Dolomite SE all finished... For now!

[purplebargeken]

He's booked in to do some painting on the Amazon first. 

 

Ahh, oops 

[andrew e]

Trigger you need re-ranking "Rattlecan Rudeboy"

[trigger]

I've really been enjoying working on this!, the last two days I've been doing 12 hour shifts and still finding myself in the garage until past 11pm when I have work again at 6am in the morning, good job I have a understanding wife!.

 

I didn't take any photos yesterday but I made a start polishing the new paintwork, fitting the headlight and indicator units and painted another coat red oxide under the arches.

 

Moving onto tonight I finished polishing the wings and valance which I must say look of a professional quality, not like a dodgy Essex docker in his garage had done with rattle cans!

 

 

 

So after fitting the number plate, grills and bumper it was time to look into fitting the spolier.

 

 

I wasn't looking forwards to this job as the captive holes in the ends of the spolier were ripped out, so I fitted new bolts and washers and attacked it with a tube of tiger seal instead.

 

 

I've clamped the ends as well as jacked them up so to squash them up as much as I can, I'm hoping this is good enough to hold them without adding more holes and bolts. I've also ran a bead of sealer along the front to fill the gaps, I just hope I haven't got to take it off again!

 

 

 

 

 

I'm a bit restricted for space and light but once I've undersealed under the arches and polished the whole car again I'll get the wheels back on and take some decent photos of it outside but so far I'm really happy with the progress.

 

[purplebargeken]

Beautiful. 

[beko1987]

Isn't it the wrong time of the year to get this back on the road? Or are you plasti-dipping it before it goes out to play?

[purplebargeken]

Oh the happiness of a dust reduced garage.

 

My lock up is handy but it is too dusty to do anything lovely with paint

[oldcars]

The paint finish is stunning, cracking work. Garage + Marina = winner 

 

So want a garage, i have been trying to adjust the mixture on the Reliant for 2 weeks but its either raining, gales or dark or all three.

[trigger]

Isn't it the wrong time of the year to get this back on the road? Or are you plasti-dipping it before it goes out to play?

Yeah not ideal is it! I won't be using it in the wet if I can help it, I've only ever used the Cortina a few times in the wet since I got the bodywork done!

[Timewaster]

Good job Trig. Enjoy your tinkering time before it all vanishes.

[sporty-shite]

Feel quite ashamed that I've only just read this thread. Top work,Trig. This is a lovely thing and all the better for your time and attention.

[trigger]

Thank you!

 

[purplebargeken]

Crikey! Those sidelights are bright.

[Alexg]

Just popped back to have another look at this. Really a handsome car these, and splendid work getting her looking so sharp

[trigger]

Thanks Alex, I'm so proud of how well the cars come out, I keep going out into the garage to take another look at it!.

 

I'm hoping it will be dry enough tomorrow to take some proper photos of it with my nice camera plus I need some for the agreed insurance valuation but for now here it is outside Screwfix the other day.

 

 

[wuvvum]

That really has come out well!  Glad you're getting it fully sorted now - your tinkering opportunities might* reduce once there's a Triglet to worry about.

[Angrydicky]

Amazing improvement Trig. I'm so jealous of the finish you can achieve using rattle cans!

 

It looks really sweet now, I do love these rare special edition models that are often overlooked by today's punters (such as this, and my Vauxhall 2300 S).

[purplebargeken]

That does look stunning mate, 1000000% kudos points to you. You should do a 'before' and 'after' pic

[Spottedlaurel]

Very smart, you must be chuffed with it. The stripes and wheel trim rings with the black paint lift the appearance of this model nicely.

 

These must have been seen as getting a bit dated by the late ‘70s, but for many owners I imagine their old-fashioned classiness was just what they wanted. Perhaps someone retiring who’d spent their working life driving a Triumph 2000/2500?

[trigger]

I can only imagine how old fashioned these must have felt in 1979, I think the burr Walnut dash has a lot to answer for that but If you was a person of later years and all you'd driven was Austin 7's, Morris Minors and Wolseley Hornets it probably felt the bees knees!.

 

Even Autocar referred it to the flat cap brigade in 1979!.

 

 

As promised here some better photos that I've took this morning of it. I may have gone slightly over kill with the flash...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rusty_Rocket]

Bloody marvellous Trig

[anonymous user]

I've followed this with interest as I always fancied one of these when they were new, at the time I worked at a BL dealer. Strangely I remember them having pale blue seats although I think that is my memory playing up, what I do remember correctly is that we had a few through and they all required paint rectification before sale, I think you've done a better job with rattle cans than they did when they were new. I always thought they were one of the better limited editions of the time, certainly more subtle than the Marina LE or metallic pink Mini Rose

[carlo]

That is a well handsome car, especially in black.  Top work!

[Joey spud]

Very nice sir.

Is it just me thats been looking longingly at old Triumphs on Ebay lately

[Six-cylinder]

Fantastic job, I will send over one of the Triumphs over for the same treatment!

[oldcars]

Stunning, looks mint. Very very nice indeed.

[Lacquer Peel]

Great stuff, love the look of these and you don't often see Dolomites with the lower-spec front end. Well worth all the effort you've put in.

[Hertz]

Sterling work. I can't get over how clean the inside is, it's like brand new!

[trigger]

Sterling work. I can't get over how clean the inside is, it's like brand new!

 

It really is like new!, I've haven't had to do anything inside other than replace a rear door interior light switch! I love the fact it still has tags like this with the date on them.

 

[MrBiscuits]

That's great work! Made me realise how good the Dolomite looks in black too. I bet the previous owner's family will be really happy to see it looking so sharp again after such a short time.

[dollywobbler]

Truly excellent. Inspiring.