If a car could sum up all that was good and all that was bad about the British motor industry, it would have to be the Triumph Stag. Where it’s good, it eats rivals for breakfast but where it’s bad, it’s so utterly abysmal that it brings shame on us all. Yet, with an appearance to rival the finest work of art and a noise to die for, the Stag is a prime cut of pure British beef.
The Triumph Stag
There is good news and bad news for those currently searching for an aching beautiful Triumph Stag. The good news is that nearly all the teething issues presented by the vehicles are mostly rectified in the surviving models; the bad news is that good ones are increasing rather dramatically in price.
However, if you stretch the bank balance to reach a Triumph Stag in good condition you’ll be able to enjoy all the Stag has to offer but without the extreme worry of the time bomb under the bonnet. The majority of survivors have been breathed upon by specialists to eliminate that infamous over-heating issue with many being rebuilt to get rid of that BL quality.
With the Stag now proudly standing as it originally should have, its status as a refined and robust grand tourer is well deserved, while maintenance is cheap and DIY jobs are simple. As far as noises go the Stag is almost unsurpassed, it gurgles on tick over and blasts an eye-wateringly gorgeous wave of magnificence when the accelerator is planted.
The noise compliments the speed of the brute, offering a 0-60mph run in 9 seconds, continuing to a top speed near 120mph. Churning out 145bhp at 5500rpm, paired with a three speed automatic gearbox or a manual with overdrive, the Stag cruises along at modern speeds with ease, leaving other drivers envious as you waft past in style and disappear into the distance.
One thing even the repeated mechanical breakdowns when new couldn’t take away from this Triumph was the way it looked. Styled by Giovanni Michelotti and utterly drop dead gorgeous, I can feel confident in my reckoning that no British made convertible or roadster looks better.
Due to its rather nifty performance, comparative rarity and sublime aesthetics the Stag has always been popular; a sizeable club exists with great owner support and a number of specialist suppliers remain dotted all over the country. An estimated 9000 cars remain out of a production run exceeding 25,000, but with popularity continuing to increase as numbers continue to thin, prices won’t stay at this level forever.