The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

Well, my workmate has finally come round to the classic car fraternity, and although i couldnt get him to buy a Dolly, he has just bought the car of his youthful lust from ebay, a 1986 XR2.<br>
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It is my duty, nay, pleasure to go pick it up with him tomorrow, complete with my kit of tools and get you home parts box, just in case (you never know).<br>
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The black XR2 has six months MOT on it, no tax unfortunatley, but his insurance has only cost him £120 for the year...fully comp, aged 29. The joys of classic insurance. Just for referance, he tried Churchill, they quoted him £390 for a similar policy, without agreed valuation.<br>
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The car needs a little bit of work on it, judging by pictures, description and talking to the bloke, but i will update you all as we find the problems. I will probably be asking for Ford tips as i get emotionally involved with this classic 80's icon, so i hope there will be some guys with previous of Dagenhams finest.<br>
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Cost him £360, so if it is beyond rolling resto, which is what he wants to do, then a years motoring for £1 a day...a snip. I can see other workmates buying modern classics soon as second cars, as they see the financial benefits and the fun to be had.....wonder if i will get any to buy Dollies...i certainly hope so.<br>
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Hmm, i also get the dubious pleasure of driving his MGZT (the biggest one in the series, cant remember which rover it is based from) 2.5l V6 home. Well, at least the seats are made from cow i suppose.<br>
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richie.<br>
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I hear very good things about the ZT/Rover 75 (The one it's baseed on). The monocoque is supposed to be the most rigid ever produced for a saloon, and the KV6 is no slouch either.

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i can vouch for that <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> i have a 2004 zt handles like its on rails <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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Wife wanted a ZT but ended up with a ZS. Still nevermind. I like the ZT and now it is cheap like the budgie, wonder how many of the V8's they made before going bump?<br>
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Used to have a Fiesta as my 1st car, not bad car either, it was a Ghia in a metallic brown sort of colour. Sold it to a guy who took it to work and left it in the car park where it still is to this day, 9 years on. Mine had lots of work done before I got it but they do rust and panels are quite hard to find now. Sills, wheelarches, floorpans and the suspension turrets all faves for the tin worm. Mine was a lowly 1.1 but when ran on 4 star it would do 95mph which was a lot next to my mates 1.0 metro which consumed oil faster than it consumed petrol. The metro then went on to star in a ram raid believe (after it was stolen) it or not where most of the back end fell off as it was made of filler!

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Well, 260 miles round trip, and she never skipped a beat. Little bit scruffy on the outside, and a few patches here and there, alloy wheels looking a little old, but it has an almost brand new stainless sports exhaust on it.<br>
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Yep, you guessed it, I took my Dolly...<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> ...i'll drive the ZT some other day <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... lasses.gif ALT="8)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> , the red raver is running well, so i'll drive her as much as possible....which likely means trouble just around the next corner, whenever i acknowledge that fact.<br>
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The XR2, for £360, fired up first time, absolutely no smoke from the exhaust, used no water or oil on the way back. Interior is pristine, the shell is in perfect nick apart from the front bottom of the front wings, in all honesty looks to have been front ended many moons ago, and the tinworm appears to have started at the repair welds...so two new wings, but for a mk2 Fiesta, i bet they grow on trees and are pretty cheap. The battery tray will need replacing/repairing at the same time, the alloys need smartening up, and it needs four new tyres. All in all, a good ebay buy, and my mate had the biggest grin on his face ever, all the way home, even during the 12 mile traffic jam on the M5 south of Bristol....grrr....but hey, he gave it a good road test, twisty country, sitting in jams, high speed MWay, and there appears to be no major dramas.<br>
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The ultimate test? Well, it failed that one. Heading up out of Monmouth on the hill towards Ross, there was no way that a Ford could even compete with The Sprint. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> .<br>
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(Still think he should have held on and paid an extra £200 for a Mk1, but seeing my mates face when we got back to Hereford, and the joy that i'm sure this car will give him made me bite my tongue.)<br>
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Besides, the reason for a Mk2 XR2? He told me over coffee at the services. He lost his virginity on one <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> . What better reason could you have? Indeed.

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On one or in one?<br>
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Surely his affection for the XR2 didn't streatch THAT far?!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... rassed.gif ALT=":o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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he did say "on" one....i guess this could be the very same Fiesta with the front end damage....my friend used to play Combined Services Rugby League...he's a pretty big guy. <!--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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