Hello,
I am 17 and thinking of buying a Dolomite 1300 or 1500 as my first car. I am on a limited budget (around £800) and have seen a number of cars which SOUND as though they should be easy and quite cheap to repair. The one I'm currently looking at (on car and classic) has been off the road for a year after an MOT failure. From the look of the pictures and the MOT issues it needs
*A new nearside front wing and possibly door
*A replacement muffler (the guy says exhaust box, I can only assume they are the same)
*Work doing on the electrics (the stop lights don't work)
*Work on the seat belt attachment on door pillar (he says it needs some work)
The seller says it was quoted at around £500 for repair
How much of this could be done by myself (I have some engineering experience and access to welding equipment)?
Where is a good place to get parts?
Thanks in advance
Ease of Repair?
Re: Ease of Repair?
Hello to you
on ebay there is tidy red 1500 auto on the road for £800 buy it now.
steve
on ebay there is tidy red 1500 auto on the road for £800 buy it now.
steve
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 2 dr K reg
1973 Brown Toledo 2 dr L reg
1973 Green Toledo 2 dr L reg
1977 white Datsun 100a f2 S reg
1983 White Toyota Tercel 4x4
1987 Brown Toyota Tercel 4x4
1988 Blue Toyota Tercel 4x4
1999 Toyota Corolla vvti est
2005 Ford ranger thunder XLT
because one triumph just isnt enough
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 2 dr K reg
1973 Brown Toledo 2 dr L reg
1973 Green Toledo 2 dr L reg
1977 white Datsun 100a f2 S reg
1983 White Toyota Tercel 4x4
1987 Brown Toyota Tercel 4x4
1988 Blue Toyota Tercel 4x4
1999 Toyota Corolla vvti est
2005 Ford ranger thunder XLT
because one triumph just isnt enough
Re: Ease of Repair?
If you have access to welding equipment and engineering knowledge, I'd say none of that is really beyond you.
The only bit I would say is tricky would be the wing and getting it looking good after, but I would say that, I hate doing bodywork. The only other obstacle is finding a good replacement. Though the club do GRP replacements that I will invest in when funds allow.
Best place for spares is the club, Rimmers (sometimes a bit steep, useful for part numbers at least), Quiller Triumph do some bits, Winns... err, there's loads more but I've drawn a blank at names.
The lower engined (Note I didn't say worse!
) cars share most engine parts with Spitfires iirc. Slant engined cars, 1850 or Sprint) are a bit more of a pain.
Hope that helps!
The only bit I would say is tricky would be the wing and getting it looking good after, but I would say that, I hate doing bodywork. The only other obstacle is finding a good replacement. Though the club do GRP replacements that I will invest in when funds allow.
Best place for spares is the club, Rimmers (sometimes a bit steep, useful for part numbers at least), Quiller Triumph do some bits, Winns... err, there's loads more but I've drawn a blank at names.
The lower engined (Note I didn't say worse!
) cars share most engine parts with Spitfires iirc. Slant engined cars, 1850 or Sprint) are a bit more of a pain.Hope that helps!
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David6214
- Guest contributor
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Re: Ease of Repair?
Mick Dolphin, Fitchetts, Chris Wittor, a load of people on here have spares to sell as well.
That said I'd get one that had a ticket for that sort of money if I was you.....start by finding one with a good structure and wings!
That said I'd get one that had a ticket for that sort of money if I was you.....start by finding one with a good structure and wings!
Previous owner of 42 Dolomite shaped vehicles, 14 Sprints, 12 1850s, 8 1500s, 3 V8s, 3 Toledos and 2 SEs
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covcourier
- TDC Member
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- Location: Coventry and beyond.........
Re: Ease of Repair?
PM me for details of a 1500 that may suit you. Taxed and tested and within your budget.
Stewart
Stewart
***I'd rather ask for forgiveness after than seek permission before!!***
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MIG Wielder
- TDC Member
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- Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:52 pm
Re: Ease of Repair?
Hi Ed, Welcome to the forum , I hope you find something suitable. Now I haven't seen the advert you refer to, but for that money just 1 year ago I got a very nice 1850, through the Club, with tax, MOT and has been my daily driver for the past year. And it has a lot of history from a well known Club Member. And I've spent nearly nothing on it apart from servicing/tyres / improvements.
So this one (to me ) sounds Expensive.
What ! It needs a new wing ? Its an MOT failure ? A "muffler " . Hey, silencers / pipes aren't mega cash. Stop lights not working are either 2 bulbs or the switch up by the brake pedal.
The bit that really worries me is the "seat belt attachments on the door pillar " statement. These don't usually rust up here so if this is a rust problem, I wouldn't be walking away. I'd be running. Maybe the fixing bolt is loose ! With £500 welding on top of what you are expected to pay you can get much better; with an MOT , some tax and save the rest for the Insurance.
I do not get a good feeling about this one. Have you got a reg;no; chassis number one of us on here might recognise ?
Good Luck,
Tony.
So this one (to me ) sounds Expensive.
What ! It needs a new wing ? Its an MOT failure ? A "muffler " . Hey, silencers / pipes aren't mega cash. Stop lights not working are either 2 bulbs or the switch up by the brake pedal.
The bit that really worries me is the "seat belt attachments on the door pillar " statement. These don't usually rust up here so if this is a rust problem, I wouldn't be walking away. I'd be running. Maybe the fixing bolt is loose ! With £500 welding on top of what you are expected to pay you can get much better; with an MOT , some tax and save the rest for the Insurance.
I do not get a good feeling about this one. Have you got a reg;no; chassis number one of us on here might recognise ?
Good Luck,
Tony.
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ed1993
Re: Ease of Repair?
Thank's for all your replies!
http://www.carandclassic.com/car/C151116/ (reg OPC 278R) is the car I was looking at. At the moment I am waiting for a garage at the top of our garden to store whatever I get in. Because it will also serve as a learner car for a while I would like one with a manual gearbox.
The seatbelt issue worried me a bit as well but I've asked for pictures which I may post (if I can't see the issue)
Thanks for all the help so far!
Ed
http://www.carandclassic.com/car/C151116/ (reg OPC 278R) is the car I was looking at. At the moment I am waiting for a garage at the top of our garden to store whatever I get in. Because it will also serve as a learner car for a while I would like one with a manual gearbox.
The seatbelt issue worried me a bit as well but I've asked for pictures which I may post (if I can't see the issue)
Thanks for all the help so far!
Ed
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alolympic
Re: Ease of Repair?
Welcome, good choice, my 1st car was a Dolly too.
Great cars to learn on - that's what I'm doing, I'm just twice your age, that's the only difference
I would echo what has been said before, hold out for a car with an MOT.
You need to ask yourself why the current owner did not tackle the work to get it through an MOT.
You may need to look at a few cars before you find a good buy but Dollies aren't that hard to come by so just be patient.
Better to buy the absolute best you can afford, as time/cost of repairs soon mounts up.
Great cars to learn on - that's what I'm doing, I'm just twice your age, that's the only difference
I would echo what has been said before, hold out for a car with an MOT.
You need to ask yourself why the current owner did not tackle the work to get it through an MOT.
You may need to look at a few cars before you find a good buy but Dollies aren't that hard to come by so just be patient.
Better to buy the absolute best you can afford, as time/cost of repairs soon mounts up.
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1300dolly
Re: Ease of Repair?
Welcome to the forum
The wing bottom edge should not be a MOT fail unless it has sharp edges which a bit of gaffer tape will sort, looking at those pics it looks more as so the sill and jacking point may be a problem.
As others have said it would be better to look for a car with a long MOT and buy the best that you can afford, get a few insurance quotes to give you an idea of what you will have to pay out you may find there is a big difference between the 1300 and 1500, there is a young drivers insurance thread on the forum. Joining the club (£26) will get you a good discount with selected companys as well as giving you access parts and panels.
The wing bottom edge should not be a MOT fail unless it has sharp edges which a bit of gaffer tape will sort, looking at those pics it looks more as so the sill and jacking point may be a problem.
As others have said it would be better to look for a car with a long MOT and buy the best that you can afford, get a few insurance quotes to give you an idea of what you will have to pay out you may find there is a big difference between the 1300 and 1500, there is a young drivers insurance thread on the forum. Joining the club (£26) will get you a good discount with selected companys as well as giving you access parts and panels.
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Jon Tilson
- Guest contributor
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Re: Ease of Repair?
I'd be looking at project catsick on the ebay thread instead of that...
Better engine and a more upmarket model.
This wants at least a cill and jacking point repair and its about 150 quids worth to sort. The other stuff sounds pretty trivial. Strong money at 475 unless its otherwise really nice. It looks good but then why hasnt he sorted it and let it sit a year?
No better choice of 1st car than a dolomite. Even if it turns out to be a shed what you will learn will be worth the money in the long run...
The 1300 is in a lower insurance group which may be an issue for you.
Jonners
Better engine and a more upmarket model.
This wants at least a cill and jacking point repair and its about 150 quids worth to sort. The other stuff sounds pretty trivial. Strong money at 475 unless its otherwise really nice. It looks good but then why hasnt he sorted it and let it sit a year?
No better choice of 1st car than a dolomite. Even if it turns out to be a shed what you will learn will be worth the money in the long run...
The 1300 is in a lower insurance group which may be an issue for you.
Jonners
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.
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1300dolly
Re: Ease of Repair?
Jon Tilson wrote:I'd be looking at project catsick on the ebay thread Jonners
Cheers Jonners, Although project catsick would be an ideal cheap project for someone to cut their dolomite teeth on if they didnt want to jump in it and drive it straight away the cost of transporting it from Southampton to Yorkshire wouldn't be cheap.
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Jon Tilson
- Guest contributor
- Posts: 11179
- Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:45 pm
- Location: Middlesex
Re: Ease of Repair?
The yellow 1300 is in Surry isn't it? Not a lot of difference then.
Jon
Jon
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.
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ed1993
Re: Ease of Repair?
The bloke advertising it is not the owner. To be honest I'm not looking at a project car but in terms of general condition (and I will admit quite nice colour!) that one caught my eye. The difference between Surrey and Southampton is that I have relatives nearby with whom I can leave the car.
On insurance with major insurers there seems to be little difference between a 1300 and 1500 (between £3 and £30 depending which comparison site I use) I don't know what the difference is for FJ etc.
On transport £30/day on trailer hire and my dad can be pursuaded to tow! But ideally I would like something that we could drive up.
On insurance with major insurers there seems to be little difference between a 1300 and 1500 (between £3 and £30 depending which comparison site I use) I don't know what the difference is for FJ etc.
On transport £30/day on trailer hire and my dad can be pursuaded to tow! But ideally I would like something that we could drive up.