The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi,

I'm new to the site so hello . I'm in Nth Lincolnshire and looking to buy a Sprint , Had an 1850 when I was 18 (30 odd years ago !) Now what's best to buy ? I have seen quite a few (e bay, auction ) selling for around 5k and they all need plenty of welding doing . I would like a car that I can drive now not in a years time so what sort of money is a drive away car and also has anyone got one to sell ? Any advice is appreciated .

regards

Chris

Welcome to the Forum, Chris. Sprints vary enormously in value but a starting point for a decent, but not exceptional, car has got to be over £6K, all the way up to £20K for the very best. Keep looking in our Sales & Wants section, we have had some very good cars on here recently. Also check ebay and other websites, good cars do occasionally come on to the market. Be prepared to travel though, these cars are rare to the point that the chances of one coming up for sale in your street are going to be slim! Take your time though, the right car will be available eventually.

Thanks for that info, I was looking at the one on e bay now but given the distance to go look and the amount of work it requires I think it's a step too far for me . One will become available soon am sure .

Would you consider an automatic Sprint? A very good one will be hitting the market shortly...

Yes , please keep me posted

A quick update , I was looking at a couple that are currently on e bay both look good cars then would you believe a car has turned up 4 miles from our village ! Going to look next weekend when the owner returns from away . W plate (BROWN !!) fingers crossed it all works out . On a side note these cars on e bay change hands quickly !! and some people will bid on anything . Just my thoughts .

Chris.

Hi,
I got the brown sprint home yesterday and it's a very nice car . W reg 05,1981. Everything is working but I think the fuel has gone off as the car hasn't been run since 2009 ! Going to go through the checks and see if she'll start and then the brakes will need a check before it's MOT . I hope to get it going as soon as . will keep you posted with progress. Can anyone advise on chassis number ? TWTLD5AT111505 how late build is the car ? Engine number starts VA is that correct ? I'll ty to post some photos later ,

Thanks

Chris
PS It's staying BROWN !!

Think the final Sprint is 113xxx, but the number sequence on VIN numbered cars covers ALL models of Dolomite so the intevening 2000 or so cars are not all Sprints. Whatever the date of registration, your Sprint was most probaby built early to mid 1980. Production ended in Nov 80 IIRC.

HTH, Steve

This is the car.










Chris

Tidy

Just got a mail to confirm the build date , 9th July 1980 .

Chris

TZbaz wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 12:30 pm Just got a mail to confirm the build date , 9th July 1980 .

Chris

Very nice Chris, a very late one mine is 26/6/80, so late too.

How are you getting on with it?

The first car I every noticed was a Sprint, when I was around 9 or 10 yrs old. My neighbour had a yellow M Reg one (can't remember which is the early yellow), he was a civil engineer so it was seldom clean, in fact, always manky, but did it look mean! Since then I've always wanted one, but I got into Fords and that was that until 3 years ago. I was going to buy another Ford after selling my 16i in 2010, but their value had rocketed - in just 7 years the 16i had gone up 400% so i decided to start looking for a Sprint - correct decision.

It's all coming together , Had the brakes all stripped and sorted and now have a replacement servo on it's way . Just got the brake flexi hoses to swap and a little welding to complete and I hope to get the car in for an MOT . Have loads of things that will need doing but I just want to get driving it for the last part of this year. I was given an 1850 when I was 18 and have always wanted a Sprint. Like you say the prices have been creeping so having looked at several "scrap" e bay cars I was lucky to come across this car in a village only 6 miles away ! And it was less that 5k so I think we have got a good car for the price. Check out my 1850 below .

Regards

Chris

TZbaz wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 8:20 pm It's all coming together , Had the brakes all stripped and sorted and now have a replacement servo on it's way . Just got the brake flexi hoses to swap and a little welding to complete and I hope to get the car in for an MOT . Have loads of things that will need doing but I just want to get driving it for the last part of this year. I was given an 1850 when I was 18 and have always wanted a Sprint. Like you say the prices have been creeping so having looked at several "scrap" e bay cars I was lucky to come across this car in a village only 6 miles away ! And it was less that 5k so I think we have got a good car for the price.

Certainly appears to be a stonking bargain from the looks of it. Can I ask what welding it's needed?

Thanks , I'm very happy with it (colour is growing on me !) As for the welding there are several small parts mostly on the near side that need attention . Front of the rear wheel arch / sill area is going bad , around the jacking point. front of the sill is going and a couple of spots on the inner arch of the front wheel . All very small but it's better to get it done asap. Passenger side door bottom is going but that's a job for winter . I'll see what the MOT throws up !

Chris