SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH A STAG OWNER

Steve Pritchard tells us why his big V8 is the perfect classic car

How long have you had your Stag?

I bought it four years ago and, I’ve got to be honest, I have found it to be the ideal classic. My brother Nigel owned a Stag in the Nineties; he’s pictured here with me (on the right) when we went to the Spa Classic. He was part of the insporiation to buy this one, I haven’t regretted it one bit.

What made you choose it?

I’ve owned numerous Triumphs in the past but I really wanted one with a V8. With two children in tow, that meant it had to be a Stag, and a manual one at that. Three friends died of cancer in quick succession, so I decided it was time to bite the bullet. You only live once.

Where did you look for this car?

I considered 15 examples and looked at five; too many needed bodywork repairs and I didn’t want to take that route. Most of the cars that I looked at were misdescribed by sellers who claimed they were rot-free or in rude health mechanically when they weren’t. One had water in the ‘V’ of the engine, signifying a failed head gasket; the owner insisted it was just a leaky inlet manifold gasket, so I walked away from that one.

I eventually bought a very solid and ultra-rare Topaz Stag that had failed to sell on ebay. The car had been converted to manual overdrive from auto and the work had been done to a high standard, but some tidying of the car was needed, such as the wheels and engine bay. On the test drive I could tell it was the right car.

What were your buying criteria?

I bought a car with a good body but which needed some fettling – I love tinkering with cars. The plan was to create memories and I’ve done just that, taking the car to Laon, Goodwood, Le Mans, Silverstone and more.

What were the first jobs that you did?

Once I’d got the Stag I bought a Haynes manual, joined the owners’ club and got on with it. As I didn’t know the history of the engine I quickly replaced the timing chains.

What’s it like to drive?

My Stag has taken me on lots of trips to Europe and around the UK because these are such usable cars. The V8 sounds incredible and the car just wafts along; it’s like Classic FM on wheels.

What’s the plan now?

Incorporating upgrades and making it really tidy inside and out. My aim was to build a Stag that I could take on a 2000-mile trip without having to touch it en route – I’d happily drive this car to the south of France, savouring the engine note, the effortless torque and the admiring glances all the way.’