IDRIVEACLASSIC reviews: Triumph Dolomite Sprint

Today's video is on the fantastic, range leader for Triumph; the Triumph Dolomite Sprint

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We’ve tried out the 1300 front wheel drive, the 1500 and the Toledo so it meant we just had to try out a Dolomite and when I got offered one of the oldest Dolomite Sprints in existence, it just had to happen.

The Dolomite was made from 1972 to late summer of 1980 and over 200,000 were made in total. Again, it was a Michelotti for Triumph design, so looks very similar to the cars which went before it.

The Dolomite really came about after thoughtful consideration to where the 1300 and 1500 had lacked and is a pleasing car. Unlike the 1300 fwd, the Dolomite is RWD and moves on from simply replacing the Herald or being a good upgrade to a decent car in its own right.

It does however borrow from other models and has that facelifted 1500 body shell and a lot of the running gear off the Toledo, but actually packs far more into the car in the way of controls and extras - which we’ll discuss later.

The Dolomite, not Dolomite Sprint uses the 1854cc engine, which is a big step up from the 1500 used as the biggest engine option in the Toledo and went up against cars like the BMW 2002 and as standard, came with a lot of interesting kit including the twin headlamps, the battery powered clock, the luxury seats which are 3 to 4 inches wider than the predecessors and stuff we take for granted nowadays like cigar lighter and heated screen.

Now this standard 1854cc engine was giving results of a top speed of over 100mph and zero to 60 in less than 12 seconds but Triumph wanted to take it further to really flush out the competition and give buyers a car with wow appeal.

And with that, the Dolomite Sprint came to market.

The Sprint was simply an upgrade, it came with real movement in terms of tech. It was the regular production British car to use the 16 valve cylinder head and the engine was taken up to 1998cc with optional overdrive and a Stag style gearbox.

In short, it took it miles away from its 1300 FWD roots. This was a car which delivered, in an era where many cars were falling woefully short.

The top speed was now a respectable 112mph with 0 to 60 in under 9 seconds. Cost was around an extra £400 and the stiffened suspension, which I do actually criticise quite a lot on test, was a new addition alongside expensive looking alloy wheels and a very fashionable vinyl roof.

I should also probably mention that tinted glass, a feature only used on the Dolomite Sprint.

The strangest thing about these Dolomite Sprints and Dolomites is that everyone knows what they are, they are instantly recognisable yet less than 22 thousand were made of the Sprint and less than 80 thousand were made of the Dolomite 1850.

The Dolomite Sprint was also one of the last Triumphs to be built at Canley alongside the Spitfire and deserved far greater sales numbers than it achieved, because as you’ll see on the test and look around today, the Sprint is a car which deserves all the praise. But first, lets speak to Mark, who has owned this car for an awfully long time.