Cash-free classics Triumph Dolomite
The handsome Dolomite is one of the greatest classic bargains on the road – but how long before everyone wants one?
olomites are superb value for money – it’s as simple as that. Compact, practical, pretty and with superbly poised handling, it’s a miracle that even the 127bhp Sprint costs only around half of what you’d need for its Bavarian rival, the BMW 2002. The Triumph will cost you a fraction to keep on the road, too, and unlike the volatile market for rare and glorified German classics, the rise of Brits like the Dolomite is a more surefooted one – if somewhat less dramatic.
It’s not all about the frisky Sprints and 1850s either; a 1500 with overdrive will happily sit at motorway speeds, while a healthy 1300 will buzz along quite easily at 60mph. Buy an HL and you get good spec, too, with an adjustable steering column and centre armrest.
Long-term value is all about condition (virtually all have seen some level of restoration) and history, though. Don’t buy too cheaply because saving money up front is almost guaranteed to bring rusty headaches, and relatively small sums separate weaker examples from the minters. While a mediocre 1300 might be bought for £2000, spending an extra
Dcouple of grand can put you behind the wheel of something very smart. And at that price, it could hardly lose value, could it?