Triumph dolomite 1850hl development car VHP515X

[Cliveg]

Morning, new to this so here goes. I have recently bought a Dolomite which started life as a development car at Coventry. There were two built to the same spec, used by Leyland then sold on. This car was sold to the plant manager for his wife. It has had 4 owners and done low miles. It was sold due to ill health of the last keeper, it’s been in Coventry all it’s life till now. I was told it has done 125 on a track and is faster than a sprint. It was built with an uprated head lowered suspension rs2000 exhaust and minilite wheels. It was white in colour as all development cars are but is now maroon, change done in factory. I have tried to find more detail on the car itself through heritage etc but have drawn a blank. I have details of all keepers, but when I have tried to establish contact it appears they have moved. I am posting this in the hope someone knows of the car or one of the keepers who could fill in the blanks. I am currently prepping it for mot then it will be painted where needed. I would be grateful of any information to discover the history / build of the car. Cheers Clive

[triumphdolomiteuk]

A lovely car and very well known to the Club. Its previous owner is a member and uses this forum from time to time, so may be along to comment at some point...

[MIG Wielder]

Morning, new to this so here goes. I have recently bought a Dolomite which started life as a development car at Coventry. There were two built to the same spec, used by Leyland then sold on. This car was sold to the plant manager for his wife. It has had 4 owners and done low miles. It was sold due to ill health of the last keeper, it’s been in Coventry all it’s life till now. I was told it has done 125 on a track and is faster than a sprint. It was built with an uprated head lowered suspension rs2000 exhaust and minilite wheels. It was white in colour as all development cars are but is now maroon, change done in factory. I have tried to find more detail on the car itself through heritage etc but have drawn a blank. I have details of all keepers, but when I have tried to establish contact it appears they have moved. I am posting this in the hope someone knows of the car or one of the keepers who could fill in the blanks. I am currently prepping it for mot then it will be painted where needed. I would be grateful of any information to discover the history / build of the car. Cheers Clive

Hi Clive, Welcome to the Forum. Your post was very interesting as when I bought SWK I was also told the same thing. That B.L. Developments cars were always White. And SWK is the original CVT development car now converted to 4-speed +O.D. And its in Triumph White paint code 19.
Good luck with your search . Did you get much B.L. documentation with yours ?
And Triumph Maroon is my favourite Dolomite colour. I had a 1973 1850 in that colour.
Cheers for now,
Tony.

[Carledo]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on buying a tidy car with an interesting history!

But not ALL development cars were white, The Herald hatchback which I owned for many years before Chris Gunby restored it was Wedgewood blue and a mate has a 1980 development TR8 which is, and has always been, Black!

It seems to hold true for Dolomites though, another (originally) white one was the Prototype Sprint FHP 923L which was originally a white LHD 1850 Dolomite, hastily repainted in Mimosa by the factory for the publicity shots! (Probably because none of the first 2000 true Sprints were finished in time to take part in the launch pictures!)

Steve

[Cliveg]

Thanks for the interest and replies, dont know how to do individual replies so if anyone can enlighten me that would be good. The car came with very little in the way of history but the guy who owned it before me did me a potted history, I have details of all keepers as well. Would really like to know the full details of what was done by the factory, but that’s a big ask so long after it was done. Meanwhile it’s on with the improvement and hopefully in for test soon. Thanks Clive

[tangocharlie1]

You could always get a heritage certificate, may give some more factory details.

[Carledo]

If you want to talk to an individual member "off forum" just click the PM button in the lower left corner of their post.

HTH Steve

[Cliveg]

Thanks again for the replies, did try the heritage centre, sent them an email but all they can supply is the original build details, cheers Clive

[tangocharlie1]

i believe you can request to visit Gaydon (or whatever it's called now) and view there archive in person, this should enable you to go through the records in more detail.

Might turn something up.