135

[tahitisprint]

Nice topic!<br>
I've once heard that a number of 25 mimosa Sprints were (ab)used at the press-launch in Geneva the 19th june 1973. From research in '70s carmag articles I've seen FRW820L as the newest registration number used in tests. So, if all consecutive numbers were used by the international press (which I doubt), that means 797-820=24 cars and maybe the 'fake' Sprint FHP923L would make 25 then!<br>
<br>
Another interesting thing: if FRW797L is VA1 and BK's rallysprint is VA16 (also FRW registered) and the soon-to-be-back-on-the-road-VA6 is probably also FRW registered, then the chassisnumber series of these factory demonstrators could be consecutive too!<br>
Can anyone shed a light on this? Or does anyone know more about the Geneva press-launch?<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
RONALD<br>


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[alun n]

..... that would make BK's rally Sprint FRW 812L.... <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[Maurice]

FRW802L.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> Vin VA6DC. Engine number VA6HE. Colour Yellow, As you would expect. Make Triumph (not surprising) <br>
But this is a little strange, Triumph never provided model data, could it be that 135/Sprint had not had sign-off at the point the vehicle was registered, which was 12/01/1973.<br>
<br>
4 previous keepers, last change of keeper 04/12/1995.<br>
<br>
Maurice.

<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub52.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdol ... Maurice</A> at: 3/3/04 4:31 pm<br></i>

[mem sec]

10/10 They are consecutive. VA6 is indeed FRW 802L. I had heard that it was 30 cars released to the press, which would make it FRW 797L to FRW 827L. I must admit the highest I've seen is 818L.<br>
Once I've got the car I'd like to go further into the history of these press cars and see what I can find out. I'm hoping some history will come with the car.<br>
Ian

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[alun n]

......"Swift"

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[ajsamuels]

All right, anorak head on....<br>
I have a copy of the Brooklands Books compilation of Dolomite road test reprints. Just dug it out and had a look through it, and it features these cars from the original batch:<br>
<br>
FRW 805L Autocar 21 June 1973, Competition Car July 1973<br>
FRW 807L Wheels August 1973<br>
FRW 808L Car July 1973, Motor Sport November 1974<br>
FRW 812L (Group 2 rally car) Autocar 15 November 1975<br>
FRW 816L Motor 14 July 1973<br>
FRW 819L Cars & Car Conversions July 1973, Custom Car August 1973<br>


<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub52.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdol ... samuels</A> at: 3/3/04 7:33 pm<br></i>

[spiro]

Ok, I`ve gone and done it. I just came of the phone to Martin Cox (who`s name I had forgotten). He`s willing to put something together for the club about his time with Triumph and the part he had with the Dolomites as soon as I have something I`ll let you all know. He still in contact with other colleague's that also helped with developments (those who where there at the start with there ups and downs) open to questions but this will take time to put together

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[Richard]

<br>
FRW923L featured in the Aug/Sept 1994 edition of DM. it was the original launch car registered 1/1/1973. chassis no. WE2LDL and engine WE141E. LHD converted to RHD<br>
<br>
Bought from BL by Angus Martyn who restored and raced it. I think John Glenn owns it now ....

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[Richard]

<br>
John Glenn doesn't own it ..... he put the no. plate on OUE and put it on show.<br>
<br>
Robin Maxey found it and got it for free - including a LSD fitted by Mr. Martin !!<br>
<br>
where is it now ? it's not in the Sept 1995 list of member's cars.

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[mem sec]

Thanks Maurice, I can see I'll have to get a Heritage Cert for it, knowing my luck the build date will be 2nd Jan<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
Martin Cox sounds interesting, if I remember he was one of the test drivers who took VKV 114J to the Dolomites for the 1972 brochure, I think it said he was 27 at the time so I would think he's in his late 50s early 60s by now. (Must take the anorak off, it's getting warm in here!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> )<br>
As far as I'm aware Robin Maxey still has FHP, he's not a member but I would think something that significant would still be in existance.<br>
Ian

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[tahitisprint]

From research in brochures and articles in mags and on i-net I've found the following:<br>
<br>
FHP923L (featured in BL brochure)<br>
FRW797L (Museum of British Road Transport, Coventry)<br>
FRW799L (seen black/white pic on i-net)<br>
FRW802L (featured I think in "MotorSport" 10/1973)<br>
FRW805L (b/w picture in press-launch brochure 6/73)<br>
FRW806L (ft. in "MRG motoring news" 6/1973)<br>
FRW807L (ft. in "Wheels" 8/1973)<br>
FRW808L (ft. in "Car" 7/73, "Motoring News" 8/73, "MotorSport" 11/74)<br>
FRW812L (later converted to Group2 rally spec by factory)<br>
FRW814L (ft. in "AutoCar" 7/73 and "Motoring News" 8/73<br>
FRW815L (pictured in press-launch brochure 6/73)<br>
FRW816L (ft. with o/d in "Motor" 7/1973)<br>
FRW819L (ft. in "Cars&Car Conversion" 7/73 and "Custom Car" 8/73. In both cases wearing normal Dolomite badges and a "D" on the rear pillars, but with full Sprint trim, engine, alloy wheels, spoiler, stripes, etc!!!)<br>
FRW820L (ft. in "Thoroughbred&Classic Cars")<br>
<br>
As these cars seem to be built way before the official launch, one can imagine that these cars received some extra attention during (handbuilt?) production. So that could probably explain why these cars performed so well and received praising critics during the Geneva press-launch! The engines probably produced the full 135 bhp back then...<br>
<br>
RONALD<br>


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[mem sec]

VA6 arrived yesterday, and is now tucked up in the garage. The strange this is that the Heritage Certificate that came with it gives the build date as 12th Jan 73 which is the same as the date of registration on the V5. Anyone any ideas how I can find out when it was built if Heritage think it's the same date as the registration. I could do with it being tax exempt so I can save a few pennys to spend on it!<br>
Ian

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[Maurice]

It could be feasible that as this vehicle was destined for the press etc that BL registered the vehicle before it left the production line, this is a common practice even these days, as it helps with logistics, car comes of the production line is prepped, slap the RFL on and away you go. DVLA would be able to tell you if the vehicle was registered by the manufacturer or dealer, if it turns out to be a dealer that first registered VA6, then I would suspect the build year to be 1972.<br>
<br>
Could Sprio's man be able to recall when the first Sprints/135/Swift hit the production line??????????<br>
<br>
Maurice.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>


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[Maurice]

Ian,<br>
Give this a try, the SMMT have details of all UK vehicle production e-mail hsharpe@smmt. It's a long shot but you never know.<br>
<br>
Maurice.

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[tahitisprint]

I've checked theaa.com website and found that some cars are still registered (doesn't mean they still exist I guess....)<br>
<br>
FRW797L, 801, 802, 807, 808, 809, 811, 812, 813, 815, 816, 818, 819 and 820 are all registered as make TRIUMPH model OTHER, exept FRW809L and 812 which are stated as DOLOMITE SPRINT (probably re-registered)<br>
<br>
FRW796L is a Capri 1600L and FRW821L is a Hillman Hunter GT. Makes 24 FRW cars then!<br>
<br>
FHP923L is also still "known" in the AA-database (as model DOLOMITE) as well as the works-rallycars: CKV2K, RDU983M, SOE8M, MYX175P which are all known as DOLOMITE SPRINT in the database (CKV2K included, so probably re-registered as this car was rallied in a prototype class way before the Sprint launch)<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
RONALD<br>


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