Discussion
All I can say is go in with your eyes open!! Don't fall in love with the first one you see. Ignore the mileage, and buy on condition and history.
MK1 vs MK2, most of the differences were cosmetic... the main mechanical differences were the change from the A Type Gearbox to the J-Type with the MK2, and the auto box changed in 1977 from the Borg Warner 35 to the 65.
Aside from that the differences are the colour of the rear panel around the tail lights (body colour on early cars, then black, then back to body colour), the MKII didn't have side windows in the hood, the sill panels changed colour and the MKII had the alloys and coachlines.
All Stags were fitted with the Triumph 3.0 V8, autos were more common, but the manual is a nice thing to use. I have a J-Type manual in mine.
Due to engine build issues, and poor maintenance, many people early on had problems with the V8s, and the engines were swapped for Rover V8s, Triumph 2500 PI's, even Ford V6's. Cars with the wrong engine start at £3-4k. Cars with the correct engine start at £4-5k. You'll be paying £5-8k for an original Stag in good condition, £8k+ for one in really good condition. Don't be phased by having the proper engine, the Triumph V8 has bags of character, even if it isn't the most powerful thing on the road (145bhp). Mine runs the original viscous fan and rad, no cooling issues at all. Just change all the fluids and flush annually, even if its only doing a handful of miles.
As with all old cars, rust you need to look out for. The well where the hood folds into, the boot, bootlid, wings, sills - everything really needs a good inspection. Make sure the soft top mechanism folds easily, it's quite intricate.
They're a lovely car though, happy shopping!
MK1 vs MK2, most of the differences were cosmetic... the main mechanical differences were the change from the A Type Gearbox to the J-Type with the MK2, and the auto box changed in 1977 from the Borg Warner 35 to the 65.
Aside from that the differences are the colour of the rear panel around the tail lights (body colour on early cars, then black, then back to body colour), the MKII didn't have side windows in the hood, the sill panels changed colour and the MKII had the alloys and coachlines.
All Stags were fitted with the Triumph 3.0 V8, autos were more common, but the manual is a nice thing to use. I have a J-Type manual in mine.
Due to engine build issues, and poor maintenance, many people early on had problems with the V8s, and the engines were swapped for Rover V8s, Triumph 2500 PI's, even Ford V6's. Cars with the wrong engine start at £3-4k. Cars with the correct engine start at £4-5k. You'll be paying £5-8k for an original Stag in good condition, £8k+ for one in really good condition. Don't be phased by having the proper engine, the Triumph V8 has bags of character, even if it isn't the most powerful thing on the road (145bhp). Mine runs the original viscous fan and rad, no cooling issues at all. Just change all the fluids and flush annually, even if its only doing a handful of miles.
As with all old cars, rust you need to look out for. The well where the hood folds into, the boot, bootlid, wings, sills - everything really needs a good inspection. Make sure the soft top mechanism folds easily, it's quite intricate.
They're a lovely car though, happy shopping!
Chinski said:
Thank you. I've got a decent budget in mind however there's nothing that jumps out at me from the classifieds? I would of thought people would try and sell their cars at this time of year?
Classics are keepers - they get put away in the garage ready for next year 
Lots come on the market after Christmas, when wives start moaning about 'that car in the garage that never gets used'
Depends on what you want from the car. Look pretty on a dry day, constant maintenance and high priced. Or a car you can use when it rains and low up keep cost.
Ones standard, the other is modified.
Look at this thread to see what can be done, http://www.stag.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?18964-...
The choice is yours.
Ones standard, the other is modified.
Look at this thread to see what can be done, http://www.stag.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?18964-...
The choice is yours.
Edited by bullstarz on Monday 23 December 23:56
I could not resist it, my old Stag was a great car, it was a manual MK1 and the picture was taken at the very first event that the Stag Owners club ran, and here I am winning it.
Stags are much better than their reputation and easily eat miles in a relaxed fashion.
A few years ago Triumph World showed a concourse winning Stag and low and behold it was my old car, I wonder whether the new owners knew that it had "done" Wiscombe hillclimb and sprints at Goodwood my daughter even had her nappy changed on its boot, shhhh she might see this.
Stags are much better than their reputation and easily eat miles in a relaxed fashion.
A few years ago Triumph World showed a concourse winning Stag and low and behold it was my old car, I wonder whether the new owners knew that it had "done" Wiscombe hillclimb and sprints at Goodwood my daughter even had her nappy changed on its boot, shhhh she might see this.
So back to a question about Stag ownership - anyone still use it as a daily driver?
Like all cars of the 70's they rusted, badly.
I don't think rust proofing materials have improved so would using one every day just destroy it.
There are countless threads on PH about using a "Classic" as a "DD" but I reckon the bad weather would kill most anything. Coming from that era, myself, most cars ofthe 70's were starting to rot after 3 or 4 years and often in the scrapyard by the time they were 8 or 9 years old.
I just don't like new cars - styling and complexity - and fancy somethig different. Almost bought a Stag in 1978 and that is still an itch to scratch.
Like all cars of the 70's they rusted, badly.
I don't think rust proofing materials have improved so would using one every day just destroy it.
There are countless threads on PH about using a "Classic" as a "DD" but I reckon the bad weather would kill most anything. Coming from that era, myself, most cars ofthe 70's were starting to rot after 3 or 4 years and often in the scrapyard by the time they were 8 or 9 years old.
I just don't like new cars - styling and complexity - and fancy somethig different. Almost bought a Stag in 1978 and that is still an itch to scratch.
Skyedriver said:
I don't think rust proofing materials have improved so would using one every day just destroy it.
I think rustproofing technology has come a long way. No reason IMO why a well-proofed (underbody stonegard, lots of Dinitrol-type goo everywhere) car shouldn't be a daily driver. Yertis said:
I think rustproofing technology has come a long way. No reason IMO why a well-proofed (underbody stonegard, lots of Dinitrol-type goo everywhere) car shouldn't be a daily driver.
Agreed, and there are quite a few subtle changes that can easily made to improve rustproofing. I've just done a video on youtube about rust and the Triumph stag (I'm a bit into youtube videos at the mo!) that hopefully might prove of some use to others:http://youtu.be/bWkhZuAjv7U
Regards Jon
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