis. It was a few years more before I got one of my own, but I'm on number 4 now and have no plans to stop. 
 
David

<a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/570" target="top">1980 Sprint</a> 
<a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/569" target="top">1980 1850HL with Sprint gearbox, propshaft and axle</a> 
1972 VW Camper Van

Jon Tilson · #7 Post by **Jon Tilson** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:23 pm

with a Riley 1.5 (wolsely 1500 with twin SU's and a rev counter...). That was such a good concept, the compact fast salloon with a bit of interior class. I dont know if it was the first of its type or even clained to be...but it started me out with a concept Ive never left. 
I progressed through the Austin Morris upmarket stable with further Rileys and an MG Z magnette...again the best of breed by a country mile, but no rev counter. 
Ive still got 2...oneday they will go again. 
I got my first dolly, a saffron yeller 72 model in about 1980. Bought it off my landlord. It was brilliant, but I needed to keep the Z's going so old it to a mate. It was then "written off" but we kept it and now it lives on...although most of the mechanicals are not now original. 
 
I bought my first Sprint in the mid 80's for 750 quid. Still got it and did some 60k miles in it as my everyday commuting car. I stuck in a hot cam and vernier timing wheel and it outperformed my mates Golf GTI. Brilliant. 
 
Its still a long term resto job, nearly finished but a bit scabby. Never sell it. 
 
You know about all the others... 
 
So given that I've had dolomites since 1980 does that make me the longest running continuous dolly owner? 
Well I must be in the top 5... 
 
Jonners.

john · #8 Post by **john** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:35 pm

got one as my first car 1850 hl had a sprint for awile 
till i got married. its been 18 years since i last owned one and im pleased to say iv just bought my third dolly.once uv had one u just love em.

alun n · #9 Post by **alun n** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:37 pm

...the desire for disfunctionality and an OCD of incredible magnitude! 
 
Saw a TR6 when I was four parked at Ironbridge Gorge Museum; the wheel was as tall as I was: wanted one. Finishing first degree and on cusp of getting first job I was dissapointed to realise my realisation of this dream would have to wait until proper job came along after next degree. I lived in Rhymney Street in Cardiff at the time, just by the footbridge and most days as I crossed this bridge toward Albany Road I would pass Spiro's white Sprint and his Mate's green Sprint parked outside the gym. That was it. The '6 came later and stayed with me 8 years; the Sprints endure!

2F45T4U · #10 Post by **2F45T4U** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 12:25 am

About 2 years ago me and a mate were talking about when we were old enough to drive that if we got classic cars our insurance would be cheaper (thinking wed get on to a classic policy). I asked what kind of cool/cheap/classic cars are out there. He showed me a picture of a Magenta Sprint. He forgot about them, I'm on my second one now <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"> 
 
Not so long ago I said to him "do you know your the reason I got a Dolomite" His reply? "Dont try to blame that on me!" <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"> 
 
 
Oh hes got a Mondeo now <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes">

SprintMWU773V · #11 Post by **SprintMWU773V** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:12 am

My Mum had a 1500 FWD when I was a kid, needless to say it was quite rough even then and I remember Dad repairing it many times but I also remember the comfort and the nice wood trim. She sold it and bought a Vauxhall Chevette which was a bit of a heap and eventually sucummed to odd shaped bores in the block, typical GM crap then! 
 
We've always had MG's in the family so I felt we had too many. When I saw a Sprint on Ebay in Stafford 2 years ago I bid and won. Hadn't seen the car which was stupid but hey it turned out OK. Always liked Dolomites and probably always will.

LewisK · #12 Post by **LewisK** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:59 pm

Saw a Sprint at Stondon (might have been an 1850 actually, or 1500, can't remember was a while ago). 
 
Couldn't afford a Stag at the time really, so logical progression, got that instead.

Reg · #13 Post by **Reg** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:04 pm

It was spring 1977,i was 9,in the playground of my junior school,when Mrs Mclusky our Medical officer drove into school in her brand spankin' new R reg,Pageant blue with beige trim 1850..I thought it looked superb! One day,soon after,i was feeling VERY unwell and went to see Mrs Mclusky.On taking my high temperature and hearing from myself that i felt sick and had rumbling bowels,she said that i should go straight home.I only lived a five minute walk away,but she insisted to taking me home in her sparkly new car,ordinarily,i would of been delighted,but this time i wasn't and protested her not to,but she insisted.Thirty seconds into the journey the motion of the car sent me over the edge,and without warning to me or dear Mrs Mclucky,my body decided it was time to get rid of all its contents,from both ends all over her passenger seat,windscreen and dashboard!!<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/sick.gif ALT=":x"> I've never to this day,been more embarassed,and i apologised profusely while she had a crooked smile and didn't say much for the rest of the short journey. 
So,it is out of love,but most of all..a strange guilt why i have a Dolly,and i always look on that day with a smile and cringe..

Silvery · #14 Post by **Silvery** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 12:47 am

I was sick of driving round in battered old repmobiles, and wanted to get back into something with a bit more charm. Spotted an ad for a 1500TC, 50 quid, no tax or test (alledgedly needed new discs and drums). Was just round the corner from me, so I went and had a look. Although it needed a damned good clean (it's white, and due to being stored outside now looks like a shed again, leading everyone into thinking that's the one I'm scrapping <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"> ) it didn't look too bad. Knew nothing about the cars whatsoever, never even sat in one before, but I liked it. It hadn't been used for a year or two, but the seller claimed the battery was fine as he'd had it on charge. Car wouldn't start, sounded like a dead battery, but he was adamant. Told me he was getting grief off the wife about it cluttering the driveway, if I took it away that day it was mine for 25 quid. Handed him the 25 quid, let him take his assorted junk out (like me, he stored everything he didn't need in the car <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> ), then stuck the battery out my car in, fired it up and drove home (literally round the corner) <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"> 
 
The car then sat there for a while till I had chance to MOT it, can't remember exactly what it needed but it was mostly steering (and two small filled patches as I've nowhere to weld). It's had two engines and boxes and three sets of bearings since then, over a couple of years and about 500 miles, and has unfortunately spent the last year sat outside in a sorry state <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /frown.gif ALT=":("> Will be stripped down and mechanically fully rebuilt as soon as I can clear space to do it, and hopefully the body won't have suffered too much. Needs a bit of tidying thanks to previous owner and gateposts, not sure if I've the skills of facilities to make it perfect, but it'll certainly be saved <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> 
 
I've owned 3 actual Dolomites, one a freebie 1500 (sold for 150 quid to someone who wanted the engine, but when he saw the car seemed keen on keeping it - I needed it gone as I'd lost the storage it was in) that was actually a cracking car that I really wanted to sort and use, one 1300 (35 quid plus train to London/ petrol back. Tax and test, never broke down, and got hammered. Died due to terminal rot, and I've never had a more reliable one) and the 1500hl that's about to be ground due to my stupidity in pranging it and the parts being invalueable to the TC resto plans. 
 
So I'll soon be Dolomite-less again, but still driving (OK, owning - Driving is a lot of time and money away) the same bodyshell and drivetrain <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol">

Carsreunited · #15 Post by **Carsreunited** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:25 pm

Quite a simple one for me. 
 
Grandad had a 1300 Russet dolly when I was about 8. 
 
20 years later, I'm surfing the net looking for something to buy, stray onto this very forum, search the classifieds and the rest is history.

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