1938 Triumph Dolomite Straight Six/Eight Honour

For sale by auction on Saturday 07 March 2015 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
We are delighted and proud to offer this significant motor car
created in honour of the three magnificent Triumph Dolomite
Straight eights built in the 1930s. To understand the car offered
today. it is perhaps important to look at why those three cars came
about. the first being revealed in 1934. Donald Healey. who
had joined Triumph in 1933 from Riley where he had been largely
responsible for the Imp and the MPH models. persuaded Triumph's
Chairman. Col Holbrook (later Sir Claude Holbrook) to produce a
prototype sports car equal to anything on the market and British
enthusiasts. including. Earl Howe. Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin. Tommy
Wisdom and Donald Healey. amongst many. especially wanted the Alfas
beaten; Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin and BRDC President. Earl Howe. in
particular. publicly criticised the lack of a British sports car
capable of competing against their continental rivals.

As Alfa Romeo was cleaning up in competition. with their 8C2300. br/>Healey. unsurprisingly. based the first prototype on the Alfa Romeo
design. It is believed that Healey purchased a year old Monza
(chassis 2211130 or possibly 2211125) that was stripped and the
dimensions recorded. Healey went to Milan to discuss the project
with Vittorio Jano who was delighted and honoured that the famous
Triumph marque wished to use their design; it was even believed
that the car would be called Triumph-Alfa.
However; due to the Dolomites forecasted high production costs
with its high technical specification. especially the straight
eight engine. and Triumph's perilous financial position. the
project was abandoned in 1936. Of the three prototypes produced. br/>two are now in private hands with the third written off on the 1935
Monte Carlo Rally with Donald Healey at the wheel; the car being
spectacularly hit by a train on a level crossing. Healey and his
co-driver survived with only minor injuries.

Today. set in a rural Oxfordshire village resides a small company
named Gloria Coachworks. The owner. Rob Green has become the
World's leading specialists in pre-1940 Triumph motor cars. br/>restoring and recreating many examples of the marque. In 2005. Rob
built the first of the two Dolomite Straight Eight recreations
completing the first in 2009. The second. and Rob's personal car. br/>is the car offered here today. Built upon a modified 1938 Dolomite
chassis. the car incorporates all pre-1940 Triumph running gear.
The engine. a Dolomite straight six unit. has triple SU
carburettors and four exhaust exits. A modification of the exhaust
into a Siamese arrangement results in eight fully functioning pipes
exiting the coachwork; much as the original cars. To produce an
accurate silhouette. drawings were produced from period photographs
as all the originals were destroyed during the bombing of Coventry
during the Second World War.

The coachwork has been hand fabricated in aluminium over an ash
frame and includes a modified Gloria bonnet and a genuine period
Ace spare wheel cover. A small hatch. once again hand fabricated in
alloy and incorporating a clever hinge assembly. sits behind the
occupants and lifts up to gain access to the space behind the
seats. As this cannot be lifted when the hood is fitted. the seats
have been modified to tilt forward to facilitate alternative
access.

A close inspection of the Triumph reveals delightful details and
fittings such as the hand modified Dolomite badge mounted upon the
radiator that used to read Gloria but is now reading Dolomite;
believed to be only seen on the three original cars. The
windscreen tilts down to expose the aero screens for when one is
feeling in a sportier mood. The interior is trimmed in leather and
a matching green tonneau and hood keeps the elements at bay when
required. The jack and tools are neatly stowed within storage
compartments on the engine bulkhead. Having completed in excess of
2000 miles since completion. it starts easily and shows no evidence
of smoking. unsurprising. as all the mechanical components have
been overhauled. On the road the Triumph is a delight and revels in
spirited driving.
In all. 2700 hours were spent to produce this magnificent and
beautiful motor car and due to the time and effort expended Rob has
no plans to build another and this has now subsequently fallen into
folklore within Triumph circles. A true example of automotive art
available at a fraction of the build cost.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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