Dolomite Sprint Works Cars SOE 8M, RDU 983M, MYX 175P

[tangocharlie1]

Just flicking through the pages of one of my many Triumph related books and came across articles on the works Dolly Sprints and was wondering if anyone knew the Chassis numbers for these cars (I am sure that two of them survive but not sure about MYX. The book states the date of 1st Registration but not what chassis numbers (VA No.) the cars came with:

Can anyone help:
RDU 983M - 1st Registered 14th March 1974
SOE 8M - 1st Registered 9th May 1974
MYX 175P - 1st Registered 1st May 1976

I am happy that i have the correct details for FRW 812L 1st Registered 1st Feb 1973 & VA16

Btw these current details have come from the Graham Robson book Works Triumphs in Detail.

[Galileo]

If you're asking about works rally cars did you forget CKV 2K? Mind you, that might have an X not VA commision number...

[tangocharlie1]

CKV 2K is significant but was a effectively non-homulgated experimental test bed registered 1st May 1972 and was not even known as a Sprint at the time given the moniker Swift as we know and wore standard Dolomite badges.
As you say its commission number would be completely different, but hey if anyone knows what is was i would be interested in that as well.
Therefore for me FRW was the 1st Official Dolomite Sprint works car.

[Galileo]

That I have:

Comm Number X826
Engine X1278E

[tangocharlie1]

Thank you that is helpful.

[hsdolly]

CKV was scrapped in February 2009 sadly. FRW, RDU, SOE & MYX are all alive and well.

[MIG Wielder]

SOE, RDU & FRW were all around back in the Summer of 2015.

https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... ne#p275085

An impressive line up that day.
Tony.

< edit to correct the regs; Thanks for pointing that out >

[tangocharlie1]

Thanks Tony, some good pics there although didn't notice MYX only FRW strange that the Chassis numbers are a mystery.

[soe8m]

I believe that only the SOE8M has the original bodyshell. All the others were reshelled once or more. The RDU has it's 5th shell at the moment I've heard.
The Dutch works rally sprint also has it's original shell. That whole car is a time capsule being still as 1975 with the old original seats and safetytank. Only the engine isn't the Don Moore one. The car was sold by BL Netherlands without an engine at that time.

Jeroen

[Howard81]

SOE8M VA3317DL VA2647.HE
RDU983M VA5765DL0 5831
MYX175P VA20295DL0 VA14059HE
CKV2K X826

[tangocharlie1]

Thanks for that info a couple of those i didn't have. SOE 8M is interesting as i have photos of its delivery to it's sponsor the Birmingham Post/colliers and it was originally MIMOSA. I believe one of the early drivers was John Bloxham.

[Sprintparts]

I believe that only the SOE8M has the original bodyshell. All the others were reshelled once or more. The RDU has it's 5th shell at the moment I've heard.
The Dutch works rally sprint also has it's original shell. That whole car is a time capsule being still as 1975 with the old original seats and safetytank. Only the engine isn't the Don Moore one. The car was sold by BL Netherlands without an engine at that time.

Jeroen

I suppose the other question that goes with this comment, what is an original (race/rally) car?

How do you know if the body shell has been replaced, unless you are told? A competition car with long history of use has more than likely had most, if not all its original components replaced over the years.

My own race car was built from a road going car in 1977 and has been raced since. Body shell, good question. The car has had numerous accidents over the years, some famously recorded on film or in the motor sport press of the time, numerous panels/sections replaced. Engine, lost count of the number of blocks, cranks etc that have been used. Cylinder heads similar, but I still do have (and currently on the engine in the car) one of the original heads from the its original build along with the original manifold with 48mm Weber carbs.

Rear axle, original build, along with another couple that have been in and out of the car over the years. Gearboxes, the same, a couple from the early days. Wheel, still have the original 3 piece BBS wheels, etc, etc. Fuel tank original, date stamped 2/77. Spring/shocks, suspension arms, brakes have all been replaced over the years.

I like to think that my car is original, well most of it and the body number matches its Race Log Book sort of.

Mark


Not my car, but what happens to race cars.

[xvivalve]

I had opportunity to consider FRW812L when the widow of the former owner was considering a possible sale. At the time, at a suggested minimum £15k it would have been an expensive Dolomite, despite its provenance. A third party (no longer associated with the Club and something of a knob in my opinion) tried to warn me off, stating in no uncertain terms it had been reshelled, to the point he was prepared to report it to DVLA to ensure it received a Q plate were I to buy it!

I had the good fortune to shortly afterwards meet the late Brian Culcheth, works driver of the said vehicle at the NEC, who in conversation confirmed to me that the car had indeed been reshelled, at the factory well prior to its release due to damage suffered in use, but into a brand new body shell with all of the correct 'works' tweaks and obviously with a later body number (different to VIN), so he rhetorically asked what indeed is 'originality' on such a car? Further detail of the conversation with him did however influence my decision not to pursue it further.

More recently , RDU was on the Club stand at another NEC show and I witnessed Ken and Tim Clarke examining its underside and confirming it had the correct works modifications to the shell, so again, if that car is a reshell, it would appear to have been done competently and authentically.

I don't know whether FRW eventually changed hands, or not.

[tangocharlie1]

Yes it would certainly make sense that FRW 812L was a re-shell in white, as of course, as we know it it was in its original road going spec of Mimosa during the Geneva press launch. It did however race at least once in its Mimosa colour scheme as far as i know, before being as you say re-shelled or less likely resprayed.
The third picture is interesting as it shows some works Sprints being prepared, i have often wondered if the Mimosa Sprint next to the Allegro is FRW about to gain a White body. ? SOE 8M can be clearly seen to it's right.

[xvivalve]

Interestingly FRW was wearing front 'forest arches' and was already white in 1975, but 40 years later it has standard front wings...