Sporty saloons of the 60’s and 70’s
Discussion
Slow progress said:
Long term planning another toy!
Has anyone any views or seen a comparison review on the following 3 vehicles (or any others in the same category size and performance wise);
- Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super or Ti
- Triumph Dolomite Sprint
- Volvo Amazon 123 GT
123GT are pretty rare, they didn't make many of them, second rarest production Volvo IIRC. So, finding a real one to buy is not an easy task, and they aren't cheap when you find one.Has anyone any views or seen a comparison review on the following 3 vehicles (or any others in the same category size and performance wise);
- Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super or Ti
- Triumph Dolomite Sprint
- Volvo Amazon 123 GT
122S would be an easier to find option, although less desirable.
Given a two door car is an option as you've listed the 123GT, what about a Mk.2 Lotus-Cortina?
Wheeler Dealer featured a Dolly Sprint, might be worth a watch to see what issues might be found.
My mates brother had one in the 80's. Was fast for the time. The only issue I recall was that the spark plugs were impossible to remove, at least the force being applied to try and undo was at the limit of what we thought was safe, so just left them alone.
My mates brother had one in the 80's. Was fast for the time. The only issue I recall was that the spark plugs were impossible to remove, at least the force being applied to try and undo was at the limit of what we thought was safe, so just left them alone.
aeropilot said:
Slow progress said:
Long term planning another toy!
Has anyone any views or seen a comparison review on the following 3 vehicles (or any others in the same category size and performance wise);
- Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super or Ti
- Triumph Dolomite Sprint
- Volvo Amazon 123 GT
123GT are pretty rare, they didn't make many of them, second rarest production Volvo IIRC. So, finding a real one to buy is not an easy task, and they aren't cheap when you find one.Has anyone any views or seen a comparison review on the following 3 vehicles (or any others in the same category size and performance wise);
- Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super or Ti
- Triumph Dolomite Sprint
- Volvo Amazon 123 GT
122S would be an easier to find option, although less desirable.
Given a two door car is an option as you've listed the 123GT, what about a Mk.2 Lotus-Cortina?
If budget isn't so critical there's the BMW 2002ti(i) to consider, but they're very expensive.
Droopsnoot will be along soon to talk about the excellent Firenza HP or its slightly less glamorous cousins, and I guess there's always the Escort RS2000 / Mexico etc, if you can afford the Ford Tax. Maybe these are a bit too new to fit the brief, though?
Scimitar SE4 Coupe might work? Or a Gilbern Genie / Invader?
Andy86GT said:
Wheeler Dealer featured a Dolly Sprint, might be worth a watch to see what issues might be found.
You really won't learn much about the Dolly Sprint by watching that episode.....Brewer seemed intent on spending the whole episode trying to justify the Sprint was a better car than the Escort Mexico, all the while ignoring the massive difference in spec and price of the two cars in period.........and the fact that the Sprint was introduced at almost the end of the Mex's production.The show did feature a Sprint specialist that supplies parts and restores them, who is likely the go-to guy with the owners club.
You'll learn more by going to a few owners club meets and talking to owners than watching that tv show.
I'd rather have either of the other cars in the OP's list than the Dolly, but then I'm probably biased as my cousin bought one new in '76 and it spent more time in the dealer than it did on the road........it was a dog of a car.
In the early 90's a work mate lusted after them, and eventually bought what seemed to be a nice one, despite its 16-17 years age, but, he ended up fighting problem after problem, and after 12 months it ended up sitting on his parents driveway quietly rusting away until they forced him to sell it as a non-runner parts car.
I'm sure there are good ones about though, they can't have all been dogs...............
Slow progress said:
Long term planning another toy!
Has anyone any views or seen a comparison review on the following 3 vehicles (or any others in the same category size and performance wise);
- Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super or Ti
- Triumph Dolomite Sprint
- Volvo Amazon 123 GT
Has anyone any views or seen a comparison review on the following 3 vehicles (or any others in the same category size and performance wise);
- Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super or Ti
- Triumph Dolomite Sprint
- Volvo Amazon 123 GT
Not seen one with those three particularly
But seen a comparison of BMW 2002tii, Dolomite Sprint, Fiat 124 Coupe, Alfa Romeo Alfetta and Mk1 RS2000
2172cc said:
I'd definitely rather have a Tigger over a Dolly, although again, quite rare now, and they don't often come up for sale. I was talking to a Tiger owner at a local breakfast meet near me a few months back, and he had spent over 2 years trying to persuade the previous owner into selling it to him. He said in that time there was only one other car that came up for sale.Lotus Cortina mk2 is an interesting one, as I do love the classic fords and even have a soft spot for the old escorts but mainly with the grp4 arches for looks alone!
It needs to be visceral, look decent but also bizarrely to some be somewhat low geared as one of the joys I have with older cars is the ability to make progress with plenty of rowing up and down the gears within the speed limits, trying to maintain momentum etc
I already have the hot hatch of my dreams and that is more than fast enough for most UK roads.
The Tiger is one I know virtually nothing about, but I do know of a place with at least three of them in Buckie!!! Didn’t really know they were that uncommon!
It needs to be visceral, look decent but also bizarrely to some be somewhat low geared as one of the joys I have with older cars is the ability to make progress with plenty of rowing up and down the gears within the speed limits, trying to maintain momentum etc
I already have the hot hatch of my dreams and that is more than fast enough for most UK roads.
The Tiger is one I know virtually nothing about, but I do know of a place with at least three of them in Buckie!!! Didn’t really know they were that uncommon!
Slow progress said:
Lotus Cortina mk2 is an interesting one, as I do love the classic fords and even have a soft spot for the old escorts but mainly with the grp4 arches for looks alone!
It needs to be visceral, look decent but also bizarrely to some be somewhat low geared as one of the joys I have with older cars is the ability to make progress with plenty of rowing up and down the gears within the speed limits, trying to maintain momentum etc
The Lotus-Cortina Mk.2 certainly fits that bill. It needs to be visceral, look decent but also bizarrely to some be somewhat low geared as one of the joys I have with older cars is the ability to make progress with plenty of rowing up and down the gears within the speed limits, trying to maintain momentum etc
Wonderful noise, and one of the best manual gearboxes ever made.
I prefer them in a colour other than the usual white/green stripe, which I think never looked right on the Mk.2 shape. While they have been slowly going up in recent years, a good Mk.2 LC is still 'affordable' compared to Mk.1 or Mk.2 RS Escorts, and Cossie Sierra etc from the 80's.
Slow progress said:
The Tiger is one I know virtually nothing about, but I do know of a place with at least three of them in Buckie!!! Didn’t really know they were that uncommon!
Very rare in the day, only about 200 odd Tiger 1's were made, and about 400 odd Tiger 2's.......estimated to be no more than about 40 or so left, with only about half of those registered for the road.Edited by aeropilot on Wednesday 18th September 10:16
aeropilot said:
Watcher of the skies said:
Triumph 2500S
Rover P6 3500S
Rover SD1 Vitesse
Peugeot 505GTi
Triumph 2.5Pi instead of the 2500S. Rover P6 3500S
Rover SD1 Vitesse
Peugeot 505GTi
My father had a 2500S, and sporty saloon it was not.........by any measure.
The Pi on the other hand
As with anything of this age, beware of rust, just because there is a BMW badge means nothing when it comes to tin worm.
2002 Ti are getting expensive now, performance on par with a Dolly Sprint, although O/D made the Sprint feel faster. They have proclivity for tail wagging when pressing on.
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