This car is the personal property of the Chairman of the Triumph Dolomite Owners Club, and I have owned it for over three and a half years.
HMH started life as a humble 2 door Tolly, finished in French Blue with black vinyl interior and sold in Bournemouth from the very last year of production that the two door shell was offered.
Since then, enormous monies and attention to detail have been expended. The original dealer fitted reversing lamps were removed and the holes welded up. All unnecessary body embellishment (wing mirrors, etc) were similarly treated. All glass and trim and mechanicals were removed and the car then treated to a full "windows out" respray in the original french blue. New short bumpers were fitted front and rear and the car was lowered on GAZ adjustable suspension. A Sprint rear axle with the bigger drums and more manly diff was reconditioned and fitted. New parts were used throughout. The Toledo flat plank dash was mildly modified to accommodate a rev counter and seperate fuel and temperature gauges.
The XE power unit is the later type from an Astra/Cavalier GSi and converted for north-south installation using appropriate end plates etc. Being the later type it does NOT have a Coscast head. Stage 1 cams are fitted and the fuel injection and ECU removed and substituted by new 45 Webers running through an MBE management system with throttle position and crank sensors. There is a laptop plug for mapping the unit. The engine is fitted with the very rare winged alloy sump from the homologation special Manta 400, sourced from eBay Germany. Unlike other conversions, the engine sits mounted on the subframe in the usual way, using modified engine mounts. A Dolomite Sprint radiator is used, fitted with a thermostatic Kenlowe fan. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by a Getrag 5 speed gearbox from an Opel Manta, using a bespoke modified propshaft. The clutch is an amalgam of Cavalier, Opel Rekord, and Manta parts. The gear linkage has been modified to allow the standard Toledo gearlever and carpet to be used, keeping with the sleeper image. There is no badging and other than the rather large exhaust, nothing to indicate that this is anything other than a mean looking Tolly, which is the beauty of the car. Speaking of the exhaust, it uses a modified Cavalier four branch manifold and a bespoke stainless large bore system. It sounds awesome. Other than additional instrumentation, the interior is standard and immaculate. I have bills for parts from this period that exceed £9K alone.
Over three and a half years I have steadily got the thing right. Most recently it has been off the road for over a year as a fairly routine procedure mushroomed into a partial restoration. It has had a complete new clutch, new water pump, new thermostat, new cam belt and tensioner, new radiator (with an extra row of gills fitted), the Kenlowe was replaced, the cylinder head lifted and retorqued, the rear wheel arches replaced (when we tried to roll them to stop them fouling the tyres they came off in our hands). There is a Jon Jackson (Trackerjack) front brake conversion to Golf GTI vented discs with Mintex anti-fade pads and shoes and Goodridge braided hoses all round. Brand new Yokohama tyres. A new steering rack with new mounts (one solid, one poly). The rear axle has been stripped and rebuilt using the uprated gearbox sealing rings. The rear brakes have been rebuilt. It has been pretty much rewired. At vast expense new Smiths instruments were fitted that have the traditional font but electronic pick ups so the speedo not only works, it is highly accurate. The Sprint wheels have been fully refurbished at yet more expense. I could go on and on.
What is it like to drive? Fantastic (now!). Electric cornering, superb (dry) grip, excellent brakes, quick steering. It will even do 30mpg at a motorway cruise in fifth gear. Through the gears pace is stunning and the way other car drivers react should be bottled and sold.
Now though, it is properly sorted at last and has a new MOT and tax disc. So there it is. One immaculate sorted beautiful sleeper Toledo that will frighten you and enlighten you in equal measure. This car is well known in Dolomite circles and has been displayed at many shows.
This car has a Triumph Dolomite Club agreed value insurance valuation of £7,500.
I do not expect to get my money back, but would welcome SERIOUS offers based on £6,500. The car is located in Bromley, approx. 8 miles from the M25 junctions 3 and 4. Viewings are welcomed, but please no dreamers or test pilots thanks.
HMH started life as a humble 2 door Tolly, finished in French Blue with black vinyl interior and sold in Bournemouth from the very last year of production that the two door shell was offered.
Since then, enormous monies and attention to detail have been expended. The original dealer fitted reversing lamps were removed and the holes welded up. All unnecessary body embellishment (wing mirrors, etc) were similarly treated. All glass and trim and mechanicals were removed and the car then treated to a full "windows out" respray in the original french blue. New short bumpers were fitted front and rear and the car was lowered on GAZ adjustable suspension. A Sprint rear axle with the bigger drums and more manly diff was reconditioned and fitted. New parts were used throughout. The Toledo flat plank dash was mildly modified to accommodate a rev counter and seperate fuel and temperature gauges.
The XE power unit is the later type from an Astra/Cavalier GSi and converted for north-south installation using appropriate end plates etc. Being the later type it does NOT have a Coscast head. Stage 1 cams are fitted and the fuel injection and ECU removed and substituted by new 45 Webers running through an MBE management system with throttle position and crank sensors. There is a laptop plug for mapping the unit. The engine is fitted with the very rare winged alloy sump from the homologation special Manta 400, sourced from eBay Germany. Unlike other conversions, the engine sits mounted on the subframe in the usual way, using modified engine mounts. A Dolomite Sprint radiator is used, fitted with a thermostatic Kenlowe fan. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by a Getrag 5 speed gearbox from an Opel Manta, using a bespoke modified propshaft. The clutch is an amalgam of Cavalier, Opel Rekord, and Manta parts. The gear linkage has been modified to allow the standard Toledo gearlever and carpet to be used, keeping with the sleeper image. There is no badging and other than the rather large exhaust, nothing to indicate that this is anything other than a mean looking Tolly, which is the beauty of the car. Speaking of the exhaust, it uses a modified Cavalier four branch manifold and a bespoke stainless large bore system. It sounds awesome. Other than additional instrumentation, the interior is standard and immaculate. I have bills for parts from this period that exceed £9K alone.
Over three and a half years I have steadily got the thing right. Most recently it has been off the road for over a year as a fairly routine procedure mushroomed into a partial restoration. It has had a complete new clutch, new water pump, new thermostat, new cam belt and tensioner, new radiator (with an extra row of gills fitted), the Kenlowe was replaced, the cylinder head lifted and retorqued, the rear wheel arches replaced (when we tried to roll them to stop them fouling the tyres they came off in our hands). There is a Jon Jackson (Trackerjack) front brake conversion to Golf GTI vented discs with Mintex anti-fade pads and shoes and Goodridge braided hoses all round. Brand new Yokohama tyres. A new steering rack with new mounts (one solid, one poly). The rear axle has been stripped and rebuilt using the uprated gearbox sealing rings. The rear brakes have been rebuilt. It has been pretty much rewired. At vast expense new Smiths instruments were fitted that have the traditional font but electronic pick ups so the speedo not only works, it is highly accurate. The Sprint wheels have been fully refurbished at yet more expense. I could go on and on.
What is it like to drive? Fantastic (now!). Electric cornering, superb (dry) grip, excellent brakes, quick steering. It will even do 30mpg at a motorway cruise in fifth gear. Through the gears pace is stunning and the way other car drivers react should be bottled and sold.
Now though, it is properly sorted at last and has a new MOT and tax disc. So there it is. One immaculate sorted beautiful sleeper Toledo that will frighten you and enlighten you in equal measure. This car is well known in Dolomite circles and has been displayed at many shows.
This car has a Triumph Dolomite Club agreed value insurance valuation of £7,500.
I do not expect to get my money back, but would welcome SERIOUS offers based on £6,500. The car is located in Bromley, approx. 8 miles from the M25 junctions 3 and 4. Viewings are welcomed, but please no dreamers or test pilots thanks.
