My new Dolomite - 1980 1500HL Auto

[David6214]

Those wheels were fitted as standard to the last of the dolomites made

My car did have them when new, but were kept by a previous owner. Without locating a set with the correct Dolomite offset, Spitfire ones are the closest I can get!

Spitfire were the ones fitted to the last cars,using up stock was a BL trait,also gave a long in the tooth car a sporty look

Yep SEs have them, they're exactly the same. I have resisted the temptation to swap my SE ones out for sprints, but doing so will save me money on tyres.

I think they look good

[Purplebargeken]

Howard, each time you post a piccie the car just keeps on looking better and better. Liking the wheels mate

[DoloWIGHTY]

Yeah terrific stuff. What a handsome Devil (the car that is! ).

[swifty]

Has anyone tried fitting the 5 1/2IN GT6 wheels to a Dolly? - Same look as those Spitfire ones but will take 175/185 tyres - Now that would like nice!

[VYO 372M]

Looks very nice, what a transformation, well done

Steve

[NickMorgan]

Your car's looking geat, Howard. I love reading these threads and seeing the progress members are making with their cars. You are all putting me to shame as my 1300 hasn't turned a wheel in over two years. I really wish I had somewhere to work on it at the house, some more time, more money and the skill to repair it!

[TinDog]

I can hardly believe the transformation in this car (no disrespect to Adam) but I think you found a diamond in the rough with this one - top job, mate.

I really wish I had somewhere to work on it at the house, some more time, more money and the skill to repair it!

I can relate to that - not enough time, money or a place to it.

[1300dolly]

Im just short of money, have the time and place.
David dont bin the spitty wheels i may want them for my SE if i dont stick with eth alloys.

[Reg]

Looks so much better with those lovely wheels on Howard.. Transformed the car, nice one..

[Howard81]

Thanks for the nice comments everyone

I can hardly believe the transformation in this car (no disrespect to Adam) but I think you found a diamond in the rough with this one - top job, mate.

To be honest, the photos do hide a multitude of belmishes - the car is nowhere near perfect, but I am slowly improving it! It needs a sill replacing, and there are still a few rust scabs under the upper chrome trim on the passenger side. Also the front panel to repaint in the correct shade of Brooklands Green and fit a straighter rear bumper (really must do that one soon, it's been in my kitchen for the last month!). There are the new window rubbers to fit, the new windscreen and I need to fix the horn. Then fit the new exhaust manifold that will hopefully fix the exhaust leak! Phew....

Once that has all been done, THEN I will be happy

[Howard81]

Has anyone tried fitting the 5 1/2IN GT6 wheels to a Dolly? - Same look as those Spitfire ones but will take 175/185 tyres - Now that would like nice!

I'm not so sure they would fit.

I have 4.5" on the front, and 5" on the rear. From the outside, the wheels look identical, so the extra 1/2" would be offset to the "back" of the wheel.

The 5.5" wheels look much deeper from the face, so that means they stick out of the wings further. As it is, the 4.5" wheels are right on the outside limit of the arch (similar to a Sprint wheel), so an extra 1/2" sticking out would mean the tyre would be outside of the wheelarch and an MoT failure. I think you could get away with it at the back though. I'm running 155 tyres.

The wheels fitted to the SE models were 5", but they had a slightly different offset to the Spitfire ones, which made them fit a Dolly better.

That is in theory... but I'm happy to be shown I'm wrong - I think a Dolly would look great on 5.5" Spitfire wheels! I also think they would look great on TR6 wheels...

[Spunkymonkey]

Has anyone tried fitting the 5 1/2IN GT6 wheels to a Dolly? - Same look as those Spitfire ones but will take 175/185 tyres - Now that would like nice!

The 5.5" wheels look much deeper from the face, so that means they stick out of the wings further. As it is, the 4.5" wheels are right on the outside limit of the arch (similar to a Sprint wheel), so an extra 1/2" sticking out would mean the tyre would be outside of the wheelarch and an MoT failure....

Bit of an urban myth on that - there's absolutely nothing in the MOT that they can fail you on for having wheels outside the arches. Not covered by the tyres / roadwheels section and the "danger to other road users" bit is specifically for A sharp edge or projection, caused by corrosion or damage, which renders the vehicle dangerous to other road users, including pedestrians.. No sharp edges on tyres

Construction & Use regs require that wheels are adequately guarded to prevent mud / spray being thrown up but that would be a (fairly subjective) matter for the police rather than your friendly local tester!

Love how the car's looking btw - but personally think going wider would detract from the effect anyway

[sprint95m]

I have 4.5" on the front, and 5" on the rear. From the outside, the wheels look identical, so the extra 1/2" would be offset to the "back" of the wheel.
I think a Dolly would look great on 5.5" Spitfire wheels! I also think they would look great on TR6 wheels...

There is a good reason why a Dolomite's rear track is narrower than the front apart from the shape of the bodyshell dictating it.
In simple terms, for best cornering in a back wheel drive car, the front should be harder and wider than the back. This makes the car controllable during cornering. So, I suggest you try 5J rims on the front too?

TR6 wheels have a different wheel stud spacing to that used on a Dolomite .

[swifty]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triumph-Spitfire- ... 3:2|294:50

Now that's what I'm talking about!

[Howard81]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triumph-Spitfire- ... 3:2|294:50

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Thing is, the 5.5" rims nearly always finish around £200

I have a set of 4.5" wire wheels off a Spitfire, maybe I should put those on it