My 1979 Triumph Dolomite 1500 SE by Triggers Retro Road Tests, on FlickrOriginal thread for it here: https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... hp?t=29637
I turned it into a swan but i never completely jelled to it, i wasn't keen on the 1500 OHV engine if I'm honest and when a friend offered me his Morris Ital Van that i had known for many years something had to go and the Dolly unfortunately was it, it now belongs to another enthusiast who I'm sure many of you know.
Anyway i digress, a few years passed as had a few other classics and the urge for a another Dolly was growing, especially a Sprint, I sold a Granada Scorpio which i had done up and had a buyer after my immaculate Marina Estate so now was the time!, a Facebook contact commented on the Dolomite Facebook page that he was thinking of letting his go as it had a gearbox fault so after a bit of a chat i drove down the A12 to his to view the car.
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on FlickrIt was love at first sight!
It had it's faults but as a whole it was a very tidy car, it was originally registered by BL Cars of Cowley and used as a Unipart Managers car for it's first 2 years where it was then sold to a doctor, it started life as a automatic but was converted to a manual with overdrive in 1991, a price was agreed and the seller even kindly drove it back to mine as the gearbox was shot!.
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on Flickr
1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on FlickrThe first job was to remove the stickers, they were a little overkill for me then to investigate this clutch problem, it wouldn't go into gear with the engine running and then it was in gear the car would drive with you foot still on the clutch, a mechanic friend of mine said if i supplied the parts he'd do the clutch for £300 so it was farmed off to him for the day.
It ended up being the cross shaft pin... all that work for a £9 pin, clucked a new clutch in at the same time and celebrated by going to the pub with some mates.
1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on FlickrIt took ages to refit the transmission tunnel, it had been bodged up in the past and held in with wood screws so i had to fit new speed clips and bolts, also found the live ballast cable had burned out and was putting 14v live across the bulkhead! that along with the rotten fuel hoses that were peeing petrol out off under the bonnet I'm amazed the cars not caught on fire!
anyway there's still lots of little jobs to sort, next one being the timing as it's running far too rich and balance the carbs and replace all the coolants pipes as they are leaking, and a bit of bodywork, and the screen rubber trim... it never ends!
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on FlickrI have the correct rear Triumph badge on order off eBay.
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on FlickrI quite like the SE style burr walnut dash.
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on FlickrI fitted a set of rear seat belts so i can take my children out in it.
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on Flickr
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on Flickr
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on FlickrThe headlights have had a halagon upgrade and are amazing, far better than my modern cars!
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on Flickr
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on FlickrI love the original Unipart plates too!
My 1980 Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Michael Carpenter, on FlickrSo there she is, It was restored around 2008 time and had a absolute fortune spent on it, unfortunately though it looks as if it was then sold back on not quite finished and the next owner bodged it a bit with mastic and silocoin to sell it back on again so there a few things that aren't quite right to sort but i'll get there.
Many thanks for reading.
I also like the Marina estate as well, i have a soft spot for Marina's (not a swamp) they weren't really as bad as they were made out to be 
