Dolly variant

[mcharlish]

I've been given a picture of a Dolomite variant taken while someone was in the UK. I think they assume that because I'm a Brit (in Aus) I will know what the car is. I don't ! Pretty sure it's not a Panther though.<br>
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Don't think I can post a picture here so if anybody is feeling wise please email me at mark.charlish@arach.net.au and you can pass an opinion. Thanks <br>
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Mark

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[speedracer]

I thought it may have been an SD2 ... but it's not.<br>
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<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.triumphowners.com/uploaded// ... lomite.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
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speedracer

<p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/2">1975 Dolly Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>

[knightrider150]

Of course, Triumph management knew that the matter of replacing the Dolomite would need to be addressed sooner, rather than later (as it was getting on in years, but still actively being developed), but because Triumph was now a small part of BLMC, future plans were in a state of flux. The essential issue in replacing the Dolmite lay with devising a car that did not directly compete with any existing models in the corporation's range. As these plans were directly tied-up with the political fortunes of Triumph, it was some time before the SD2 would come into fruition. As this website relates elsewhere, the promising SD2 concept was cancelled in 1975, due to lack of resources and internal competition, but it did not stop Canley investigating the idea of facelifting the Dolomite in order for it to stay fresh enough to survive until the launch of the LC10 family of cars in the early 1980s.<br>
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<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/images/do ... <!--EZCODE IMAGE END--> <br>
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Michelotti was tasked with giving the Dolomite a new set of clothes, with the instruction that his design should use all of the Dolomite's underpinnings. In his customary efficient way, Michelotti duly delivered the restyled Dolomite. The new car closely resembled the Fiat 132 in style, with its squared-off grille and square-rigged four-door style. The proportions of the new car closely matched those of the Dolomite, but the detailing was more 1970s Euro-standard: the C-post even sported a characteristic BMW-like kink at its base. One full-size model was built - based upon the Sprint model - and it looked extremely promising. However, Board approval for the car was not forthcoming (there was no money, basically). The Dolomite would have to soldier on unchanged...<br>
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[Malc]

Not only did soemone try (and suceed) to make a Dolomite look like a Hilman Hunter (Panther Rio), but someone than had a crack at making one look like a Fiat 132 <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[Resko]

...By the looks of it ...giant haystacks liked it!!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[Jon Tilson]

Has a strong feel of the VW K70 about it too...and that started out as an NSU IIRC....Also take off the badges on a Mazda 626 of the period and its looks similar. Didnt Mich work for them too?<br>
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Funny how he was subliminally influenced by all those Fiats. Think he had a hand in the 3 series too.<br>
Think I prefer the original.<br>
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Jonners

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[alun n]

TR6 rear lights?<br>
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...and just look what they did to that rear door quarter light! Yeugh, looks dangerous! <br>
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Also confirms to me that Sprint Alloys look crap on anything but a Dolomite!!

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[jo]

i think thats the very car at the factory that was fitted with 6 cylinder sd1 engine before they brought the six out probaly a year after

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[mcharlish]

Thanks all. Now we know !!<br>
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Personally I think the variant is hideous plus, as has been said above, it looks a lot like other cars. Still I'm sure Michelotti was on a nice consulting fee. Nice work if you can get it !<br>
<br>
Mark

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[Silvery]

Well, I'm in the minority then, because I quite like it! Not as a Dolomite maybe, but possibly a Toledo replacement?<br>
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But I don't really see the point - The Dolomite looked very 70s. That thing looks very 70s. Why face lift a car from 70s to 70s? No point that I can see...<br>
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However - If it had been put into production, would that have given BL an incentive to continue Dolomite production into the 80s, keeping the Triumph name going, and giving them a reason to continue development?

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[AndyS]

That is one 'orrible looking car!! for a start, it looks like an old Skoda from the front!!<br>
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If that's supposed to be a 'face lift' I think Liz Taylor would have done a better job!<br>
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The only thing good about it is the wheels! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :eek --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/eek.gif ALT=":eek"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[LenHughes EPX347L]

Hi Mark,<br>
<br>
As previous post have said it is a 1972 Michelotti prototype for a Dolomite face lift that never saw production (in my opinion not one of Michelotti's finest hours). It is fitted with the Sprint 16 valve engine. The car is on show at Gaydon.<br>
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Cheers<br>
<br>
Len<br>
<br>


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[Dave]

I remember an article on that in a classic car mag not that long ago. IIRC they have one at Gaydon at least thats where the test was done. IT was running sprint engine etc and the tester remembered driving sprints when they were new and raving about the engine at the time. IIRC he was that impressed this tim e round though complaining that is was harsh at the top end and slow to pick up. Then again for a car out of storage........................

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[jon]

about the fact that this car would have seen use instead of the Acclaim, surely the blandest car of all time?The car is indeed in gaydon and looks much nicer in the flesh- the interesting thing is that its a 2 door coupe...

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[alun n]

.....and it predated the acclaim by nearly ten years which was a badge engineered bastard son of liason between Austin Rover and Honda. <br>
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The Triumph involvement was by then a borrowed laurel wreath, a bit like the one that gets thrown onto a coffin.

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