The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi guys. New to the forums and would like some advice. I am a qualified mechanic and have been for roughly 15 *edited for scrutiny ;-D* years although gave up doing it for a living a while ago..... (I now fix radars) im looking for a dolly in the new year. I want it as a daily runner. Low mileage journeys. I dont want an auto and have a few questions.....


1 the models with twin headlamps is this only the HL models?

2 manual vs auto? I prefer a manual but is this realistic? They seem to be mostly autos

3 is 1200 - 1500 a fair budget for a sound (repaired not restored) dolly that wont need weldig. (Much as i can do it i hate welding........ )With a long mot?

Any other tips and heads up on cars would be greatly appreciated

I'll try to answer those,

1) only the Dolomite 1300, the 1500SE and some late non HL 1500s had single headlights, as per the budget Toledo. All others had twins, from the 1500TC (not strictly a Dolomite) and the even earlier 1500 FWD to the last Sprint.

2) There does seem to be a very high percentage of Autos for sale currently doesn't there? I can assure you this is a glitch in the market, in production terms, manuals outnumber autos by about 5-1! Don't dismiss the Auto out of hand though, a Dolly auto can make a fine and relaxed cruiser, particularly the 1850 which has a particularly well matched trans setup and the tallest final drive ratio of any Dolomite.
If you do want to hold out for a manual I would suggest going for one with Overdrive already fitted, it really makes the car competitive with modern traffic and helps the mpg figures considerably. Converting a non-OD car is possible and not particularly difficult but the bits are getting expensive these days as one or two other members on here can confirm!

3)So long as you don't want a Sprint, your budget should be sufficient, though the trend seems to be towards a price rise generally amongst the lower spec models. Buy one now while they're still a bargain! With a background in the motor trade I shouldn't have to tell you to check any prospective purchase carefully and judge each on its merits. There are very few original unmolested Dollys about now and those that are seem to command good money and generally speaking it would be a shame to press such a car into everyday use anyway.
But there are are a fair number of average+ cars available that will suit your purpose better and give you decent service without too many headaches!

Steve

awesome.. im not a massive auto fan you see.. boxes are a minefield of potential problems regardless of make or model or age!!

I would prefer a manual and again im realistic that i wouldnt expect to find an unmolested one that would be set for everyday use in my budget.. and i would almost certainly want the twin headlamp (its just cooler lol)

You say there are laods out there.. but i cant seem to find any.. only a handful of autos

On the insurance side.. the classic insurance.. does it tend to be like normal insurance where they jump massively when you go above the 1300 i havent really looked into the insurance for the 1500 and above.. so while im typing thought i would throw that one in too!

It all depends on your age!
25+ you'll barely be paying anything, <25 and you'll be ripped off. I don't even know if classic insurance is currently available for <25s anyway, they seem to change it every day.

I wouldn't say that there are loads out there, but I did see a tidy, taxed and tested Vermillion 1500 HL man OD car on the bay recently which went for just over a grand and wasn't that far away from us and there have been others.
Insurance is a bit of a thorny problem particularly if you are under 21 (which you obviously aren't) when the classic insurers don't want to know you if you have over 1500ccs at your disposal!
Try the usual suspects, Footman James, Peter James and Lancaster (in no particular order) I can't claim to be an expert in this province as 1) I have a motor trade policy which covers all my cars and 2) i'm 58 so most cars are cheap-ish to insure anyway!

Steve

*cough* 34 *cough*

analogue_rogue wrote: I am a qualified mechanic and have been for nearly 20 years

"Cough indeed!" Left school at 10 did you?

Steve

Carledo wrote:

analogue_rogue wrote: I am a qualified mechanic and have been for nearly 20 years

"Cough indeed!" Left school at 10 did you?

Steve

nope 15 and i counted 16 years as nearly 20 .. but i suppose youre right nearly 15 years if you dont count 3 apprenticing

analogue_rogue wrote:. I am a qualified mechanic and have been for roughly 15 *edited for scrutiny ;-D* years

I feel its only fair to be honest lol thatll teach me to guess and not work it out properly!! I feel suitably shamed at my error *hangs head*

You're forgiven!
If you check the cars for sale section here there is an Inca yellow 1500HL on minilites that looks not too shabby and in budget (just) It was only posted 3 weeks ago so might still be available!

Steve

Ahhh no i have to wait until the new year as im posted to oxfordshire and the budget holder wont approve the spend until after then......

Although there was an orange one in woodstock on classic and cars....

AHHH! She who MUST be obeyed! I have one of those too!
Are you currently at Cosford then?

Steve

PS theres a TSSC meet at the Red Lion Holyhead Rd Wellington next Wednesday (21st) All Triumph fans welcome though I doubt there'll be any Dollies there, mine are both off the road at present.

Yes indeed sir i have been here for a few years but time to move on!!

All I can say is that you've come to the right place. The general advice for buying Dolomites is the same as for any other car. You should watch what Mike Brewer does on Wheeler Dealers whenever he's checking out a potential purchase.

What? Ignore all of the common sense advice and buy it anyway whilst offering a miserable price for it - lol++.

Hiya by the way.

Your budget should get you something very, very decent. I tend to like the 1300 engined cars, I have a black Toledo (see the thread). I bought it sight unseen via an online auction site (ahem) for £200 with T & T, albeit as a non-runner. I think that the paintwork put a lot of people off lol.

The quad headlight cars look nice but the general feeling is that the twin headlighters give better illumination. I guess the difference is minimal in the real world.

If you can find a car and owner locally then meet up, have a good look round the car and see if you can blag a drive. Try a few different models if possible and don't discount the auto version. They are quite good.

All the best.

Ken