Scrap the Stagg, or give it a new home?
Discussion
Hi all
For the last ten years, my father has had a Triumph Stagg sat on his drive way underneath a car cover. Unfortunately, it has succumbed to rust over most of the body. The rust is extensive and would need to replace most panels. It can be seen most so, in the wheel arches, and side skirts. As far as I am aware, the engine and every other mechanically related thing was ok on the car. However, after being sat in the same spot for 10 years and not having the engine turned over. Im sure it would need some prep and tlc before returning itself anywhere near to its former glory.
We researched some time ago into restoring her. We found a company in Poland that have a proven history in dealing with Staggs and this kind of restoration work. However, as soon as the quotes came through - it just seemed like madness to spend 5-6k+ resoring it inside and out, and underneath the bonnet when you can buy a nice example of a stagg
This brings me to my main point. The Stagg is not going anywhere, anytime soon and it seems like madness to keep it for another 10 years just to sit there and degrade further. I am wondering whether there would be anyone who would be interested in a project like this, or whether I should bite the bullet, and have the old girl sent to the scrap yard.
Im away at University at the moment and my father works away alot. But I'll try and get him to take some pictures at some point, so that you can see what I am talking about.
Thanks for your help.
For the last ten years, my father has had a Triumph Stagg sat on his drive way underneath a car cover. Unfortunately, it has succumbed to rust over most of the body. The rust is extensive and would need to replace most panels. It can be seen most so, in the wheel arches, and side skirts. As far as I am aware, the engine and every other mechanically related thing was ok on the car. However, after being sat in the same spot for 10 years and not having the engine turned over. Im sure it would need some prep and tlc before returning itself anywhere near to its former glory.
We researched some time ago into restoring her. We found a company in Poland that have a proven history in dealing with Staggs and this kind of restoration work. However, as soon as the quotes came through - it just seemed like madness to spend 5-6k+ resoring it inside and out, and underneath the bonnet when you can buy a nice example of a stagg
This brings me to my main point. The Stagg is not going anywhere, anytime soon and it seems like madness to keep it for another 10 years just to sit there and degrade further. I am wondering whether there would be anyone who would be interested in a project like this, or whether I should bite the bullet, and have the old girl sent to the scrap yard.
Im away at University at the moment and my father works away alot. But I'll try and get him to take some pictures at some point, so that you can see what I am talking about.
Thanks for your help.
It would seem a shame to scrap it, you'd only get, what, £200 if you weigh it in? Would robsport be interested?
If it is really far gone it'd be nice to see the parts go to save other stags, but that's a lot of work for not much reward, and probably impossible unless you wanted to spend a few weeks of your summer taking it to bits and then years after trying to flog bits on flea-bay.
£6k sounds cheap to restore a car, I assume that's the body work only?
I reckon the engine would need lots of work before it ran again. It might be OK but really it needs stripping down, which wouldn't be a problem but unfortunately the head bolts will be welded in place with corrosion. If you don't do that I would expect the head gaskets to fail fairly soon after it started running. You'll then need brake cylinders, calipers, hoses, electrics...it'll be a mission.
Sadly Stag values are fairly low at the moment, having said that I'm not sure £5-6k will get you a nice one. Don't trust the classifieds. I spent months looking at about 6 cars around that value and couldn't find one two years ago. I ended up spending over £5k on one that needed lots of little things; brakes, wheels, electrics, clutch etc. £7k+ is more like it.
If it is really far gone it'd be nice to see the parts go to save other stags, but that's a lot of work for not much reward, and probably impossible unless you wanted to spend a few weeks of your summer taking it to bits and then years after trying to flog bits on flea-bay.
£6k sounds cheap to restore a car, I assume that's the body work only?
I reckon the engine would need lots of work before it ran again. It might be OK but really it needs stripping down, which wouldn't be a problem but unfortunately the head bolts will be welded in place with corrosion. If you don't do that I would expect the head gaskets to fail fairly soon after it started running. You'll then need brake cylinders, calipers, hoses, electrics...it'll be a mission.
Sadly Stag values are fairly low at the moment, having said that I'm not sure £5-6k will get you a nice one. Don't trust the classifieds. I spent months looking at about 6 cars around that value and couldn't find one two years ago. I ended up spending over £5k on one that needed lots of little things; brakes, wheels, electrics, clutch etc. £7k+ is more like it.
varsas said:
It would seem a shame to scrap it, you'd only get, what, £200 if you weigh it in? Would robsport be interested?
If it is really far gone it'd be nice to see the parts go to save other stags, but that's a lot of work for not much reward, and probably impossible unless you wanted to spend a few weeks of your summer taking it to bits and then years after trying to flog bits on flea-bay.
£6k sounds cheap to restore a car, I assume that's the body work only?
Sadly Stag values are fairly low at the moment, having said that I'm not sure £5-6k will get you a nice one. Don't trust the classifieds. I spent months looking at about 6 cars around that value and couldn't find one two years ago. I ended up spending over £5k on one that needed lots of little things; brakes, wheels, electrics, clutch etc. £7k+ is more like it.
The idea of breaking it and recycling for other staggs does sound appealing for obvious reasons. And that is definately something I shall look into. RobSport also seems like a good bet - so thanks for that. If it is really far gone it'd be nice to see the parts go to save other stags, but that's a lot of work for not much reward, and probably impossible unless you wanted to spend a few weeks of your summer taking it to bits and then years after trying to flog bits on flea-bay.
£6k sounds cheap to restore a car, I assume that's the body work only?
Sadly Stag values are fairly low at the moment, having said that I'm not sure £5-6k will get you a nice one. Don't trust the classifieds. I spent months looking at about 6 cars around that value and couldn't find one two years ago. I ended up spending over £5k on one that needed lots of little things; brakes, wheels, electrics, clutch etc. £7k+ is more like it.
Yes, the 6k was solely for the bodywork - and that didn't include the respray! I think your right about the 5-6k being optimistic for a nice example, I would probably provise the extra thousend or two to give me some hope of getting one that was in a semi-ok/ good condition.
Right, you've given me plenty to think about!
Thank you
Alex
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I already have a Stag. It is a bit sad no one wants to save this one.
However...in the interests of helping where I can, these prices are for brand new or reconditioned items. I'm not saying you will get these if you sell.
Hard top looks in good nick, this would cost £1,000 to buy in perfect condition.
Wheels also look good, just need a re-paint.
There are some other obscure bits that are easy to remove and worth (relatively) lots of money...
Does it have the original Kienzle clock? If it works it's worth £50. Dials in general.
Quaterlight control knobs are £30 new.
Softtop, £700 brand new (roof and frame)
Carbs are easy to remove.
Chrome is expensive, I think £300 + a bumper new.
Door cards are expensive new.
I can't think of anything else off the top of my head that's worth a lot of money and is easy to remove, but I hope that helps a bit.
Getting onto more difficult bits the engine + gearbox should be worth decent money (£500 maybe). Decent 'heads (i.e. ones which have not been skimmed quite a lot already) are rare but very difficult (very, very) to remove, and you won't know until it's been removed. Oh, viscous fan couplings are fairly expensive new.
ETA: Do I spy an original pantograph wiper arm on the drivers side? Ooooooh...shiney...another rare part, maybe not worth a huge amount but I think I'd cry a little bit if it ended up being chucked. Oh and, reallly long short, it doesn't have the original lights, with 'HALOGEN' written across the front, sort of etched into the lens does it? To be honest I'm not even sure these ever existed...apparently only used on the Stag and a RR, or was someone pulling my leg? anyone know?
However...in the interests of helping where I can, these prices are for brand new or reconditioned items. I'm not saying you will get these if you sell.
Hard top looks in good nick, this would cost £1,000 to buy in perfect condition.
Wheels also look good, just need a re-paint.
There are some other obscure bits that are easy to remove and worth (relatively) lots of money...
Does it have the original Kienzle clock? If it works it's worth £50. Dials in general.
Quaterlight control knobs are £30 new.
Softtop, £700 brand new (roof and frame)
Carbs are easy to remove.
Chrome is expensive, I think £300 + a bumper new.
Door cards are expensive new.
I can't think of anything else off the top of my head that's worth a lot of money and is easy to remove, but I hope that helps a bit.
Getting onto more difficult bits the engine + gearbox should be worth decent money (£500 maybe). Decent 'heads (i.e. ones which have not been skimmed quite a lot already) are rare but very difficult (very, very) to remove, and you won't know until it's been removed. Oh, viscous fan couplings are fairly expensive new.
ETA: Do I spy an original pantograph wiper arm on the drivers side? Ooooooh...shiney...another rare part, maybe not worth a huge amount but I think I'd cry a little bit if it ended up being chucked. Oh and, reallly long short, it doesn't have the original lights, with 'HALOGEN' written across the front, sort of etched into the lens does it? To be honest I'm not even sure these ever existed...apparently only used on the Stag and a RR, or was someone pulling my leg? anyone know?
Edited by varsas on Thursday 26th January 17:05
Looks like the original V8 in there, many are swapped out for the rv8. Do you have a price in mind or is it a case of bring a trailer and a suitable towing car with some beer for you and your father and take it away? I have a relative who is mostly into early MG's and keeps a few (and races one) but his daughter is besotted with Staggs. I could pass your details on, I on the other hand would love it but currently lack the adequate space to work on it and I wouldn't want to let it get worse before I could crack on.
You could always jump onto the Stag Owners forum as a trial user http://www.stag.org.uk/forum and post there. Triumph Stag enthusiests made from concentrate. Would think this would be a good bet for someone willing to pick up a major project like this.
Thank you all for the response. Disassembling the car isn't a real option for me as I couldn't devote the time and energy to do it and it would be nice to know it was being restored to be back on the road. I have received a few emails from people interested in collecting the car and restoring it back to its former glory.
Just to give you a bit more information on this Stag, I'm going to tell you a bit about the cars history.
The car was bought when it was four years old on the eve of a first date with my wife.
It is totally original with all the original windscreen wipers, instrumentation, front quarter lights, hard top etc...
It was bare metal resprayed about fifteen years ago and it needed a new sill and part front wing replacement on one side which was completed by a dealership. It had a full engine rebuild by a stag specialist, special poly bushes were fitted to eliminate the stag twitch, heavy duty kenlow fan was added and a stainless steel exhaust and new front bumper was fitted.
The car was taken off the road about three years later when it needed the other sill doing for MOT at the same time as we moved into a house which needed extensive work. The car was put under a cover outside, with the intention of completing the work once family and house tasks had been done, but it did not run again.
The car now as can be seen needs bodywork and the engine will need to be carefully checked and lubricated but since the main components have done a few miles of summer use since rebuild it should be recoverable without to much work.
Just to give you a bit more information on this Stag, I'm going to tell you a bit about the cars history.
The car was bought when it was four years old on the eve of a first date with my wife.
It is totally original with all the original windscreen wipers, instrumentation, front quarter lights, hard top etc...
It was bare metal resprayed about fifteen years ago and it needed a new sill and part front wing replacement on one side which was completed by a dealership. It had a full engine rebuild by a stag specialist, special poly bushes were fitted to eliminate the stag twitch, heavy duty kenlow fan was added and a stainless steel exhaust and new front bumper was fitted.
The car was taken off the road about three years later when it needed the other sill doing for MOT at the same time as we moved into a house which needed extensive work. The car was put under a cover outside, with the intention of completing the work once family and house tasks had been done, but it did not run again.
The car now as can be seen needs bodywork and the engine will need to be carefully checked and lubricated but since the main components have done a few miles of summer use since rebuild it should be recoverable without to much work.
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