1976 Triumph Dolomite

Triumph Dolomite 1850 (Saloon), 1972-1980

The Triumph Dolomite 1850 was in production from 1972 until 1980. Styled by Michelotti, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive saloon range seating four adults.

The Dolomite 1850 was a belated replacement for the Triumph Vitesse, using a combination of the 1500FWD body, Toledo floorpan, and the new 1850cc slant-four engine that had originally been intended to replace the 2.0 six. Trimmed in suitably upmarket materials and with a modish vinyl rear pillar, the Dolomite (as early cars were known; there being no other engines on offer) proved to be a reasonably challenger to European alternatives such as the BMW 2002. As the range expanded, the car became the Dolomite 1850, and subsequently the 1850HL as the Toledo, 1500 and other models were subsumed into the Dolomite family. It shared trim with the upmarket Sprint, albeit without the same level of performance.

Arguably the best value and most overlooked member of the Dolomite family, the 1850 was not directly replaced when BL chose to abandon the Dolomite range in 1980. Instead, buyers would be forced to choose either an upmarket variant of the Morris Ital or to give up power for the new and 1.3-litre only Triumph Acclaim of the following year. The Acclaim's replacement, the Rover 200, was available with a larger 1.6-litre engine which offered a spiritual successor for the Dolomite 1850 albeit several years after the Dolly had left production. 79010 1850cc engined Dolomites were built, of a total of 567000 small Triumphs sharing similar components.

Competition came primarily in the form of the BMW 2002, though owners of the Ford Escort 1600 Ghia might have deluded themselves into thinking their cars were of equal standing. The Vauxhall Magnum 2300 was also a fairly sharp rival, though it sacrificed the walnut trim for up to the minute plastic. In house, Leyland dealers would want you to consider the Morris Marina TC, but the truth is that a Dolomite buyer wouldn't have considered a rep car like the Marina. The Hillman Avenger GLS was slightly less powerful but looked as up to date as the Vauxhall.