Wheeler Dealers is back!

[katana]

Just seen the new episode and I know there are haters on here (so they can stop reading now) but I have to admit to having a soft spot for the featured car - a Dolly Sprint! When I bought my first RS2000 they were definately in the frame as an alternative. True to the programmes style it was a bit senstionalised with its 'epic & bulletproof' engine - they were ok but as a 4v alloy block & head they do have HG / overheating issues. But big bugbear this time was comparing it to a mk1 Mexico ! ! ! Come on boys - the mk1 Mexico came out in 1970 and finished in 74/75 whereas the Sprint came out in 73 and that featured in the show was a 78! Not a very fair comparison 1600, 2v, 4sp, 2dr with solid live axle against a 2000, 4v, 4sp with overdrive, 4dr and independent suspenders! Not a mention of its true competitor the mk2 RS2000 but the 'old' 'K' plated Mexico did quite well considering its obvious deficiencies. If I could get a Dolly now and have room to store it - I'd have one! I've known a few mates that have had them, one a diehard Triumph guy - Vitesse's, GT6's etc and he had a British Racing Green one that was very good and they do like a set of Webers just like Fords do. I think they were quite good on the race track as well so honestly not a bad car . . . . . just a bit 'pipe and slippers' in appearance - Shame!

[Vista]

My 2nd car was a 1972 Dolly 1850HL, I'd have a good Sprint in a heartbeat

[Vista]

Watching on catch up. Glad they're back in the UK. Was long bored of US muscle car / pick up of the week

[e501]

Had a dolly sprint approaching 40 years ago, very good car, overdrive was nice. Was certainly faster than my mexico and my home made rs2000. Let down by half the head bolts going in at an angle instead of vertical which caused head gasket failure. Live rear axle was nicely located. So yeah a better car but i preferred the mk1 escort...

[BIG G]

 Head gasket failiure and serious quality issues hampered the Dolly

[Rally Pack 2000]

Whos doing the mechanicals?

[Vista]

1 hour ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Whos doing the mechanicals?

Marc "Elvis" Priestley, ex F1 McLaren mechanic

[Rally Pack 2000]

Was just able to watch the episode. I have always liked them as cars and it was great to see one on the show although you didnt really see them working on the car all that much. But I have to agree with Katana the constant Mexico comparison got a bit cringworthy. Firstly in 73 and RS1600 was 250 quid cheaper than a Dolly with Mexicos considerably cheaper again so why were they overlooked for the average guy on the street? Price!!!! Can you rave about the virtues of one having overdrive and the other not when one costs 50% more?! More over that feature is always faulty LOL Sorry if you could get an BDA for less this comparison with a Mexico is a bit silly. What was funny though was they kept quoting what superior acceleration figures the Dolly had but when they both floored it the Mexico caught up even with Brewer impacting on the Mexicos power to weight. And the so called superior driving machine got trounced in the corners. I do love them but even the  biased test didnt make their argument to convince me. Hope to see more unique mechanical stuff in the future, there isnt much value seeing Brewer at the Chromers for the 50th time.

[Miniliteman]

Newest episode with the Dolomite was on Discovery Channel over here yesterday. It had Dutch subtitles which were awful. I don't need them but you can't turn them off and when you see lots of translation mistake you keep noticing them so after half an hour I switched channels.

[Painterman]

Had a couple dolly sprints early 80s have to admit it was more than a match for most cars at time inc rs2000s

[Vista]

Not buying it (look at the date) but it still made me laugh 

[Rally Pack 2000]

I've been enjoying this new series actually. Brewer hasn't been as obnoxious and the new workshop guy Elvis is good too.

So what's the deal with Allegros? We never got them here but they seem to imply they are somewhat despised maligned and hated? A bit of an ugly duckling I must confess but that's not always a bad thing and has a stand out character about it. When I heard they were dipping the dash to replace the wood laminate I though how dodgy was that but the results were amazing.

What is the cause the sticky dash issue they refer too in the Masseratti episode with regards to them Fiats and Ferraris?

Brewer putting saddle soap on the Rolls seats and saying how dirty it was when he was actually scrubbing the leather colour off lol

Alot of effort went into the Porsche If you really included the labour costs I don't think it really was alot more which I guess you could say applies to all these cars really.

[katana]

Here in the UK, the common term for an Allegro is 'All Aggro' LOL! They came from a period of car designs by the Triumph / British Leyland / Morris conglomeration that were just crap and all a bit 'samey'. One of the most hateful things in an Allaggro was their square steering wheel which was off centre to the column - obviously the tea boy came up with that idea!

The sticky plastic isn't just an Italian thing but they seem to have taken more flak for it - its like the formulation missed the last bit of chemical to cure the rubberised plastic. When new it has a great tactile touch but as it ages it softens and gets sticky. I'm sure a clever chemist could come up with a 'dip' to harden all the duff switches etc. but unlikely to happen! Its a bit like Aussie 70 / 80's plastic that powders with a bit of UV - genius chemistry with that specification cos the sun never shines down under!

[Rally Pack 2000]

12 minutes ago, katana said:

Here in the UK, the common term for an Allegro is 'All Aggro' LOL! They came from a period of car designs by the Triumph / British Leyland / Morris conglomeration that were just crap and all a bit 'samey'. One of the most hateful things in an Allaggro was their square steering wheel which was off centre to the column - obviously the tea boy came up with that idea!

The sticky plastic isn't just an Italian thing but they seem to have taken more flak for it - its like the formulation missed the last bit of chemical to cure the rubberised plastic. When new it has a great tactile touch but as it ages it softens and gets sticky. I'm sure a clever chemist could come up with a 'dip' to harden all the duff switches etc. but unlikely to happen! Its a bit like Aussie 70 / 80's plastic that powders with a bit of UV - genius chemistry with that specification cos the sun never shines down under!

That was one thing I knew about the car it has a square steering wheel cause i saw one and asked what car was that on the forum!

We had our own Leyland mistake called the Leyland P76 but lately they seem to have become someone beloved and popular.

It was mainly french cars of that period that when sent over here they totally powdered the switch panels and trims. Now its the Chinese ones so they haven't learned much since then for all their intellectual property theft.

[Vista]

16 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

I've been enjoying this new series actually. Brewer hasn't been as obnoxious and the new workshop guy Elvis is good too.

So what's the deal with Allegros? We never got them here but they seem to imply they are somewhat despised maligned and hated? A bit of an ugly duckling I must confess but that's not always a bad thing and has a stand out character about it. When I heard they were dipping the dash to replace the wood laminate I though how dodgy was that but the results were amazing.

What is the cause the sticky dash issue they refer too in the Masseratti episode with regards to them Fiats and Ferraris?

Brewer putting saddle soap on the Rolls seats and saying how dirty it was when he was actually scrubbing the leather colour off lol

Alot of effort went into the Porsche If you really included the labour costs I don't think it really was alot more which I guess you could say applies to all these cars really.

If you imagine the worst possible car that Australia ever got, then think of something yiu dislike a bit more than that, multiply that by a factor of many........then you get to somewhere about the level of dislike most people in the UK had (and have) for the All-agro. The car that was more streamlined when going backwards!

Re the sticky button thing, 1st generation 997's do that too, it's not just an Italian thing.

[Rally Pack 2000]

5 hours ago, Vista said:

Re the sticky button thing, 1st generation 997's do that too, it's not just an Italian thing.

Is this an outsourcing to China thing? lol

The most maligned car I can remember was our Leyland P76 but things have turned around now and people have great affection for them. Maybe one day your All-Agro will too!

[Johnny Boy]

Check this out

 

Johnny Smith Car pervert Street sleeper Allegro

[katana]

Just makes it a 'fast' shite car! And as a proven weirdo it matches him to a tee LOL!

[DT36]

Now then! 

 

[Rally Pack 2000]

On 03/05/2023 at 04:45, Vista said:

If you imagine the worst possible car that Australia ever got, then think of something yiu dislike a bit more than that, multiply that by a factor of many........then you get to somewhere about the level of dislike most people in the UK had (and have) for the All-agro. The car that was more streamlined when going backwards!

Re the sticky button thing, 1st generation 997's do that too, it's not just an Italian thing.

The one picture in @DT36 Video above doesnt look that bad. Kinda quirky, very French like it was a Renault or Citroen.

So are they a cheap classic if you dont want to spend big money and dont want anything modern?

Does Momo make square sports wheels for them?

Its not hatch though!

[DT36]

When I was 17 or 18, I rumbled the big ends on my Mother's 2.3 Granada Ghia while I was home on leave. It didn't like holding 100+mph for an extended period 😁

I gave her money for one of those Gold line replacement engines that used to be the norm then and it went in to the garage for exchange. 

Around the same time a friend of mine was driving home from the Marines Depot in Lympstone and broke down on the Severn Bridge in his Allegro. Cost him £50 to get towed off and home to our village. He was then getting posted to Comachio Group, so wanted to scrap the Allegro off. 

I had a look at it and gave him £50 to take it off his hands as my Mother needed a car for work while her Granada was in having the engine exchanged. Gapped the points on the Allegro as they were closed and it was good to go. One happy Mother 😁

I returned back to work after my leave and didn't get back home for another 6 weeks. When I did get home, the Granada was back and all sorted.  My Old Man had then sold the Allegro on for £250 and gave the money to my Mother. I can still see the big grin on his face when he told me. One even happier Mother 😂

[mk1super]

Now if ever a human needed coated in canesten cream it’s that irritant. The cars are great and if you mute the program it’s actully not too bad 😂

Get Arron Kaufman and Edd China together that would be cool.