Triumph Stag Automatic

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“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 this statement 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.

The Stag came into being because of the close relationship between Harry Webster, Triumph’s Director of Engineering, and Giovanni Michelotti who was already responsible for much of the styling work at Triumph. Michelotti asked if they could undertake a styling exercise, on their own initiative, and soon got on with producing a mock-up of the Stag concept. When presented to the bosses at Triumph, the response was enthusiastic and the project got the go-ahead straight away.

Produced between 1970 and 1978, the Stag was conceived as a gentleman's sports tourer, a full four-seater to compete head-on with rivals like the Mercedes SL. Powered by an all-new 3.0 V8, its 145bhp was sufficient to push the car to 115mph. Most cars were fitted with a three-speed auto box but some had the (now) more desirable manual overdrive gearbox fitted.

It soon became apparent however, that all was not well with the new engine installation in service, with regular reports of overheating and warped heads circulating far and wide. This was a crying shame, as essentially the engine was a gem and solutions to all of the issues were rapidly found. Its questionable early reliability certainly affected sales and soon several specialist companies were offering engine transplants from other vehicles. Common amongst these was the larger, slower revving Rover V8, a Ford V6 and the straight-six 2.5-litre Triumph engine.

Just 25,900 were produced, with around 9,000 still in existence according to the Stag Club – a huge proportion of survivors. Most of the Stags that survive are beautifully strong and refined machines with perhaps the most wonderfully woofly exhaust note of any British car.

This 1977 Stag Automatic joined the Stondon Collection in 1993 and comes with an old MOT from that year, plus a few bills and invoices for parts to get it through the test. It was last taxed in 1993 and has a current V5C.