The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi all, firstly I’m sorry if this has been asked before, I searched but found nothing

Because of my recent dolly purchase, (a nice 1850) my friend is now on the hunt for one, but he wants the sprint!
He has found a nice one and for a good price (cheap ish) but it’s RHD. They seem to ask a lot more for them over here.
RHD for me is no problem because I’m english so used to it, but here in Belgium we have the wheel on the wrong side, he wants it LHD.

Has anyone done it before, or even the other way round LHD to RHD.

I’m thinking so far,

Parts needed: LHD dash (I have a few spare already)

Parts to change from one side to other: Column, servo, pedals.

What about the loom? Is it long enough to move over?

It’s all just to see really how much extra it would cost to do it for him, he asked me today so I’ve been thinking about it this evening and thought I would ask the clever ones on here
Any other ideas please add them.

Thank you
Regards
Shaun

I think it would be do-able but not easy! The master cylinder, servo, pedals steering column etc will swap sides as they are, the bits you WILL need are a LHD steering rack, crash pad, loom and heater fan motor. But by far the hardest part, will be making the bulkhead panel match as there are many complicated differences. It would probably be easiest to salvage large chunks of the bulkhead from a LHD car and let them in, but even that would mean stripping it back to the shell in that area. Not a job for the faint hearted.

You might try getting in touch with Jeroen, (SOE8M on here) he is in Holland and, though I think he has sold most of his Dollies and parts recently, he certainly knows the cars well AND where all the bodies are buried!

Steve

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2 door '73 Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine OWF 797M (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine EGP 247T (The Dolomega)
'91 Cavalier 2ltr 8v auto
'95 Cavalier 2ltr 16v auto
Spectrum Auto Services, Servicing, Repairs, MOT prep. Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 45 years and home of Maverick Triumph.PM for more info or quotes.

Thanks for that Steve,

Yes I knew it wouldn’t be an easy job. As for the parts I have them all (except the old bulkhead, but I actually know where one is, hopefully a LHD)

Love your tolledo by the way, it looks fun. If you are ever over here in the land of waffles let me know, you are more than welcome

Regards
Shaun

Or just drive a RHD one in a LHD country. My Greenbrier is LHD, no problems here and it's twice the size of a Dolomite.

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Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30

To be fair though Mark, you probably don't do much overtaking in that though, do you?

You'd be surprised, but no not that much.

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Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30

I've not been in Belgium since 1987 (passing through on my my way to the international Spitfire weekend in Arcen Holland in my old GT6 convertible) But I'm due to retire in 2020, so maybe the 10 countries run in 2021? Glad you like the Carledo, it IS lots of fun, grandad, in grandads car, showing up the boy racers, just never gets old!

Steve

PS, For many years (29 to be exact) I drove a LHD Volvo Amazon 122S estate in this country, I'm NOT shy about overtaking! I just adapted my driving style to suit the conditions and in time, found that you can overtake successfully in a LHD car, just not in the same places you would in a RHD! I'm sure the same would apply in reversed conditions!

_________________
2 door '73 Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine OWF 797M (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine EGP 247T (The Dolomega)
'91 Cavalier 2ltr 8v auto
'95 Cavalier 2ltr 16v auto
Spectrum Auto Services, Servicing, Repairs, MOT prep. Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 45 years and home of Maverick Triumph.PM for more info or quotes.

Like you and mark say, driving a RHD over here is no problem for me, but my friend is not so keen.

I did the 10CR last year, I loved it. Totally amazing views going up over all those alpine passes! My goal is next year in the dolly! (And might convince my friend to do it too if he gets one (LHD or RHD )

Brits are far more cosmopolitan about this than Europeans, mainly because we have to be! If we go ANYWHERE outside Britain (with a few minor exceptions like Oz, NZ, Japan and South Africa) then we have to drive on the "wrong" side of the road! Whereas Europeans ONLY have to drive on the left if they come here! Which gives them a more parochial attitude and much less practice!

Steve

_________________
2 door '73 Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine OWF 797M (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine EGP 247T (The Dolomega)
'91 Cavalier 2ltr 8v auto
'95 Cavalier 2ltr 16v auto
Spectrum Auto Services, Servicing, Repairs, MOT prep. Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 45 years and home of Maverick Triumph.PM for more info or quotes.

Where did that come from? 150m2 spares and 15 dollies spreaded around and one as an garden ornament aren't exactly Alun figures but nothing has decreased lately.

Jeroen

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Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com

On the FB page you showed us your latest Allegro project and gave the impression you had got out of Dolomites in favour of those!

But if you haven't, so much the better!

Steve

_________________
2 door '73 Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine OWF 797M (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine EGP 247T (The Dolomega)
'91 Cavalier 2ltr 8v auto
'95 Cavalier 2ltr 16v auto
Spectrum Auto Services, Servicing, Repairs, MOT prep. Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 45 years and home of Maverick Triumph.PM for more info or quotes.

Oh yes a few months ago. "Sold all the dollies over the last year and started something else today". An Allegro.

Don't believe all what is on facebook but I do have two Allegro's. These are very rare in NL. Currently about 8 with an MOT.

My wifes 2500 needs some major engine work and suspension and a manual/od conversion so I put it away in storage. My 15 year old son did spend his summer holiday dismantling and cleaning the allegro so all is clean for assembly. The first time he touched a spanner and now he has some basic skills. He can adjust his bike saddle himself now and knows you don't die of a bit of grease on your finger.

Jeroen

_________________
Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com