Reality Sucks.
I really love this car - I just think it's so cool and I loved driving it. I bought her back in 2016 to use as a fun run about, but unfortunately she was in a worse state than anticipated (shocks gone, bit of rust, no handbrake) and so parked her up ~2017 for a full restomod to do with my Dad, because I'd nearly finished my kit car (hah!) and I'd want another project after.
Unfortunately I've had to take a bit of a reality check recently as my Dad has become quite ill, and I've found myself drowning in broken Volvos, keeping aforesaid kit car going and house DIY.
Something has to go as I have too many projects taking up too much room and not enough time to do them. Unfortunately as the one that needs the most work, that means the DollyMix (Dolly & MX5).
She's been kept on the drive under a decent car cover, sheltered between a hedge and the garage for the last few years. A quick go over today has shown this hasn't taken as much toll as I'd feared - there's a fair bit of rust, but that was there before I parked her. The battery is dead, but with a new one she started up after a bit of cranking - bit of squealing from a belt though, so I think a pulley has seized. She rolled around easy enough once the tyres had some air in.
Headline specs are:
- 1980 Triumph Dolomite HL1500
- ~107000 miles (it's gone around once!).
- 1.6 MX5 engine with Jackson supercharger, running a piggy back unit to modify fuelling.
- Dolly sprint rear axle.
- Lowered significantly.
- Lotus(?) 13 inch wheels.
- Fuel swirl pot and pump in boot.
- Hydraulic handbrake - no normal one!
- "Trackerjack" brake conversion using Sierra calipers on the front.
- Adjustable shocks on the rear.
Good bits:
Well she still starts and moves easy enough, the rust is certainly not fatal and is mainly constrained to the rear end, she starts, interior is OK-ish, she's technically Tax/MOT exempt. Speedo works and reads bang on.
She'll also come with a variety of spares and upgrades I've accumulated for her - the headline items are upgraded front uprights with ally rotors and a 4 x 108 PCD (rears can be drilled), an Emerald ECU (£700 on its own!) and an ally header tank. Plus the bits to reinstate the handbrake. Also a set of slot-mag style 4x108 13 inch wheels.
Also, if you google "Supercharged Dolomite" it'll pop up.
Bad Bits:
Painted grey very badly (it's cracked in places and doesn't cover most of the car), the rust is fairly serious, the engine will need some TLC and it's really not a very well finished car at this point. The gearshift is in a really odd location, and there's a hole in the floor just behind it. MX5 conversion not done to the best of standards. I know the rear shocks are buggered. Upholstery is pretty dire on the rear seats.
Summary:
She will make someone an awesome project, though please be aware there's a lot to be done. At the very least I'd strip it, weld it up and rebuild it better. Shortening the shifting mechanism should give enough room to fit the handbrake (fairly well known mod on MX5 gearboxes). She will need to be trailered away, but you'd probably be able to drive her onto the trailer.
Loads more pictures here:
imgur.com/a/ERval
I think £2000 is a reasonable ask - the ECU and front hubs together come to well over a grand on their own.
Any questions please feel free to ask.
I really love this car - I just think it's so cool and I loved driving it. I bought her back in 2016 to use as a fun run about, but unfortunately she was in a worse state than anticipated (shocks gone, bit of rust, no handbrake) and so parked her up ~2017 for a full restomod to do with my Dad, because I'd nearly finished my kit car (hah!) and I'd want another project after.
Unfortunately I've had to take a bit of a reality check recently as my Dad has become quite ill, and I've found myself drowning in broken Volvos, keeping aforesaid kit car going and house DIY.
Something has to go as I have too many projects taking up too much room and not enough time to do them. Unfortunately as the one that needs the most work, that means the DollyMix (Dolly & MX5).
She's been kept on the drive under a decent car cover, sheltered between a hedge and the garage for the last few years. A quick go over today has shown this hasn't taken as much toll as I'd feared - there's a fair bit of rust, but that was there before I parked her. The battery is dead, but with a new one she started up after a bit of cranking - bit of squealing from a belt though, so I think a pulley has seized. She rolled around easy enough once the tyres had some air in.
Headline specs are:
- 1980 Triumph Dolomite HL1500
- ~107000 miles (it's gone around once!).
- 1.6 MX5 engine with Jackson supercharger, running a piggy back unit to modify fuelling.
- Dolly sprint rear axle.
- Lowered significantly.
- Lotus(?) 13 inch wheels.
- Fuel swirl pot and pump in boot.
- Hydraulic handbrake - no normal one!
- "Trackerjack" brake conversion using Sierra calipers on the front.
- Adjustable shocks on the rear.
Good bits:
Well she still starts and moves easy enough, the rust is certainly not fatal and is mainly constrained to the rear end, she starts, interior is OK-ish, she's technically Tax/MOT exempt. Speedo works and reads bang on.
She'll also come with a variety of spares and upgrades I've accumulated for her - the headline items are upgraded front uprights with ally rotors and a 4 x 108 PCD (rears can be drilled), an Emerald ECU (£700 on its own!) and an ally header tank. Plus the bits to reinstate the handbrake. Also a set of slot-mag style 4x108 13 inch wheels.
Also, if you google "Supercharged Dolomite" it'll pop up.
Bad Bits:
Painted grey very badly (it's cracked in places and doesn't cover most of the car), the rust is fairly serious, the engine will need some TLC and it's really not a very well finished car at this point. The gearshift is in a really odd location, and there's a hole in the floor just behind it. MX5 conversion not done to the best of standards. I know the rear shocks are buggered. Upholstery is pretty dire on the rear seats.
Summary:
She will make someone an awesome project, though please be aware there's a lot to be done. At the very least I'd strip it, weld it up and rebuild it better. Shortening the shifting mechanism should give enough room to fit the handbrake (fairly well known mod on MX5 gearboxes). She will need to be trailered away, but you'd probably be able to drive her onto the trailer.
Loads more pictures here:
imgur.com/a/ERval
I think £2000 is a reasonable ask - the ECU and front hubs together come to well over a grand on their own.
Any questions please feel free to ask.
awesome car and it absolutely won't hang around at that price. GLWTS!
