The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

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1973 yellow Sprint L reg
1979 1500 SE T reg
1979 1500 SE V reg
1980 vermillion 1500hl W reg
1975 green 1500tc auto P reg
1971 wedgewood blue 2000 auto mk2 J reg
1979 Sandglow 1500HL auto V reg
1972 valencia blue Toledo 2dr K reg
1973 Brown Toledo 2 dr L reg
1977 white Datsun 100a f2 S reg
1988 Toyota Tercel 4x4
1999 Toyota Corolla vvti est
because one triumph just isnt enough

Making very good money

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1977 Flamenco sprint (VGY NOW TAX AND MOT FREE )

I am intrigued.

What is so special about the early Sprints that folk are prepared to pay very high money for what to us appears to be not much more than a chassis plate and a project which is going to cost an awful lot of money to put back on the road.

I have walked away from this car VA 1254 although its bodywork seems to be in much better condition than the photos of similar aged cars which appear on this forum. It is finding the trim, bringing the car back to standard, bringing it up to a mechanical condition so that it can be re-registered for use on the road and then using it, wearing it out again, before the cost of fuel becomes prohibitive.

This car has been imported second hand from the UK where it was first registered for this second photo shows the holes which were drilled for fixing its original number plates. It is likely therefore to have been exposed to that awful stuff you put on your roads which causes them to rot from the inside to the outside.

In this part of the world it is considered not worthy of doing much with.

Perhaps I should buy it, as is, and ship it back to where it came from.

Perhaps too, I should go and find VA 254, a car which too was imported second hand into this country and which it too has probably disintegrated and is not therefore worth restoring here.

people over here in uk land are more likely to pay more money for untouched car (bigger n deeper pockets) but then the enthusiastic person starts and then gives up,re-sell once the mo-jo has evaporated back on ebay spring time!

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Dolomite 1300,1980`V`reg in british racing brown(russet),3.63 diff with 21t speedo pinion,95%poly`d,HL clocks,standard wheels with SE covers wrapt in 175 70 13,mot`d 19-09-2014,been off the since 1990,(july2017) stainless steel exhaust 3-piece,(xmas2018) wooden mountney steering wheel,(june2020) new monroe shock(radial front,gas-matic rears) with -1" lower`d springs all round.

People in the UK are used to looking at rotten basket cases and seem to be willing to devote large sums to getting them restored. Values also seem to be on the rise ATM, with a good Sprint fetching well over 12k UKP and an excellent one in excess of £20k Which makes them a more attractive proposal for resto, the cost of resto hasn't risen anything like as much as the final value.

I don't think it's the early Mimosa cars alone that are getting attention, ALL sprint prices have shot up lately. But the "first 2000" seem to be the most desirable and therefore command the best money at the back end. Personally, i'd prefer a later car with O/D, tinted glass and headrests as standard and a choice of colours, but what do I know?

I don't understand WHY the Sprint is so undervalued in NZ that a prime prospect like that would be ignored, perhaps it's rarity (Sprints were never sold there as domestic product) or the stigma of personal import (with parts access difficulties that engenders) puts off prospective buyers

looking at those pics, perhaps you SHOULD seriously consider sending them home! Better still with both if you can get 2 in a container! Worth finding out likely shipping cost certainly. Since both were previously UK registered, it SHOULD be possible to get their original registrations back.

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

I thought Sprints were available through dealerships in New Zealand, Steve?
They were not assembled there, but were imported direct from the UK as whole cars?


(The 2000 range were assembled in NZ but it was possible to buy a complete UK built car as well,
these being available to order. The latter was dearer but did allow different colour and spec choices.)



Ian

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TDC Forum moderator
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Cracking opportunity, an early car with only 2 owners, wow!

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Murdo DA

RNK 957W, Triumph Dolomite Sprint.

Built 26/6/1980 (one of the last built), Auto, Porcelain White - Genuine Mileage 52,820 (warranted).

Only 3 previous owners, (2 within the same family).

Supplied by Lavender Hill Garage Ltd, Enfield, London, by garage owner Jimmy Metcalfe on 30th September 1980 to Geoffery Robinson, Enfield.

Club Membership No: 2017092

I don't THINK you could order a new one in NZ, but i'm willing to be proved wrong and Triumph would do anything for anyone if the price was right! Like the Vitesse Estates! So I could be!

Even with the handful of personal imports from the UK and a couple imported from Oz, the Sprint isn't exactly COMMON in NZ, and the parts situation as well as dealer knowledge would be poor. Robert probably knows the whereabouts of all of them! I know Toledos (in 1500cc form mostly) and 1850s as well as 2000 models were built there, or rather, assembled (CKD kits?) and many of these home grown cars benefitted from the more extensive Toyota colour palette of the period. Apparently it wasn't thought worthwhile to import paint!

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.