Stag

Designed in Italy by Michelotti, the Triumph Company's attempt at a sophisticated luxury Grand Tourer with exotic V8 power. It was hoped that this model would prove popular in the lucrative North American (NADA - North American Dollar Area) market. Its distinctive t-bar roll-over structure was designed to overcome proposed American safety standards - and add much needed structural rigidity. At the time of launch the car could be had as a convertible, hard-top or with both soft-top and optional removable hard-top. A proposed hatchback (like a large GT6) never getting beyond the prototype stage with only one car surviving to this day. The Stag was only available with Triumph's V8 2,996cc engine. Unfortunately, due mainly to poor manufacturing and assembly, this engine initially suffered high failure rates/warranty claims. These were made worse by local dealers mechanic's being un-used to dealing with such engines. Even in the early days people were resorting to replacing the 'troublesome' and 'fragile' V8. Engine swaps to the Rover V8, Ford V6 and Triumph's own 2.5 straight six were common. Today most of the problems (some of which should have been spotted during development) have been addressed and original Stag engines are now considered no more un-reliable than any other product of the 1970's. It's notable that cars with engine conversions generally retail at considerably less than cars with the Triumph V8 - no matter if it's the engine that originally came from the factory fitted to that car. The Stag engine is a particularly melodious V8 - talk to most Stag owners and they'll say it's the sound the car makes that most attracted them to the car in the first place.

Stags are more than able to keep up with todays traffic - however there are lots of improvements that can be made should you wish. These include: electric cooling fans, electric water pumps, electronic ignition systems, upgraded/repositioned alternator's, upgraded brakes, improved driveshafts, more modern 4-speed automatic gearbox, improved front seats - you can even have the original engine supercharged or fuel injected! In fact, you can even have the V8 replaced by an electric motor-but, perhaps, lets not go that far...

Parts availability is generally very good - although some reproduction parts are a little ‘hit-and-miss'. Over at our friends the Stag Owners Club they have heavily invested in a Tooling Fund. They make good quality parts that are often not commercially viable to produce - little things that are often important to keep our cars on the road, these are often retailed via the usual specialists. The Stag could well be described as a disaster for the Triumph company, projected yearly sales were 12,000 units – in the end during the whole production run some 25,939 cars were produced. However its estimated that of the total cars registered in the UK an impressive 46% survive! This fact confirms the true love and affection the classic car community feels towards this fabulous and very useable car.