Registration - CRM56K

Chassis No. - WB26540DL

M.O.T. - Exempt

Odometer - TBC

‘CRM 56K’ is something of a mystery car. According to the DVLA it is a Triumph 1500 which was registered in September 1971. Yet the twin, square headlamps (the 1500 boasted round, quad lamps), interior trim, facia, Dolomite 1300 badging and Triumph Dolomite 1300 vehicle emission control information plate under the bonnet would appear to indicate that it could be a Dolomite 1300 – which wasn’t available until 1976. The only history that accompanies this car records work done by the vendor, who acquired the vehicle last year, so one can only speculate on what the solution to the mystery is, though the vendor does believe that the car had an engine change from 1500cc to 1300cc at some point in its life. Whatever the answer, ‘CRM 56K’ is undeniably one of Triumph’s popular range of junior cars from the 1970s, even if precisely which one it is remains uncertain. The car has a wonderfully ‘70s feel, the recently-resprayed Saffron yellow body set off by the brown roof (with pop-up sunroof) which matches the brown vinyl interior. The odometer reads 208 miles, but the vendor tells us that the vehicle has had an odometer change. The car’s last MOT – in September 2015 – recorded a mileage of 93,547. Under its current ownership, the bottom half of the car has been repainted, the roof has had a respray, the petrol tank repaired a new steering knuckle fitted and welding work carried out and new badges fitted. The vendor rates all aspects of the car as ‘good’, apart from the electrics, which they consider ‘average’. ‘CRM 56K’ is being offered at No Reserve.‘CRM 56K’ is something of a mystery car. According to the DVLA it is a Triumph 1500 which was registered in September 1971. Yet the twin, square headlamps (the 1500 boasted round, quad lamps), interior trim, facia, Dolomite 1300 badging and Triumph Dolomite 1300 vehicle emission control information plate under the bonnet would appear to indicate that it could be a Dolomite 1300 – which wasn’t available until 1976. The only history that accompanies this car records work done by the vendor, who acquired the vehicle last year, so one can only speculate on what the solution to the mystery is, though the vendor does believe that the car had an engine change from 1500cc to 1300cc at some point in its life. Whatever the answer, ‘CRM 56K’ is undeniably one of Triumph’s popular range of junior cars from the 1970s, even if precisely which one it is remains uncertain. The car has a wonderfully ‘70s feel, the recently-resprayed Saffron yellow body set off by the brown roof (with pop-up sunroof) which matches the brown vinyl interior. The odometer reads 208 miles, but the vendor tells us that the vehicle has had an odometer change. The car’s last MOT – in September 2015 – recorded a mileage of 93,547. Under its current ownership, the bottom half of the car has been repainted, the roof has had a respray, the petrol tank repaired a new steering knuckle fitted and welding work carried out and new badges fitted. The vendor rates all aspects of the car as ‘good’, apart from the electrics, which they consider ‘average’. ‘CRM 56K’ is being offered at No Reserve.

Triumph’s ‘junior car’ line-up began in 1965 with the front-wheel-drive 1300. This was modern, well-engineered and well-mannered to drive but its target market had lower-priced rivals to spend their money on and in 1970 it was replaced as the company’s entry-level model by the cheaper, rear-wheel-drive Toledo, which lacked the more luxurious interior of the 1300 but shared its short bodyshell. Triumph retained a front-wheel-drive junior model in the form of the 1500, a four-door saloon produced from 1970-1973, with a longer bodyshell with squared-off boot to echo that of the revised 2000. In 1972 Triumph introduced the Dolomite, utilising the 1500’s longer body but with rear-wheel-drive and a potent 1850cc engine. This sporting model was an instant hit, and the introduction of the 2.0-litre 16-valve Dolomite Sprint in 1973 launched an icon – a Dolomite Sprint would win the 1975 British Saloon Car Championship. In 1975 Triumph rationalised its disparate group of junior models, all under the Dolomite name. A 1300cc version was announced – the new Dolomite 1300 - the Triumph 1500 became the Dolomite 1500, and the original, 1850c Dolomite was renamed the Dolomite 1850HL. But, by 1980, the Dolomite was seen as outdated, and the entire range ceased production, to be replaced by the Acclaim.

In summary:
· A ‘mystery car’ –one of Triumph’s popular and collectable small saloons from the 1970s, but which one?
· Recently resprayed in Saffron yellow with a brown roof
· Offered at No Reserve