A brief history of the
Dolomite Straight 8
A 1934 Dolomite 8
Dolomite Super-Charged 2-Litre Straight Eight - 1934 17.85 h.p. 1,990cc 8-cylinder overhead twin camshaft engine with 4-speed Armstrong Siddeley Wilson type self changing gearbox.
This Dolomite's engine was based
on Alfa Romeo's 2.3-litre 8-cylinder, as fitted in their
8C-2300 Monza, with their full approval.
It is currently thought that Triumph built 3 chassis and about 6
engines.
A 1934 Dolomite 8 engine
Donald Healey entered ADU 4 in the 1935 Monte Carlo Rally. He was lucky to escape with his life when he was hit by a train in Sweden when trying to beat it across a level crossing. The front of the Dolomite was completely destroyed. In 1936 Healey entered the repaired and re-chassisied Dolomite (still registered ADU 4) in the Monte and this time finished 8th overhaul (highest placed British car).
A 1934 Dolomite 8
When Triumph had finished with
this Dolomite project after the 1936 Monte Carlo Rally they sold the
complete car and a chassis with enough parts to build another car to
Tony Rolt. When he had finished racing the Dolomite in 1937 he sold
it, the chassis and parts.
High Speed Motors eventually bought the lot and built up two road
going cars with Corsica designed bodies and these two cars still
exist. One has since been restored with the original Triumph style
bodywork and it now lives in the USA.
