1979 Dolomite 1500SE

[Jim Prince]

Thought I'd add some details about my SE, a tatty old thing but one I'm very fond of and am looking forward to improving in some aspects.

Registered in early 1980, though built in March 1979, DRX967V has seen some life and multiple owners before I bought it three years ago, from a trader near Chichester. A rough and ready example but all the more fun for it.

I 'lost' the car for eighteen months or so when a mechanic friend intended to make some improvements for me, but after much wrangling I got it back and it spent some time with Dan Brown in Shaftesbury, who addressed a number of the reliability issues for me. The carbs are very worn but I've got an Accuspark Dizzy and Coil lined up for it, in the hope of smoothing out some of the running.

I've got a few period (reversible, non-drilled) modifications planned for it, but other than that just intend to fettle and improve. I don't want to address any of the body issues at present as it's solid where it counts and I can't afford to have it painted etc. I'll update as and when I make some progress.

[tamtrucks]

very nice looking motor..well done on getting it back.hope it goner be used as car brum brum toot toot

[JPSPRINT]

Lovely Dolomite mate..

[DML]

The SE is a great looking car, for sure

[Bish]

Good work Jim. It doesn’t look too tatty from here! More photos and details etc as you go please.

[Jim Prince]

Thanks for the kind replies.

In anticipation of a move I'm not delving too deeply into the car as I'd like to make sure it can be driven if needs be.

The focus of the fettling at the moment is on;

- swapping the 'HL' style door trims to the all vinyl type from a flat-dash 13/1500,
- putting the car onto 14" alloys in anticipation of a brake upgrade, and
- fitting the Accuspark coil and dizzy.

I'm cleaning and detailing as I go, just in an effort to improve what's there for now and to give the frail paint some protection.

Hoping for a day or two off in late May, I'll see what I can do!

[Jim Prince]

Well, the old stager is still here and thanks to the efforts of Dan Brown it's now running rather better than before. The carbs have been sonically cleaned, Waxstat conversion carried out and an Accuspark dizzy seems to have improved things - the jury is still out on the latter.

With a new MOT I ought to be using it but stupidly marooned the car in a spot behind a newly seeded lawn, so don't want to destroy it in driving across whilst it's so soft! Hopefully Easter will see it back in some sort of use, I'm still threatening to daily it at some point - cripes.