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The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small to medium sized four door saloon car, made by Triumph under the British Leyland organisation. Production ran from 1972 until 1980.
[] History
The Triumph Dolomite was the last addition to Triumph's complex small car range (codenamed "Project Ajax") which started in 1965 with the Triumph 1300. Designed to be a replacement for the Triumph Herald, the car was originally a 1300 cm³ with front wheel drive (FWD). Later models featured a remodelled front and rear, styled by Michelotti, and a larger 1500cc engine, becoming the Triumph 1500.
Triumph were however dissatisfied with the market performance of the FWD car; although successful, the higher price and complexity meant sales never reached the levels of 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 FWD version.
[] The "Dolomite"
In 1972, the Triumph Dolomite was released as the successor to the upmarket FWD cars and the 6 cylinder Triumph Vitesse. In calling the car the Dolomite, Triumph reused the name of a pre-war range of cars that were known for their sporting nature and technological advancement. Initially, the only version available used the new slant-four 1854 cm³ engine, providing 95 bhp and offering sprightly performance.
The car was aimed at the compact performance/luxury sector, and was offered with optional automatic transmission. Standard equipment included twin headlamps, a clock, luxury seats and carpets, a heated rear window, cigar lighter, and more. Styling was similar to the FWD Triumph 1500, with some updates such as a black-painted rear panel and new wheel trims. Performance was excellent; the car was capable of 100 mph, with 60 mph coming up in just over 11 seconds. An overdrive gearbox was soon made optional, offering relaxed motorway cruising.
[] Dolomite Sprint
Although the Dolomite proved to be both refined and rapid, Competitors such as the BMW 2002 had a performance advantage which was costing Triumph, 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 to be fitted to the Triumph Slant-4 engine. This engine was revolutionary because all of the valves were actuated using a single camshaft rather than the more normal DOHC arrangement. The capacity was also increased to 1998cm³ , and combined with bigger carburettors the output was upped to 127 bhp. This vehicle has a claim to be the world's first truly mass-produced multi-valve car. Performance was excellent, with the 0–60mph dash taking around 8.4 seconds, with a maximum speed of 119 mph. 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 and lowered suspension. By now seats were in cloth on the 1850, and these were also fitted to the Sprint. Automatic transmissions and a limited slip differential were optional, as was overdrive on early models, although this later became standard.
[] Motorsport
The Dolomite Sprint was campaigned in both the British Touring Cars Championship (where it won the Manufacturer's Title in 1974 and 1975) and also the Lombard RAC Rally in 1976. (Both Class 1 and Production classes)
[] Dolomite 1300 and 1500
By the mid-1970s, the Dolomite bodyshell was still being made as the basic Toledo (short boot bodyshell, 1296 cc OHV, rear wheel drive), the 1500 TC (standard bodyshell, 1493 cc OHV, front wheel drive) and the Dolomite (Standard bodyshell, 1854 cc, OHC, rear wheel drive). Triumph needed to rationalise the range, and they did this by introducing the Dolomite 1300 and 1500 in 1976. The Dolomite 1300 used the 1300 cm³ 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 cm³ engine and twin carburettors: the 1500HL had basically identical specification to the luxury 1850 (now designated 1850HL), but again featured the 1493 cm³ engine. Performance was good, and overdrive and automatic transmissions were optional on the HL. Comparatively few 1500 models seem to have been built.
The new 1500 models represented an update, possibly unique in motoring history. 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. however the rationalisation of parts between the models would have meant a significant cost reduction for the company.
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.
[] The late 1970s
By the time that Triumph had rationalised its range under the Dolomite badge, the line-up was:
Dolomite 1300: Base model. Basic trim, single headlamps, 1296 cm³ engine.
Dolomite 1500: Same as 1300, with 1493 cm³ engine.
Dolomite 1500HL: Luxury specification as per 1850, with 1493 cm³ engine.
Dolomite 1850: Luxury specification, 1850 cm³ OHC engine.
Dolomite Sprint: The performance version: luxury trim, 16-valve 1998 cm³ engine.
The range was still somewhat complex but nothing compared to the previous chaotic group of names and layouts.
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 quietly dropped in 1980 along with the Triumph Spitfire and the Triumph TR7, as troubled giant British Leyland downsized in a bid for survival
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