The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I actually doubt it, such a car should be locked away in a garage when not being driven to maintain its fantastic condition and sad to say...i dont have one.I have had a little section of my garden cordoned off with a fence around it to protect the car from bikes,balls etc but i cannot protect it from the constant rain and general dampness we get up here.I have driven the car around half a dozen times since i got it in february and although it is a joy to drive it dont want to be the one to preside over a great cars decline.I sometimes wish i had bought the yellow 1850 that was available at the same time as mug as it would have been a car i wasnt afraid to use.I dived into the purchase somewhat as i couldnt believe such a car could be mine though i have spent far more on it than i should have as i have no mechanical skills whatsoever.I love looking(aint i sad) at the car but i honestly feel if i keep it it will go downhill rapidly.I would welcome peoples thoughts on this as i have been at war with myself for a couple of weeks about what to do.

Don't be crazy, as long as you look after it, the car will last!

My first car was a 1966 Beetle I bought from the original owner with 36,000 miles on the clock. I had it repainted in 1998. For 8 years, that car was my only car and was used every day, I learnt to drive in it, it took me to school, University, shopping, road trips and nights out. I even crashed it It always lived outside, rain, sun or snow. After 11 years and 25,000 miles it now looks almost as good as it did the day I got it back from the bodyshop. Admittedly, the door bottoms have a few very minor bubbles (the door bottoms were replaced in 1998), and the wheels need painting and new tyres, but I will get those sorted this winter!

What I am trying to say is that if a car is looked after well enough, it WILL last. Wash it every week or two, including a good and a comprehensive hose-down of the underside to get rid of much, salt and other nasties. Regular polishing to protect the paint. If any rust bubbles do appear, get them sorted ASAP! I'd also waxoyl the living daylights out of it

A good quality outdoor cover will help too

you would not be able to count the number of sprints/1850s/1500/1300/toledos sitting in breakers yards, looking nervously at the big cuber. Yours is in safe hands, polished to within an inch of its life and getting road time. I'd be happy being a sprint in your hands and you shouldn't hesitate to drive her and enjoy her.

nice room too

stu

What they said +++++.

Look after it (as I'm sure you will) and enjoy it, it does look a cracker, and good ones usually last the course if well maintained.

Howard I have to say your Beetle looks stunning, it is a credit to you, great cars in my opinion.

Steve

The things that kill cars are lack of use, which makes them unreliable, road salt or sea air that makes them rust and leakis into the interior
which makes them rot form inside out...
If you can keep the carpets dry, good screen seals are essential, and drive it 100 miles a week then it will last indefinitely.

All mine ae parked in the open Hence they dry out and are well aired. A damp garage is no help either.

Jonners

Very simpley it's a car, drive it. I'd personally much rather see a well cared for car with a few road scars than an over polished under used one. It'll be a better car for being used

IMHO, leaving a car outside is preferable to garaging whilst in use. I have never garaged a car that is being used. My Dolomite spend the first 8 years of its life sitting out in the streets of Edinburgh and the next 3 on the drive during the summer (it was garaged during the winter lay up).

So long as you do not neglect it (like that's going to happen ) and it is out of reach of wandering numpties there should not be any problems.

Thatsa nisa car! Was that your garage in the pic - or your kitchen, spare room or what? Talk about clean!! I noted the "homage" to the Sprint posters nicely framed on the wall as well.. Question is, do you spend that long polishing MUG that you need to watch the telly??

YB

Lovely Motor....just out of curiosity...what's parked next to it? I can make out some interesting chromed wheels.....is that a Prowler??

Ah folks,the garage it is in is actually the property of Hutch 76, it is spotless and well aired.The chrome wheels belong to a hot rod based on a 1934 ford.....this beast has to be heard as well as seen . I appreciate all your comments and have even sent the wife out in the sprint tonight just so it gets some usage.My problem is that i just dont have much time to use it BUT i am gonna try and make a point of using it before i do anything rash.