Buyers’ Guide: Triumph Stag
Everything you need to know before buying Triumph’s V8 wafter.
Why you want one
The Triumph Stag is in a class of its own – and for all the right reasons. It’s the only affordable Britishbuilt four-seater convertible with a V8 engine and chrome. Thanks to stylist Michelotti it is pretty damned handsome. Capable of seating four adults and with a decently capacious boot, the Stag is a superb tourer with excellent reliability. And there’s the rub – many of these cars have been poorly restored or maintained, which is one of the reasons why the Stag has a reputation it doesn’t deserve.
What are the Achilles’ Heels?
The V8’s problems can now be fixed. With overheating problems, it’s usually the cylinderhead casting process at fault – the cooling system should be flushed out annually. A 30:70 antifreeze/water mix is recommended. Let the car idle once hot and check that the whole of the radiator is hot once you’ve switched the engine off after a test run. Major corrosion is the other likely problem (see main checkpoints), but you should also check the power steering system (which was fitted to all Stags) for leaks. Tired suspension bushes are another common issue; there are 18 in all, which can be swapped for polyurethane items.
Cover sills are sometimes fitted; they’re a bodge and not to be confused with stainless steel decorative oversills. Replacing the sills properly means removing the front wings (which are welded on) or cutting the bottom of the wing off.
On a manual Stag listen for chattering from behind the engine. If this disappears when the clutch is dipped, the clutch thrust bearing has worn and replacement units are now hard to source. Apart from that, parts are fairly easy to find and this includes trim and brightwork. Good club and specialist support helps here.
Which one is best for you
Upgrades to improve reliability make a Stag more usable, if not necessarily more valuable. What many buyers do want is the correct 3.0-litre V8; a Rover V8, Triumph straight-six or Essex V6 will cut a Stag’s value and change its character. A decent Stag V8 is worth at least £1500, and with new heads unavailable you can pay £2000 for a set of reconditioned items. So, if you buy a cheap car with an alternative power plant then you will need to budget carefully.
Many Stag buyers want the automatic gearbox. Some owners have fitted modern four-speed Jag-sourced automatic transmissions. The manual car has a different character – why not try both.
As a Seventies classic some Stag colours are an acquired taste. An average Stag finished in red will find a buyer more easily than a mint brown car, so if you’re not fussed about the finish it can be worth looking at the less popular hues. Projects can still be found but while the Stag is an easy car to work on, if you take on a project, expect a challenge.
Can you make it better?
An alloy radiator with integral electric fan is worth fitting. Think about carb upgrades (Webcon do one) and electronic ignition , which combined can release a reliable 175bhp. A really stiff clutch can be caused by the engine and gearbox running out of line with each other. The easiest fix is to fit a donut-shaped hydraulic clutch release bearing around the input shaft. If you prefer an auto but want a smoother box, a modern Jaguar four-speed conversion is a superb option, but you’ll need over £4000 to fit it.
Other worthwhile improvements include revalving the steering for more feel, ventilated discs up front plus the fitment of Cv-jointed driveshafts in place of the original splined items. The shafts from Classic Driving Developments can really improve the driving experience for around £1000. Stag diffs were scarce for a long time, The Stag’s is 3.7:1 and rebuilt diffs are now available; Faversham Classics fits axles rebuilt by TD Fitchett and rates them very highly.
Specialist advice?
There are many specialists out there who will help you with your Triumph Stag – both buying and selling them as well as fixing and restoring them. Kevin Fathers and Trevor Thurston set up Faversham Classics in 1990. Kevin told us: ‘There are a lot of really well looked after Stags out there, but they’re outnumbered by cars that look good but need significant expenditure, so you really need to have your wits about you. However, the standard of Stags is generally going up as insurance valuations tend to now recognise what these cars are worth. As a result, owners are restoring and upgrading their Stags more than ever before.
If you’re spending big money on a Stag you need to make sure that the (original V8) engine has been fully rebuilt, with everything balanced in the process. A top-end car will also have been the subject of a bare-metal repaint as part of a documented rebuild.’