Triumph Stag Manual Overdrive

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The Stag came about because of the close relationship between Harry Webster, Triumph’s Director of Engineering, and Giovanni Michelotti who was already responsible for much of Triumph's styling work.

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. When presented to the bosses at Triumph, the response was immediate and the project to build the car got the go-ahead straight away.

Made between 1970 and 1978, the Stag was conceived as a gentleman's sports tourer 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. Just 25,900 were produced, with around 9,000 still in existence according to the Stag club – a large proportion of survivors which proves what a much-loved model this is.

The vendor of this superb manual overdrive example acquired it back in 1997 as a project to restore with just 44,000 miles on the clock. It had originally been registered 2 FLL and had driven out of the showroom on 1st August 1977, the V5C showing a total of four owners since new. Over the next ten years or so it was treated to a thorough ground-up nut and bolt restoration by the vendor himself.

All aspects of the car were attended to, including a professional bare-metal respray in the original Java Green. The engine was passed to a friend for a complete rebuild, a job which cost £3,000 even at ‘mates rates’ and included the usual upgraded cooling system with header tank, more efficient water pump, multi-vane fan and larger radiator. A stainless exhaust was fitted along with a new mohair hood which has never even got wet.

The seats remain original and in very good condition, the wood trim being re-veneered courtesy of Jaguar Cars (even though they probably weren’t aware of their generosity at the time!). The end result speaks for itself, the car looking as good underneath as is does on top.

Sold with a fresh MOT by the time of the sale, this highly desirable, fully restored, low mileage manual Stag is one of the finest examples we have seen.