Triumph Stag

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

“If one car sums up all that was good and bad about the British car industry, then it must be the Triumph Stag. Where it was good it was brilliant; and where it was bad it was terrible” – Honest John.

As the excellent Honest John website makes clear, the Michelotti-designed Stag was one of the most charismatic sports tourers ever produced on these shores but it was also bedevilled with typical 1970s build quality issues, particularly where the engine was concerned which was prone to catastrophic overheating.

Thankfully though, these issues have now all been overcome and most of the Stags that survive are beautifully strong and refined machines with perhaps the most wonderfully woofly exhaust note of any British car – just start this one up and have a listen.

The vendor lent his friend the funds to buy this 1975 manual overdrive example about four years ago. Some three years later, the money had still not been repaid and it was mutually agreed that he should have the car, transferring it into his name at the beginning of the year.

When originally purchased, it needed some general tidying around the edges but drove well, better in fact than the vendor’s own immaculate £12,000 Stag according to him. It has been given a new set of front and rear wings, new sills and a new driver’s door skin. The vendor describes the paintwork as “perhaps not the best in the world” but says that the hood is serviceable and the overdrive works well, adding that the car has the potential to become a very good specimen given a bit more TLC.

It has recently passed its MOT which expires in October 2015 and comes with a new battery and good tyres on original Stag wheels. This solid Stag is being offered at a very realistic guide price and it won’t be too long before it becomes tax exempt, making it look even more of a tempting proposition.