Triumph Stag

***EDITED VERSION OF AN EARLY REVIEW,THANKS FOR LOOKING***

TRIUMPH STAG 3.0 V BRITISH AND PROUD OF IT

I started to get into classic cars years ago and only last year did I buy an old MK1 Stag for a bit of fun.It was a 1972 model and Tax exempt,had only had 4 owners and low miles just 55,000 but was on its second engine,a new old stock MK2 unit fitted back in 1982.It had alot of history going back to the end of the 70s and loads of MOTs backing up the mileage.Even had club valuation for £10K,not that means alot as that was done in the 90s.It had been extensively restored so bodily had no major signs of rust,quite remarkable for a British 70s classic.

Paint job was poor,it had microblistered above the primer level so needed stripping and repainting.The removable hard top was in good order but was a two man job to take on and off,a stupid idea really.The soft top was a replacement one and looked as good as new after I applied a reconditioning coat of black hood reviver.

Mechanically it was very good and would be difficult to fault.It was the best version,4 speed manual with overdrive,that worked too! It even had power windows that worked,power steering that was a bit light for me but was fine.They have disc brakes upfront and old fashioned drum brakes at the rear.Getting parts is no problem,Rimmer Bros can supply just about every nut and bolt for one of these.Only interior trim can be a problem but there are good trimmers who will transform your tired interior into brand new leather,far better than the old fashioned vinyl that was standard on most 70s cars like this.

I had it repainted to a reasonable standard and enjoyed it for a 6 months or so before selling it on.I decided not to keep it as we were moving house and it was just bad timing,I regret selling it but pleased to say it went to an enthusiast who loves it.

That V8 rumble,it felt quick too 0-60 in under 9 secs was good going back then.It had very poor economy only 18-20 mpg at best but classic insurance was cheap at £100 and because it was a pre 1973 car it was classified as an Historic classic so no road tax was a bonus!

Who says us Brits couldn't make a decent car in the 70s? Most of these old Stags are still on the road or being restored so thats got to be good.Only 25,000 were ever made so not such a common sight nowadays.

The myth about the unreliable engines was down to the poor cylinder heads made for the early Mk1 cars,the cooling system has to be kept running at 80%+ efficiency or it cooks itself.The Mk2 cars had redesigned heads with better waterflow,but this was too little too late,the early cars sealed its reputation of poor reliabilty.If you find a good one,good luck!

A project car will cost £1000s to put back on the road so buy a decent one with a Triumph engine and save alot of grief,they are out there be patient.They need regular oil changes every 6000 miles and an annual coolant flush to keep tip top.No cambelt,chain driven so make sure it has been adjusted and checked every 25,000 miles,they are not known to fail easily and you will know if its time to replace as it will rattle on start up if worn.

Many had their original Triumph engines replaced with the very reliable Rover 3500 V8,the Triumph 2500 6 cylinder engine or the Ford 6 cylinder 3 litre.These hybrid cars are probably fine to drive but will never be worth as much as an original and will not sound as good either!

Driving experience is 5 star,top down,T bar idea very clever and looks so beautiful, an unfairly maligned true British underdog.

Thanks for reading my review and I hope you found it interesting.If this has been useful to you and you take time to leave Your rating it will be appreciated and hope you will take a look at my other reviews sometime.I also leave reviews on the DooYoo website about this and other items,many thanks!