The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Quite a few years ago, sometime in the mid 90s I think, I was at a TRDC national weekend and someone brought a convertible doly they'd built. I can't remember any details, other than the owner reckoned there was about a hundredweight of stiffening underneath. Anyway, is it still about, and does anyone know anything about it or how it was done, etc?

Graham

If it was the brown death trap i recall, it's hopefully in the bin by now before it falls in half and hurts someone.

Get a convertible Herald instead.

I thought it was blue and had the back doors welded.

Someone also did something to a 2 door Toledo IIRC that looked quite good.

Jonners

Yes, there was a Sapphire one with the roof cut into sections. You unbolted the sections & stored them in the boot.

There was the toledo convertible, fitted witha mid engined V* setup. But that was very proper.

I have seen a yellow one in a magazine but cannot remember details.

I've seen a cream convertible Toledo used as a stunt car, this was a scanned magazine article on Facebook I think... It was on two wheels and had four folk on board.

Well the one I remember had scaffolding poles across the tops of the doors so presumably you had to climb over those to get in and out! No idea if it even had a hood/roof. I did ask the owner about how well it went through the MoT and he was cagey in response - as in it hadn't needed an MoT since the work was done.

To be honest,the relatively steep windscreen angle of a Dolomite just looks odd without the roof.

I think the one I saw at the TRDC national was a darkish blue, but I can't remember what model it was though. Also, as I remember, all the strengthening was, at that time at least, in/under the floorpan. I do seem to remember that it was scaffolding polls though. It may also have been more than just the one hundredweight. Also, it had a hood, and I think I was told what from, but I've slept since then.

What I can't remember is whether there was a roll bar between the B posts or not. I think I'd do that, and maybe add a T bar, like the Stag, or braces between A and B posts. 'Spose the other way to do it would be to use a roll cage, or parts thereof, which should mean the roof would be redundant as a strength member. However, don't they all block the back door holes, and make the rear seat a bit hard to use?

The guy who'd done it was really, really happy with it: I remember that. But I didn't get a go, so I can't say if he was right to be, or just self delusional.

It didn't look bad, but then I always think the TR7 DHC looks much better than the FHC, and that's nearly a "just cut the top off" job, with some strength members in the sills, winscreen frams, and door catches, etc. Can't be that much twist in the 7's shell - even one as rotten as mine -, because I've got a plastic top on mine, and the front fixings usually go a couple/three years before they have to be glued back in again.

Graham

GrahamFountain wrote:I think the one I saw at the TRDC national was a darkish blue, but I can't remember what model it was though. Graham

Do you mean this one?


If so,all I know is that the photograph was taken by me at Hatton Country World on 1st September 1996.

James

I hope the poorly fitting boot spoiler isn't a sign of the build quality of the conversion.

Jer

I think I last saw the blue car in 2000 or 2001 (TDCIR at Cosford?)...

There's only one "official" covertible, the Landaulet - I couldn't find a picture of the real one onlne, but here's one from the model (by Derrez models):



I last saw the real Landaulet in 2003 I think, when the TDCIR coincided with the Triumph World picknick... I'll really must look up a picture of it that I took.

I wonder if both these cars are still around...?

Pippin wrote:I hope the poorly fitting boot spoiler isn't a sign of the build quality of the conversion.

Jer

No.
Conversion quality is even worse.

The blue one in the pictures belonged to a chap called Steve Lester . I think he also owned a very early 1850 as well . Have not seen it for a number of years though.