TRIUMPH DOLOMITE SPRINT
WHAT TO PAY PROJECT £1500-4300 USABLE £4500-8000 GOOD £8500-13,000 CONCOURS £13,500-18,000
Dolomites rust just like pretty much everything else from their era so the best opportunities to fulfil our brief here are for anyone who’s handy with welding kit. Don’t be over-ambitious, though – there are areas on a Dolomite that it’s best not to get involved with if you can help it. These include the front bulkhead and A-pillar areas, along with the rear edge of the roof. If this is vinyl covered – as they are on most Sprints – look closely for any signs of bubbling pushing up beneath, which can be an early indicator of potentially very bad news.
Some outer panels such as steel front wings are becoming very hard to find and therefore expensive (£500 or more) so ideally look for a car whose issues are lower down – floors, sills and almost inevitably door skins. Panels are readily available at regular prices for these areas, but make sure that the door shell itself isn’t too far gone or you’ll be into complex repairs or looking for better second-hand base units.
There’s still some fear around about the Sprint’s engine but really it’s as simple as anything else apart from some complexity around the 16-valve cylinder head. However, those fears can cause owners to bail on a car when they hear the start of rattles from the engine, though in truth it’s most likely to just be the timing chain and/or tensioner. It’s only a half-day job to replace the chain so that provides another opportunity to add a bit of value to a car by doing a bit of spannering.
Beware of any of the usual signs of a blown cylinder head gasket. It may be just that, which isn’t too bad, but it could also mean corrosion in the ‘head itself because they are quite fussy about the quality and freshness of their coolant – and how often it’s replaced.
Avoid scruffy interiors because – carpets aside – it’s pretty hard to get replacement parts and materials. Otherwise these cars are pretty straightforward mechanically and electrically. They are also supported by good clubs and specialists, so help is always at hand.
Bear in mind that a lot of market commentators consider the Sprint to be seriously undervalued at the moment; take a look at prices being paid for rivals such as the Ford Escort RS2000 and you’ll see why. Such anomalies in value rarely last for long, though, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see some kind correction soon, so it’s probably as good a time as any to buy a Sprint.