Triumph Dolomite
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| Triumph Dolomite | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | British Leyland |
| Production | 1972-1980 204,003 made |
| Predecessor | Triumph Toledo Triumph 1300 Triumph 1500 |
| Successor | Triumph Acclaim |
The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car made by the British Leyland Corporation at the Standard-Triumph works in Canley, Coventry in the 1970s and 1980s.
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[edit] History
The Dolomite was the final addition to Triumph's complex small car range (codenamed "Project Ajax") which had started in 1965 with the Triumph 1300. Designed to be a replacement for the rear-wheel drive Triumph Herald[1], the 1300 was originally fitted with a 1300 cc (79 cu in) engine and front-wheel drive. Later models featured a remodelled front and rear, styled by Michelotti, and a larger 1500 cc (92 cu in) engine, becoming the Triumph 1500.
Triumph were however dissatisfied with the market performance of the car; although successful, the higher price and greater complexity meant sales never reached the levels of its predecessor, the simpler and cheaper Herald. To this end the car was re-engineered in 1970 as the Triumph Toledo, a cheaper and more basic variant with conventional rear wheel drive, which was made alongside the front wheel drive version.
[edit] The "Dolomite"
| Triumph Dolomite / Dolomite 1850HL | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | British Leyland |
| Production | 1972-1980 79,010 made |
| Engine(s) | 1854 cc Straight-4 |
| Wheelbase | 96 inches (2450 mm) |
| Length | 162 inches (4115 mm) |
| Width | 62 inches (1570 mm) |
In 1972, the Triumph Dolomite was released. Designed as the successor for the upmarket variants of the front-wheel drive designs, and also for the 6-cylinder Triumph Vitesse, a sporting relative of the Herald. The name "Dolomite" had been used by Triumph for a range of models prior to the Second World War and this name was revived for the new car. The car used the longer bodyshell of the front wheel drive Triumph 1500, but with the majority of the running gear carried over from the rear wheel drive Triumph Toledo.
Initially, the only version available used the new slant-four 1854 cc engine, providing 95 bhp (71 kW) and offering sprightly performance. This was a version of the engine that the company was already providing to Saab for use in their 99 model[2].
The car was aimed at the then-new compact performance-luxury sector, vying for sales against cars such as the BMW 2002 and Ford Cortina GXL, and was offered with a high level of standard equipment, including twin headlamps, a clock, full instrumentation, luxury seats and carpets, a heated rear window, and a cigar lighter. Styling was similar to the Triumph 1500, with some updates such as a black painted rear panel, Vinyl D-posts, and new wheel trims. The car was capable of 100 mph (160 km/h), with 60 mph (97 km/h) coming up in just over 11 seconds. An overdrive gearbox was soon made optional, offering relaxed motorway cruising and improved fuel economy, and there was also an optional automatic transmission.
[edit] Dolomite Sprint
| Triumph Dolomite Sprint | |
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| Manufacturer | British Leyland |
| Production | 1973-1980 22,941 made |
| Engine(s) | 1998 cc Straight-4 |
Although the Dolomite proved to be both refined and rapid, competitors such as the BMW 2002 had a performance advantage which was costing Triumph dearly, both in terms of sales and prestige. To remedy this, Triumph unveiled the Dolomite Sprint in the summer of 1973. A team of engineers led by Spen King developed a 16 valve cylinder head with all of the valves being actuated using a single camshaft rather than the more normal DOHC arrangement. The capacity was also increased to 1998 cc (122 cu in), and combined with bigger carburettors the output was upped to 127 bhp (95 kW). This vehicle has a claim to be the world's first truly mass-produced multi-valve car, and the design of the cylinder head won a British Design Council award in 1974.[3] Performance was excellent, with the 0–60 mph dash taking around 8.4 seconds, with a maximum speed of 119 mph (192 km/h). Trim was similar to the 1850, with the addition of standard alloy wheels (another first for a British production car), a vinyl roof, front spoiler, twin exhausts and lowered suspension. By now seats were in cloth on the 1850, and these were also fitted to the Sprint. Automatic transmission and a limited slip differential were optional, as was overdrive on early models, although this later became standard.
[edit] Motorsport
The Dolomite Sprint was campaigned in both the British Touring Cars Championship (where it won the manufacturer's title in 1975[4]) and also the Lombard RAC Rally in 1976. (Both "Class 1" and "Production" classes)
Triumph Dolomites continue to be used in classic motorsport today, with cars being campaigned in the UK, mainland Europe, and Australia, as well as many other places.
[edit] Rationalisation
| Triumph Dolomite 1300 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | British Leyland |
| Production | 1976-1980 32,031 made |
| Engine(s) | 1296 cc Straight-4 |
| Triumph Dolomite 1500L & 1500HL | |
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| Manufacturer | British Leyland |
| Production | 1976-1980 70,021 made |
| Engine(s) | 1493 cc Straight-4 |
By 1976 the range had become complex, with many different names and specifications. the Dolomite bodyshell was still being made as the basic Toledo (short boot bodyshell, 1296 cc (79 cu in) OHV, rear wheel drive), the 1500 TC (standard bodyshell, 1493 cc (91 cu in) OHV, rear wheel drive) and the Dolomite/Dolomite Sprint (Standard bodyshell, 1854 cc (113 cu in) / 1998 cc (122 cu in), OHC, rear wheel drive). The range was rationalised as follows:
- Dolomite 1300: Base model. Basic trim, single headlamps, 1296 cc engine.
- Dolomite 1500: Same as 1300, with 1493 cc engine.
- Dolomite 1500HL: Luxury specification as per 1850, with 1493 cc engine.
- Dolomite 1850HL: Luxury specification, 1850 cc OHC engine.
- Dolomite Sprint: The performance version: luxury trim, 16-valve 1998 cc engine.
The Dolomite 1300 used the 1300 cc engine developed from the Herald and Spitfire, and replaced the Toledo as the basic model in the range. The body was identical except for the lengthened body giving the larger boot of the original Dolomites. The 1300 retained simplified fittings, including single square headlamps, basic instrumentation and seats, with the wooden dashboard and carpeting of the Toledo. There was no two-door option as there had been for the Toledo, and the shorter-boot bodyshell of the Toledo ceased production.
The next model up, replacing the Triumph 1500, was the Dolomite 1500, in standard and HL trim. The 1500 offered identical specification to the 1300, but with a 1493 cc engine and twin carburettors: the 1500HL had basically identical specification to the luxury 1850 (now designated 1850HL), but again featured the 1493 cc engine. Performance was good, and overdrive and automatic transmissions were optional on the HL. Comparatively few 1500 non-HL models seem to have been built.
With the new 1500 models, a front-wheel drive model was replaced by a rear-wheel drive model, with few external differences apparent in the body work. At a time when most manufacturers of smaller cars were concentrating on front-wheel drive cars, this change could be considered somewhat backward thinking. It should be borne in mind however, that the otherwise completely Rear Wheel Drive model lineup at Triumph meant that switching to rear-wheel drive would afford significant cost savings. Interestingly one of the only other examples of a car that was designed as a front wheel drive vehicle but became rear wheel drive later in life is the Rover 75/MG ZT V8/260 model, which was built by MG Rover, a descendant of the British Leyland company that owned Triumph.
[edit] The Late 70s
Updates for the later 1970s were few, as Triumph and British Leyland concentrated on other cars. Overdrive was made standard on 1850 and Sprint models in 1977, and detail improvements and updates were made to interior and exterior trim. The 1300 gained standard cloth seating (early cars often had vinyl) and head restraints were standardised across the range. 1979 saw the introduction of the Dolomite SE, of which just over 2000 were built. The bodyshell was of the basic 1500 (single headlamps) but the interior was fitted with luxury trim. All the cars were painted black with wide silver stripes running full length, with the letters "SE" at the end of the rear wing. The cars were dropped in 1980 along with the Triumph Spitfire, as British Leyland closed the Canley factory as it downsized in a bid for survival.
[edit] Dolomite-derived cars
The Panther Rio was based on the Dolomite but was re-skinned with new panels and with a completely revised interior.
The Latham F2 used the Dolomite mechanicals (usually Sprint), but attached to a fibreglass sports car body.
The early Robin Hood S7 used the front subframe and mechanical components from any Dolomite, attached to a monocoque body made out of Stainless Steel. Later Robin Hoods were Ford based.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- The Triumph Dolomite Homepage - The Official Website of The Triumph Dolomite Club
- The Latham Sports Register - The Official Webside of the Latham Sports Register
[edit] See Also
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