TRIUMPH DOLOMITE This was one of the great might-have-beens of motoring history, for it promised to
This was one of the great might-have-beens of motoring history, for it promised to be a British sports car to match contemporary pace-setting models. There were two main problems: Triumph could not adequately finance such a project in a difficult economic period; and when the first Dolomite was shown at the 1934 Motor Show, Alfa Romeo objected to the undeniable fact that it bore a remarkably close resemblance to its own classic supercharged straight-eight models. Donald Healey, then Triumph's development engineer, had am-bitions to produce a car to match the Alfa Monza, and to this end a second-hand example was closely examined; Alfa may have had strenuous objections to the Dolomite, although not to the extent of a law suit (as was rumoured at the time). The Dolomite brochure promised that "each car is built and tested under the supervision of Mr Donald Healey", and would be delivered with a guarantee that it had covered a flying mile at a speed in excess of 160kph (100mph), with full touring equipment. It was a handsome car, not so svelte as its Italian inspiration, per-haps, but thoroughly purposeful. Resemblance to Alfa Romeos was most obvious under the bonnet, in a straight-eight with its cylinders in two RR-Hiduminium light-alloy blocks of four with the twin ohc gear-driven from the centre of the ten-bearing crankshaft. The gear-driven Roots supercharger, on the right, had a pressure of approximately 1 Opsi. Preselector control for the Armstrong Siddeley Wilson-type gearbox was moun-ted on the steering column, and transmission was by open propellor shaft. Semi-elliptic suspension front and rear, with the chassis stiffer at the front, gave a board-hard ride in the sports-car tradition. Enormous Lockheed brakes, in 16-inch Elektron drums, gave adequate stopping power. Initially, parts for six cars were gathered, but all were not assemb-led. The Autocar experienced one at Brookiands, where it achieved 164.91kph (102-47mph), while another was written off when Donald Healey had his famous accident with a Danish train during the 1935 Monte Carlo Rally. Triumph abandoned the model, and the surviving cars and parts were acquired by High Speed Motors, re-appearing as the HSM-Dolomite. With an engine bored out to 2.4 litres (and higher supercharger pressure) one was run by APR Rolt in speed trials and circuit events. Triumph later revived the name 'Dolomite' for a roadster and for saloons, decades apart and with nothing like the exciting potential of the first Dolomite.
Specification Engine: straight-eight; 60 x 88mm, 1990cc; twin ohc; twin Zenith carburettors and Roots-type supercharger; 140bhp at 5500rpm. Gearbox: four-speed Wilson preselector. Chassis: deep-section main members, upswept over rear suspension, plus crossmembers; front and rear suspension by live axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs and dampers; four-wheel drum brakes. Dimensions: wheelbase 356cm/140in; track 137cm/54in.
