The Triumph Dolomite Sprint represents the final upgrade of the long-serving Dolomite range, which has its roots as far back as 1965 in the FWD 1300 models. A prime definition of a British saloon car, the well-appointed interior and respectable performance hark back to the Wolseley and Riley’s of the late 50s.
Its comfort and compact dimensions were appealing to those on their way up through the company ranks, with the promise of a Rover once those targets had been met. However, in 1973, the Dolomite Sprint offered a temptation to become a desirable car in its own right. Visually and mechanically similar to the contemporary Dolomites, the big news was the world’s first mass-produced 16-valve single-overhead-cam 2-litre engine.
The award-winning engine had been developed for Saab and became known for its torquey characteristics and impressive power. With the combination of a 2000/2500 gearbox and the blessing of the optional overdrive option, there was no doubt what Triumph was trying to create.
Equal in every respect to the sporty saloon offerings by Alfa Romeo, BMW and Fiat, the Dolomite Sprint’s credibility was enhanced by its race and rally pedigree. Its main drawback was that Triumph’s parent company British Leyland couldn’t afford to progressively upgrade the car during its 7-year production run, despite the positive response and steady demand.
Unfortunately, history also demonstrated that engine maladies were common, particularly the cooling aspect rather than the actual design of the head. By 1980 it was all over for the Dolomite, although the well-screwed-together Honda-based Acclaim offered hope for the Triumph brand into the 1980s, the Dolomite Sprint goes down as Triumph’s last sporting saloon. Despite the mess that BL created for itself, the Dolly Sprint retained a positive image and its reputation has remained relatively intact.
