The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

I was reading in an old version of Fast Car last night (Oct '89) to quote Jamie Weidner (who should know!) that only the first six Sprints were badged as a 135. (I previously understood it to be none.) Does this throw (further) question over the provenance/originality of the alleged VA1 in Coventry. Anyone ever seen it wearing its number plates?

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VA6 will be on the move this weekend,so I think an inspection of its badges should be carried out....

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Photos taken in Coventry museum Feb 1995:<br>
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<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.dolomite.ision.co.uk/dolomite/sprintno1a.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
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<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.dolomite.ision.co.uk/dolomite/sprintno1b.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END-->

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Is variangt a real word?

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I suppose I had better own up! I'm collecting VA 6 on Saturday. From my investigation of the car it has standard Sprint badges. However the RAC thingy produced some interesting results, from memory it gave the registered date as 31st December 0001 and the model was blank, the car simply being noted as Triumph Saloon. I'll let you know what the V5 says when I get it.<br>
On a similar theme how many very early cars are left. We know about Nos 1 and 6, I recall seeing 44 and 60 or 62 for sale in recent years, neither of which are club member cars at present. 124 is with us and 135 was around a couple of years ago when I went to look at it. Strangely enough this was on an M plate. I also believe that FHP 923L is still in existance.<br>
Will keep you all informed when I get it.<br>
Ian

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.....122 a few years back which was also on an M plate. I bought a wing from a guy in Devon who had 14? and mistakenly thought it was the oldest survivor who also had a much later car.<br>
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122 was wrested from my grasp by a Mate who used it daily until he blew the engine. It sat idle for a good 6 months, he wouldn't let me have it back to mend, and then he sold it to Richard Ivens (?) for not much money at all<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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Just had a little look for FHP 923L<br>
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Previous keepers 1 last change of keeper 05/11/1990<br>
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Vin WE2LDL<br>
Engine number WE141E<br>
First Registered 01/01/1973 <br>
Make Triumph<br>
Model Dolomite<br>
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Maurice

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Maurice<br>
That seems to tie in with what I've heard in the past, that this car was actually an 1850 dressed up to look like a Sprint. It's obviously got to be something a bit special as the comm number and engine number don't fit in with any of the series. Wonder what WE1 was then???<br>
Ian

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Bugger, I forgot to say, engine capacity 1854cc.<br>
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I think I had a conversation with Sprio about a 1850 dressed to look like a Sprint, something to do with not having a Sprint for press photo,s.<br>
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Maurice

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One of the chaps who was present at the original photoshoot came onto the club stand at the NEC and told us that the press car was in fact an 1850 made up to look like a Sprint.Spiro has his contact details so we might be able to get some more information and maybe write a feature for Dolly Mixture.<br>


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The plate FRW797L, is on VA1DL, first registered 11/01/1973 <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :p --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... tongue.gif ALT=":p"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> 3 previous keepers, last keeper change 08/02/1984.Original plate to boot.<br>
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Engine number VA1HE<br>
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Maurice

<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub52.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdol ... Maurice</A> at: 2/3/04 4:17 pm<br></i>

......so it just has the wrong badges, grommit!

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...it missed tax exempt status by ten days, but given the Christmas/new year break and the three day week it was probably built before Christmas. I'd check out No 6 when you get it Ian......but by the time its roadworthy the Blues may well be back in anyway!!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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Yes it was an 1850 that was on the poster and the brouchers made to look like a sprint. Had a good chat with the test driver (dam<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> forgot his name for now) who was also involved in the development of the Sprint and had a part in TR6`s too. Still got his number been meaning to contact him. It was`nt a good weekend for me at the NEC show sorry. Will get back to you when I `ve made contact with him again

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What are you incinuating Alun, that it'll take me a while to get the thing on the road<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
I'm hoping to have it up and running by May as it doesn't really need much work doing, bodily only a jacking point and a wing repair. The biggest task will be putting an engine together for it as the original was apparantly wrecked by water damage. It's a VW at the moment, the engine is in the boot<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
Brand new block and all the bits to build it up<br>
Ian

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