Lot Ended
Description
One-family-owned from new; only 43,000 miles; overdrive;
sympathecially refurbished in 2022; a proper sleeping beauty!
Launched in 1976
as a replacement for the Toledo, the Dolomite 1300 was a well-made and plushly
appointed family saloon with excellent road manners compared to many of its
rivals.
The mainstay models of the Dolomite
range were the 1500 and 1500HL. The 1500 shared the same 4-door bodyshell with
the base Dolomite 1300 model which retained the old Toledo single headlamp
front. The 1500HL had much better trim and equipment and used the same twin
headlamp front styling of the Dolomite 1850 and Sprint
models.
As with all Dolomite derivatives, the
1500 and 1500HL used a conventional rear-drive layout and both models enjoyed
lively performance from their 1,493cc four-cylinder engines, with a top speed of
over 90mph. The Dolomite was a huge success that inspired great loyalty in its
customers and remained in production until 1980.
Supplied new by Williams Garage of Market Drayton in April 1976, this
wonderful Dolomite 1500HL has been in the same family ever since [although
it is a convoluted tale so pay attention! - Ed]. Our vendor’s uncle's
father-in-law bought the car new and it was then put in his wife's name
in 1985 by which time it had covered around 40,000 miles.
When she
passed away, the vendor's uncle and aunt tucked the car away in a dry
Shropshire barn where it was to remain for many years. Our vendor's
partner took it upon himself to return the Dolomite to its former glory in
c.2022, treating it to a mechanical recommissioning (all new brakes, tyres,
clutch hydraulics, stainless steel exhaust etc) and a sympathetic respray as the
original paint had deteriorated in places (see last two
photos).
Our vendor then presented the freshly
rejuvenated Dolomite back to her uncle so he could continue to use and
cherish it in memory of his dearly departed wife and her parents. Due to his age
he declined this kind gesture and it has been sat in a nice dry garage ever
since with just an annual trip to the MOT station to keep everything
free.
As you can see in the
photos, this Dolomite is in wonderfully well-preserved condition
throughout and the 42k miles on the clock is absolutely genuine. We are told
that it drives as well as it looks with the overdrive working as it should and,
although it no longer needs one, it has an MOT until February 2026 with no
advisories recorded.
Supplied
with all its original handbooks in the original BL wallet, this one-family-owned
beauty has been starting promptly and running sweetly as we have moved it around
on site. You would be hard-pressed to find a better, lower mileage or
more original example anywhere.
Consigned by
James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com