TRIUMPH STAG the Adaptable Drophead That Made Its Own Niche Market Makes a Great Classic, As Malcolm Mckay Explains on Its 40Th Birt Hday
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BUYER'S GUIDE I TRIUMPH STAG The adaptable drophead that made its own niche market makes a great classic, as Malcolm McKay explains on its 40th birt hday PHOTOGRAPHY TONY BAKER he Stag is a great-looking, Webster. Stylist Michelotti built it great-sounding car that can be from a 2000 saloon as a show car. picked up for reasonable prices Webster liked it so much that he and that most owners adore. persuaded the Triumph board to build Yet many people wouldn't it, and to fit the overhead-cam VS that touch them with a bargepole was planned as part of the slant-four due to their poor reputation. engine design already seen in the Saab Some swear by Rover VS conversions, others 99 and later the Dolomite and TR7. claim that the Stag engine's problems are over. Sadly Leyland's acquisition ofRover So let's cut to the chase. If you buy a Stag in 1967 put Triumph alongside another whose engine has been neglected, it will proba marque heavily promoting a VS, as a bly bite you, so be prepared to spend to put it result of which the Stag engine was Ads always put car right. Buy one with a properly rebuilt VS and never used in an other car and not developed. in exotic locations look after it, and it will not let you down. It's not Despite its small numbers, however, parts and rocket science: replace the timing chains every specialist back-up are excellent and prices fair. 30,000 miles and make sure the engine and radi Stags bracket the UK Vehicle Excise Duty ator do not silt up, keep the water circulating and exemption date: the last free-tax car is LD21 OS6. it will be reliable and a joy to own. The engine is Early cars have long been bargains: they're built not fundamentally flawed . Its water circulation from better steel and last much longer, but rust wasn't the best design, the water pump was poor can be a big issue on all ill-treated examples. and low-grade aluminium alloy was used for the Most cars were sold with hard- and soft-tops, heads, but it was fine provided sufficient corro but some only had one or the other. IT buying one sion-inhibited antifreeze was used at all times, with the hard-top on, take it off and check there the cooling system was overhauled regularly and really is a hood in the well and that it works as it the timing chains were replaced when specified. should. Almost all manual cars had overdrive; The Stag would never have been built had it they're undergeared on the motorway without not been for Giovanni Michelotti and Harry it, as were the popular Borg Warner autos. Racer of Tony Hart, who set up St ag Owners Club in l S 172 Classic & Sports Car October 2010 Rot spots • Valance and lip panels above; lower rad support Fro nt wi ng, especially arch and front/rear corners Lower co rne rs of 'screen pill ars and top of A-post Wayward rear set-up may be caused by worn tra iling-arm bushes, which Sills, inner and outer should show a gap between bush and cover plate. Probe fo r rust here, too Footwells over 'chassis' legs Door skins and shells, particularly lower edges Rear strut tops (view in hood well), under rear seat Wings: wheelarches. lower co rners and top deck seam Electrolytic corrosion can rot through 4!) Boot floor and rear valance rear mounting/axle casing. Driveshaft splines lock up without lubrication, tD} Bootlid back edge wh ich could throw you off the road Corrosion in the aluminium cylinder Most were sold with hard- and soft heads silts up them and the radiator tops. Look for rust around edges and in no ti me. The radiator sho uld be check it matches. Removal or fitting replaced or re-cored every 10 years is a two-man job without a hoist A correctly rebuilt and serviced VS is a delight, but many aren't. Check history, Vinyl seats are comfy, durable and not The soft-top should be a good fit and use of antifreeze with corrosion inhib itor, timing-cha in replacement (every 30k too costly to rebuild; early cars had seal effectively, but many don't. Look miles is safe) and signs of leaks, overheating or poor maintenance. A neglected smooth trim. If they're uncomfortable, for distorted/broken frame, splits in engine will probably need a costly re build; well looked-after, they'll do 150,000+ you need to rep lace rubbers and foam the hood and ineffective catches October 2010 Classic & Sports Car 173 BUYER'S GUIDE Stag came in vivid colours; ma!ly early cars have been fitted with later alloys On the road The knowledge Raise the hood or fit the hard-top before going WHATTOPAY for a drive, to see how well they seal and to make Show/rebuilt £15,000 noises easier to hear. Go on a long drive, extend Average £4500 the engine without going silly and then letitidle Restoration flOOD for a good few minutes. Watch the temperature gauge like a hawk. Once it's cooled down, look PARTS PRICES (EXAMPLES) for signs of oil in the water or water in the oil and Front wing £275 see if the coolant level has dropped since before Rebuilt engine £5000 the run. Overheating when stationary may just Timing chain kit (top quality) £80 be down to a weak viscous-fan coupling, but you Water pump (recon exch) £77 need to be sure it's done no more damage before A modern fou r-speed auto, as here, transforms the Stag Mohair soft-top £340-400 you buy. Also listen for rattles and knocks that may suggest a worn bottom end, tapping from ON THE WEB the cam covers indicating worn camshafts or OWNER'S VIEW P--i www.stagbytriumph.co.uk; www.triumphstag. rattling from the front that means new timing net; http://stagowne rsclu b.mywowbb.com chains and tensioners are urgently needed. Bill Fannon ~ ' · If the car is a manual, check for bearing noise CLUB -dip the clutch when ticking over in neutral; if it Retired Jaguar development engineer Fannon Stag Owners Club www.stag.org.uk gets quieter the layshaft is worn - and weak has owned his Stag for 24 years and keeps it synchros. Anon-operating overdrive may just be in superb order: "I bought it in '86 and rebuilt BOOKS a connection, relay or solenoid, but budget for a the engine the next year when I was working Triumph Stag Essential Buyer's Guide Veloce full rebuild. If it's an auto, check the oil for level at Browns Lane. it's given no trouble since, but Original Triumph Stag Motorbooks Triumph and colour (black is bad). Make sure it changes I did replace the head gaskets 12 years ago Stag Complete History Crowood smoothly and that the kickdown works. with the latest Payen type that seal around Listen for rear-axle rumble and whine, and the outside; they're much better. Over the SPECIALISTS check for oil leaks. Driveshaft splines should years. I've had just about every nut and bolt off Enginuity 020 8993 7737 EJ Ward 0116 279 show signs of lubrication; without it they can and rebuilt the bodywork myself. it's a great 9060 Faversham 01795 539163 James seize, causing severe handling problems. Soggy tourer but it's not meant to be a sports ca r. I've Paddock 01244 399899 Justriumph 01260 handling is likely to be down to leaking dampers, replaced the Borg Warner auto with a fou r 224743 LDpart 01869 220364 Monarch weak or broken springs and worn bushes in the speed conversion from Monarch using the ZF 01536 763778 Rimmer Bros 01522 568000 front wishbones, anti-roll bar and steering rack gearbox from the Jaguar XJ6 3.2, which gives Robsport 01763 262263 SOC Spares 01580 mountings- not too costly to sort. Over-light a much nicer change and locks up in overdrive: 292828 STS 01202 423687 Tony Hart 07836 steering means a faulty spool valve, requiring an 70mph was 4000rpm, now it's 2500!" 202347 Wins & Co 01342 836060 exchange rack; it should be precise and light. 174 Classic & Sports Car October 2010 BUYER'S GUIDE 1 TIMELINE 1970 Jun: Stag launched One to buy £11,995 1971 Mar: improved hood catches. bonnet Year of manufacture 1973 Recorded mileage release to left, larger fuel tank. engine temp 67,268 Vendor Epping Motor Company. Essex; tel: warning deleted; Jul: US market launch, lower 01277 365415 For an outstanding rebuilt example; compression. 127bhp@ 6000rpm, wires, rear everything done Against wires won't suit everyone wing marker lights, headrests. rear lap belts; Nov: Sanction 2 cars (from LD10001). with This dazzling Guards Red car was rebuilt from a detail changes inc separate front belt clips bare-metal bodyshell. Its finish is flawless bar a 1972 Jan: narrow stainless sill trim, cooling tiny area of bubbling at the front bottom corner system modified; Oct: overdrive standard of the driver's door, minor pitting in the door 1973 Feb: Mkll (LD20001). changes to engine handles and a missing nearside sill-trim clip. A combustion chambers. overdrive and trim; fresh mohair hood has been fitted and the car's matt-black sills. black badges; Jul: US Mkll cars factory hard-top has been refurbished to match. get lower CR. revised seats. alloys. Late in year, There's no visible rust anywhere; ifyou lift the withdrawn from US market (2871 to US spec) carpets, the floors look and sound solid.