Basic appeal

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Dave · #1 Post by **Dave** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 8:59 pm

Why did people buy a sprint in the first place? 
I bought my first because it was the most power for the least price, in something that wasn't an upside down penis like a capri,and I was confident that as it was relatively simple I could keep it going.That was car number one. 
I had then been contaminated, I found that it was a very easy drive, (low weight, high power in contemporary terms )pull fourth from 30mph,more flexible than more modern cars. sounded nice,inconspicuous (NOT you Darren) the very light cabin was a nice place to be (try a Saab its like looking thru a letter box slit) And of course I like looking thru the side window on roundabouts. 
I have had several BUT only because I had one be4.How many people are long term owners. 
So why do people buy them? 
1.Beautiful body? (Not really,functional yes) 
2. Lots of power (But that engine is forever blowing gaskets isn't it and boiling and the axle moves about....) 
3.Cheap to run ( used to be but more difficult/pricey now)

Neil Russell · #2 Post by **Neil Russell** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 9:07 pm

God you're old mister<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"> . 
I bought mine from a retired guy on a council estate. couldn't belive how clean he had kept it. His son had bought him a new car and told him to sell. I asked how much and his nbig bruiser of a wife shoulder charged him out of the way and said to me "he doesn't talk money, I do. 
 
I asked How much, and she said "I won't take a penny less thn £400. I snapped her hand off there and then. That was 5 years ago. The rest as they say is history. 
 
Neil<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D">

magatsu1 · #3 Post by **magatsu1** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 9:07 pm

1: Looks good (IMO).More distinctive than a Punto. 
2: Can't afford to insure powerful cars (hence my 1850 search). 
3: Uh,.........2 out of 3 ? 
Cheaper to buy than a 'scort, though. 
Can you name any cheap RWD, modern cars ?

Dave · #4 Post by **Dave** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 9:13 pm

It wasn't new then it was a 16 year old sprint or a 12 year old capri2.8!

MaddMart · #5 Post by **MaddMart** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 9:25 pm

I got my 1st Sprint when I was about 23-24. The thing that got me hooked was the awesome acceleration. I must admit the quickest thing I'd driven before that was a 1725 Singer Vogue (Hunter shape). So 20 years later I think I'm on my 7th or 8th Sprint. 
 
Read more on my website:- 
 
<a href="http://www.aqpd91.dsl.pipex.com/" target="top">Mad Mart's Cars</a>

1974 French Blue Sprint

Gilbert · #6 Post by **Gilbert** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 9:29 pm

I borrowed mine off a mate while I pulled the heads off my invader. I hadn't really had much interest in them prior to that, but quickly grew to like the comfort and (reasonable) power. I like the shape and love its distinctiveness, so I bought it off him for next to nowt. I then spent six weeks replacing the head gasket! Compared to my Vitesse (yeah, 3 cars, flash b#stard) they are a complete cow to work on. People tell me to get a proper car but I see them giving the banks and loan companies hundreds of pounds each month for their depreciating assets and I just can't see the logic.

bodgerben · #7 Post by **bodgerben** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 9:57 pm

Coz they are FUN! 
 
We've had many Dolly's growing up (I spose like the XR3i, Nova, Corsa lot have over the last few years) and we (and I do mean we) found that the Sprint was a great car. We have sampled turbo jap cars, brand spanking new 3 litre Z3's, M5's (and the everyday car will be a 335i! currently being built) but we are still going back for a Dolly Sprint as a track day car (in preference to a E30 M3) 
 
So not being a long terrm owner for the last 13 years (before that we had 5 Sprints over many years) we have seen the Dark Side and want more <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"> 
 
We now have a great 70's Brown Sprint (The wife wants to make it look mean with white number circles, crosses on the headlights, rollcage, slick tyres, ricaros, nos, etc. etc. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/eek.gif ALT=":eek"> Proper Track Day Car <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"> ) 
 
I must admit that it has been a few of you guys that have convinced us that a Dolly Sprint is a good track day car, we like them, so we are going to try and make a go of it, with a very good solid example. 
 
I used to run a 73 Sprint from Farnham to Dorking every day at 6000 rev's along the Hogs Back for at least a year, so where these jackshaft, water pump problems have come from I'm not sure (bad manufacturing?). 
 
Anyway - like I say - coz they are fun! 
BogerBen (much less likely to bodge a Sprint)

Jon Tilson · #8 Post by **Jon Tilson** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 10:19 pm

This reminds me of a great thread taht we had last year that's now been lost. I think i started it (blows own trumpet) asking what other cars we would replace a Sprint with...sort of was there a natural successor. The E30 BMW was mentioned several times as was the SAAB 900 turbo but the conclusion was there is no successor so we keep on driving them...there isnt anything else. Once you get one you are hooked. 
Jonners

MaddMart · #9 Post by **MaddMart** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 10:33 pm

Does that mean you'd be interested in a Dolomite only racing series then bodgerben. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"> - just trying to promote a bit more interest.

1974 French Blue Sprint

bcart5 · #10 Post by **bcart5** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 10:40 pm

I spent 4 years restoring a MK1 Crapi 1600 GT, when baby no.2 was on the horizon she said get 4 doors, now 4 door eskirts look pants IMO, and seriously silly money for a good one so I searched the grey cells that were left over from me yoof (70's) and the one car that I lusted after but could never afford was, you guessed it a Sprint. 
I agree with Jonners once you have driven one any thing else from the same era pales into insignificance.... 
 
Bryan

alun n · #11 Post by **alun n** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 11:03 pm

I bought a Sprint as a stop gap as I really wanted a TR6 but couldn't afford one. Since had the Tr6 which I kept for 7+ years but when the Lotus came I just didn't use it anymore; like 82 miles between MOTs, so I sold it. The Sprint endured, I still have my first even though 16 others have passed through my hands during. I currently have three of them and its not enough!! I'm obsessed, I check small ads in various publications weekly and monthly, the internet daily.....at least once. When ever I go somewhere new I check out the scrapyards and local ads there too! If I new why then I could stop, but I don't. I went to Holsworthy, Devon on Saturday via Cardiff, Bridgewater and Launceston each stop Dolly related; what a great day out! Like most I now have modern reliable motors that out perform outmanoevre and out brake any Sprint (except Darren's) yet they are somehow different and lacking........ 
 
 
 
Obsessive compulsive disorder? I think so!!

SMIFTER · #12 Post by **SMIFTER** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 11:04 pm

I needed to exercise my double joints so a Sprint with its starter motor bolts was the only real choice. 
 
And they are misunderstood masterpieces of British engineering design ingenuity.

<a href="http://www.smifter1971.pwp.blueyonder.c ... >Smifter's Dolomite Sprint Website</a>

speedracer · #13 Post by **speedracer** » Wed Jul 23, 2003 12:06 am

It all started just after i sold my 91 EFI 1.8L Pulsar - you know one of those things you just get in, start and drive off. 
 
I was trying to work out what to get next and Glen (who some of you may know, designed triumphowers.com) had a 2500S at the time. Prior to this the only time i'd had anything to do with a 'rumph was my grans auto 2000 mkII - not overly inspiring. 
 
I didn't have a lot of money to spend, so i was told if you want something interesting for not too much, consider a car that was top of the line for its time... 
 
I went along to a Triumph club meeting and someone let me drive their TR7 - which i thought was great, but needed an extra 8 valves! 
 
So the search began for a TR7 Sprint, little joy there. 
Until one day i had a call from the club secretary saying she knew of someone selling a Sprint that you "could eat breakfast off the engine"... it was however a 3 hour drive away. 
 
To make a long story slightly, er, less long, i saw it and it was love at first sight! And certainly buckets of power i discovered as a merged onto the highway at 110km/h and the accelerator stuck!!! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/eek.gif ALT=":eek"> 
 
Other reasons: 
- Predominance of wood over plastic! 
- Q car - no body knows what it is, or what it was as it disappears over the horizon <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"> 
- Looks, yes looks angry <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /devil.gif ALT=":evil"> 
- comfy 
- nothing else drives like it, not even close 
 
speedracer

<a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/2">1975 Dolly Sprint</a>

feralsprint · #14 Post by **feralsprint** » Wed Jul 23, 2003 6:33 am

I guess like most of you I was afflicted with my love of cars from an early age. Did my apprenticeship in a BMC/Leyland dealership in Australia back in the early 70s, got to work on all the cars Rovers, Morris, Jag and Triumph some good some very bad ( Marinas ). First car was a mini leading to a love affair with Cooper S, in the late 70s early 80s helped prepare Alfas for racing and one of the 25 real RS 2000 that were bought to the country by ford from Germany, raced my own Mini sport sedan and loved watching Bob Morris thrash the bigger cars in the first Dolomite Sprint ( Broadspeed car ) that Ron Hodgson ran. 
 
In 77 I tried to buy a new Sprint but missed out they had stopped importing them so settled for a 2500S and it was a fine car but my want of a Sprint kept on, everytime I saw one in a dealer I took it for as drive and after many more cars and vans I got one in 1990. It has become an addiction to replace my Mini's, same thrills but with comfort ( and idiosyncrasies ) and have had many fine Jap 2 litre cars Nissan,Mazda but they lack the soul of a Sprint and the grin factor. 
 
Now having my own slightly modified Sprint and not having to use it as a every day car I cannot think of not having one, I swear at it everytime I have to work on it and the poms have some great design ideas ( shame about the build quality ) but I will never sell it as there is nothing to replace it with <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)">

Jod Clark · #15 Post by **Jod Clark** » Wed Jul 23, 2003 9:31 am

I love my Dolly because people think its a Sprint. Especially when it blasts people well into three figures on the Queen's highway. Couple this with comfort, cheap insurance and cheaper tax bracket and there you have it: Jod's 1500 <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"> 
 
 
Jod

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Basic appeal

Basic appeal

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