BUYING WITH CONFIDENCE

CONCOURS £10k- 14k+ 1 IT’S ALL ABOUT POWER

Prices tend to be governed mainly by engine capacity, with the 2.0-litre 16v Sprint on top, followed by 1850, 1500 and 1300.

2 RESTO vs ORIGINAL

Full restorations aren’t common. The most desirable cars are just likely to be pristine originals, though these are equally rare!

3 HAS IT BEEN RACED?

Sprints have a long association with motorsport, winning the BSCC in 1974 and ‘75. Racing pedigree pushes prices easily above £20k.

GOOD £4k- 10k 1 LOOK FOR THE BEST

At this price, engine and transmission must be strong. Haggle over weak synchromesh, inactive overdrive or blue exhaust smoke.

2 CHECK IT OUT FOR ROT

Hidden rust can blight an otherwise smart car, especially beneath the roof vinyl and in the rear inner wheelarches.

3 WHAT’S THE SPEC?

The Sprint had a limited-slip differential option, while 1500 and 1850 could be specced with overdrive. They increase usability and add value.

USABLE £2k- 5k 1 IT SHOULD HANDLE

Vague steering may be as a result of worn bushes (not a problem) or steering column couplings, which are hard to find. Check!

2 DON’T SKIMP ON LUBES

Sprints can be troublesome unless they get fresh oil every 3000 miles, so beware cars without thorough history files.

3 WATCH FOR BODGES

Triumph fans get stuck in, but not everyone is a pro. Inspect the seller’s workmanship, especially body repairs, and decide how long it’ll last.

PROJECT £1k-3k 1 THERE AREN’T MANY

Few projects are on the market, and Triumph specialists are more used to restoring TRs and Stags. Restore a Dolomite and you’ll stand out!

2 IS IT WORTH IT?

Don’t do it for the money – the hours of welding will never be reflected in the final value. But if resale value matters, tackle a Sprint.

3 SEEK OUT SPARES

Repair panels and drivetrain parts are mostly easy to source. Interior trim is robust but some parts are very hard to find.