The ‘Dolly’ Sprint..

This car had almost the same performance as the BMW 2002tii but, unlike the BMW, the Dolomite Sprint did not change or save British Leyland.

Had the car been developed properly, it could have been seen as a stroke of genius. As it was, luck played more of a part, but it did show what BL could do with a bit of effort.

Power came from a SOHC four pot, four valve 122 cu.in engine which gave it 117mph and 0-60mph in around 8 seconds. In 1980, that was quick for a small family saloon, especially from the house of British Leyland.

Inside, it was carpet and wood trim, typical Triumph, a little bland perhaps but comfortable and with a nice array gauges to keep the driver happy..

Transmission was coupled to a short gear shift, four on the floor with ‘overdrive’ operated by a switch in the gearshift knob.

Sadly, the Triumph marque was sliding into obscurity, and by 1981, the only car to wear the proud badge was a reworked Honda Ballade, a heartless, soulless car if ever the was one.

Apart from the colours offered, this was a car which didn’t frighten family car buyers. It wasn’t garish, it wasn’t boy racer material, just a nice solid car which didn’t attract negative attention. It was a good Triumph, probably the best Triumph saloon in many a year.

A major flaw..

Triumph engines of the era were prone to fragility and, unless looked after properly, were prone to breaking.. The all alloy head of the Dolly Sprint required that the cooling system was kept well, with inhibitors in the fluid mix to stop internal corrosion. The Triumph Stag’s engine was a total disaster, and the Triumph Spitfire’s 1498 cc unit was two main bearings short of a good engine.

This kind of trouble didn’t just affect Triumph. It was prevalent throughout BL so don’t feel too sad for the Dolly Sprint. It was a shining star amongst a starting grid of mediocrity, and at least it has seven years to shine..

The Coventry Cat..

There was nothing quite like it when it was first released in 1961, and there still isn’t.

It had a claimed top speed of 150mph and could hit 60mph in 7 seconds. There was no speed difference between the 3.8 and 4.2 straight six, but one would need to use the gears less with the higher torque 4.2.

For the money, a touch over £2000, there was nothing better, and it is still a sought after vehicle even now but you will have to pay more than the original asking price. At the time, it was cheaper than all of the competition, and you still got searing performance, leather interior, full dashboard, and looks which will never age. Unlike all of its competitors, this one was mass-produced, hence the original price.

The photo shows an early Coupe model, not the 2+2 Coupe which had a different roofline to better accommodate rear passengers. Note the faired headlamps and turn signal lights above the bumpers. This is the giveaway that it is a Series 1 example.

You can find out more from here, but the photo is good for more than a thousand words..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_E-Type

How to spoil a favourite..

This is a Jeep WJ, better known as the 1999-2004 Grand Cherokee. Big lights, well positioned fog lights, the seven bar grille, slightly flared arches. Yep, it is definitely a Jeep, the kind of vehicle which gives the driver confidence that the journey will be completed in one piece. 

Not particularly cheap from new, and not ‘trail rated’ unless fitted with the ‘country pack’ option, they were solid and practical.

OK, let’s move on.. This is a new Jeep Grand Cherokee..

The seven bar grille is still there, as is the Jeep badge, but what happened to the slightly flared arches, the headlights, the fog lamps, the nicely sculpted front end?

No wheel arch flares is bad enough, the headlights look like they were borrowed from a pimped rice burner (and should be given back immediately), and the fog lamps are not USABLE fog lamps at that height. The idea behind fog lamps is that they illuminate the road UNDER the fog, not glare back from the wall of fog into the driver’s eyes. 

The new Jeep GC is not a go anywhere, get you out of anywhere vehicle. It is a vehicle for the highway or a track, and not the kind of track which leads to one’s favourite fishing spot.

I will admit that inside, the new Jeep is nice, but lots of cars have nice interiors, while not many can get you through the worst of weather conditions. I always promised myself a new Jeep if ever I had the funds, but this one Chrysler can keep. Instead, I will get the WJ fully restored and get the full country pack too.. 

The VW Kombi Type 2 T1 camper van..

These vehicles were slow, didn’t stop too well, and were not exactly spacious. Mpg was around 25, and you never wanted to be behind one on a hill, even a shallow hill. They had length but were not really any wider than a car, making them easy to park up anywhere, and had a lot of equipment in them for the size. Best of all, they were not so large that they were impractical as a daily drive.

The T1 has a droopy face look, big eyes and it looks friendly. It isn’t an intimidating vehicle like other vans and conversions. It’s a VW which means that it is well constructed and reliable. Most of all, it is ‘home from home’.. see below

After a searing day on the beach, tired from wandering around a seaside resort, or ravaged from a few hours at the amusements, you could open up the side and relax. Brilliant stuff as long as there was only two of you.

For more, you had to hitch up a caravan, get the weight distribution right (few ever did), remember to get a tow hitch fitted every time that you changed your vehicle, become the most hated sight on the roads during the summer period…… haha..

The T1 also made a great canvas for self expression..

If you had given this treatment to a Bedford CA or a Commer FC, you’d be spending many days in the ‘house on the hill’, but it suits the character of the VW.

As is usual with Euro vans, the Type 2 T1 was available in whatever version you wanted, from camper van as shown,, to panel van,high top panel van, pick-up, ambulance, paddy wagon, minibus, you name it and somebody somewhere was producing a conversion kit.