Anyone fancy an ace little winter project?

Lashout_UK

Lashout_UK

Lashout_UK

Soldato
Joined
2 Mar 2004
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Location
SE England
My old V8 Dolomite is on eBay at the moment - and could be quite a steal for someone. It's an ace little piece of machinery and does sound like it needs some TLC - as unfortunately it's been standing a year, but I really don't think it would take much to get it back on the road.

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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triumph-Dolomite-Sprint-V8_W0QQitemZ270471402439

The last time I put it through an MOT it went through with ease - but it sounds like it needs a few hits with a hot torch around the rear arches, as they were flaky when I sold it. Repair panels are easy to get hold of and it would not be difficult to correct - it could probably even be temporarily repaired for the meantime and sorted properly later.

I did an awful lot to this car (such as replacement brakes, steering rack mounts, interior work, servicing, rustproofing and electrical upgrades) and it is such a fun little machine. It weighs about 1000kg, if that, so is very lively.

Barring the obvious Rover V8, it also has the following:

- LT77 5 speed manual gearbox
- Original 'flapper' fuel injection
- Custom transmission tunnel
- K&N filter
- In-tank fuel pump and swirl pot
- Braided brake lines
- Spax sports suspension
- Custom made radiator
- Twin Kenlowe fans, thermostatic controllers and custom relayed wiring harness
- Rear mounted battery
- Oil pressure/temperature gauge

On decent tires it runs 15 second quarters with ease, with plenty more to come - and will do 0-60 in under 6 seconds, with enough midrange pull to blow off many bigger cars. It's quite low geared, so cruising on the motorway is noisy (70mph, 3000RPM), but it's just so very entertaining to drive - sharp steering, great brakes, rifle-bolt gearshift, lively rear end, awesome noise, good ride.......and enough punch to put a smile on your face, yet not stretch the legal limits without you knowing it - so you could always enjoy it to the maximum - Just the right kind of combination. One of those instances where a low ride height, stripped interior, loud transmission and raucous V8 adds about 30mph's worth of feel to whatever speed you're actually doing!

The fuel injected Rover always started, with fantastic oil pressure, and makes about 160BHP/220ft.lb. Quite economical too - it'll do 30mpg on average, without much effort. Cheap to insure as well on a classic modified policy, and all parts are available next day for these cars, pretty much.

Anyway, if anyone wants to know more about it just let me know. Here's some pictures from back in the day:

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Has an awful lot of good memories this car - and so much was planned for it! Well worth someone taking it on - never know, I might buy it off you.... :)
 
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How much do you reckon it will go for? It's not too far from me and I fancy an interesting car. I fear it would need to be dry stored even if I ran it daily though?
 
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I'd be suprised if it went for more than 800 quid.

Certainly wouldn't need dry storing - although if you bought it, it would be advisable to protect elements of it that need repair later - just waxoyl it underneath to give it some defense, rustkill any obvious stuff, and blow over any current damage with spray paint to protect it from winter weather/salt and enjoy. I think I replaced the windscreen rubbers (certainly the front) when I had it, and it didn't leak. All the seals - like door seals, window seals, screen seals, are very easy to replace in any case.

I used it all the way through winter when I had it - hillarious fun. Great cabin heater (as all Dolomites have) and rapid defrosting so no real troubles there. Being fuel injected you just jump in, spin it over and off you go.

It was a very smart, well executed conversion too - that placed the engine as far back as possible for the best weight distribution. I can't comment on its structural condition now but it was always a very solid car when I owned it - the rear arches and the lower front valance corners were the only tired areas, the rest was excellent. It is a genuine Sprint too, and a very early one at that.

Forgot this one:

 
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I'm looking into someone to transport, weld and MOT it for me. There is a local garage that will probably do it but they changed hands since I last used them. Next is an insurance quote.
 
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If you need someone to transport it Dup, the guy I use, Scott, is superb - just give him a rough collection point and delivery address and he'll quote you for it:

movethatcar at live dot com

Tell him Lewis sent you :p Do mention it'll need, most likely, pulling onto his towing rig though - just in case.

For insurance, try Adrian Flux as a starting point - when I was 20 I was on it for 500 quid all mods declared (only TPFT at the time). You will most likely be able to get it cheaper by searching around some of the classic policies too, as there's quite a few more 'modified' classic insurers now.
 
Not if you did it up, though - a good condition one with a V8 and terrible advert sold for 2500 recently - and that was an automatic, with carbs. Put some time into it and you could easily get your money back.

When I sold it I passed it onto a club member 'cheap' - for 1500. He then sold it not long after for 2000.......and that was still in its 'unfinished' state - probably not far off what it is still at the moment.
 
Forgot to say, the paint is a BMW red - Zinnoberot, I think - or a variation of that. That's why it tends to fade, as mentioned in the auction.

A quick buff will bring it up a treat, no doubt :)
 
Would make a lovely project, if only I had the space it would have been perfect. I can vouch for the heater though, my old Dollys heater was always plenty good enough.

Does it have standard springs on it? If so get some 210lbs/175lbs springs on there, 1" lower and some A539's and it will be all good. Worked well with Spax I found on my Dolomite, though you may want to combat the weight of the engine a little with slightly different spring rates.
 
No, after stating a number of times the car was for sale only via eBay, the auction got pulled..........

Cash talks, after all - or maybe he picked up on my mention of its potential value elsewhere and is making a go of it :)
 
Yeah, I was all up for the final bidding and the ad had been pulled, disappointing :(
 
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