The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi all - looks like a great forum you have here.

I'm an old booger btw, the Dolomite 1300 I'm getting is for my 17 year old daughter and I to share.

If I can take you back to 1971, my fondness for the Triumph 1300 began and led naturally to the Dolomite that will soon be outside my door (can't wait )

In 1971 I was 14 and my brothers friend had bought a 1965 Ice-blue 1300...I was more than impressed by the crisp , modern styling and especially liked the snubed treatment of the nose and lamps. But when he turned on the engine and I saw the "orange segments" warning lights I thought this was real "thunderbirds" stuff! Also, compared to my Dad's old Anglia van, the upholstery and deep carpets (also in blue IIRC) were really luxurious.

Fast forward to 1974 - I'm now 17 and a mate had the use of his Mum's white Toledo.... the memories came flooding back, same quality , same beautiful; upholstery (wasn't so keen on the square lights at the front though ) .

Anyhow I owned a Spitfire for 2 years when I was 19-ish , really wanted a TR6 (didn't we all) or a Stag (wow) but never got to own any other Triumph (hired an Acclaim for a month though in 1982) .... the world turned, Triumph became history and I ended up with a string of other makes instead.

But now I look forward to making up for lost time!

Look forward to ownership.You`re at the right place to start at here.

welcome to the forums triang, you've found a good club here with lots of good advice and friendly people.

I'll be the first to ask though....do you have any pics of the 1300 ?

stu

Hello and welcome!

Welcome to the forum sir, you will not find a more helpful bunch of people on the interweb I can assure you...!!!

Tell us about this 1300 Dolly that's coming your way then, we like to know the ins and outs of all the cars mentioned on here! Also, don't forget to show us some lovely pictures when you can as that really helps too...!!!

Good luck with your new (old!) Triumph, you and your family will have a blast

Good choice to introduce your daughter to proper motoring.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

My girls LOVED it! - Needn't have worried - they (thankfully) agreed that its's a)different b) hip (!) c) so much better than the grey, plastic porridge that's the usual fare for first time driving teenagers ie Fiestas/Corsas/Clios etc etc etc .... Phew .

17 yr old has first go (although the car belongs to both of them) , 15 yr old will get her turn in due course ...

I think you all know this car already - It's been on Ebay for some time ....

Bought from a garage near Cheltenham,


Here she is!

1981 Inca Yellow - immaculate inside, just needs fettling outside but more oiling locks and polishing and small touch up jobs...


BTW the seller mentioned that someone on this forum had contacted him to say he had the "sister" car to mine, ie they were bought new by a company and had similar number plates.

Anybody know about this?

I hadn't realised how much smaller the 1300 Dollys were compared to the rest of the model range.

Opps - try again

Very nice indeed, a late one too with Spitfire style wheels

July 1981 Howard.

Was that a standard fixture for the late 1300's?

It also has a squarish rather than oblongish front badge with the Triumph script surrounded by the laurel wreath... I haven't seen that on any other Dolomite 1300... ???

Just trying to sort through it on my first day of ownership

Owners handbook doesn't match the car - it is the 5th edition and shows the older 2-spoke steering wheel in the illustration.

Also there is no mention of the oblong red "BRAKE" warning light that has been randomly plonked on the dash.

... and of course the note on it's twin sister the "SEATBELTS ON" oblong light is also not there.

I undestand the handbook went to at least 8 editions so this must be a replacement ???



Question: does the "BRAKE" warning light indicate handbrake on (not working) as well as low brake fluid???

This is a great looking car, you've got a real gem there...

I'm not 100% sure of the details of the later cars but I'm sure the Spitfire wheels may very well have been fitted at the factory... Also, the nose badge is correct for that year.

I imagine all the other questions you have will be answered pretty swiftly...

The brake light is something to do with the dual circut brakes that the later cars had from about 1978 onwards. All the Dolomites I've had have all been single circuit brakes so I'm not too familiar with the later dual circuit brakes.

Yes I believe the brake light illuminates when the brakes are out of balance.

The late style nose badge always looks the business, I think it was designed in mind to tie in with later models such as the Acclaim which wore a similar one, all about corporate identity and future buyers of Acclaims being able to identify with the brand when he came to trade in his Dolomite.

Your yellow car looks lovely - no problem finding that one in the supermarket car park amongst the mundane grey and silvers of today's cars eh?