Opinions on a Stag
Discussion
Hi all, I am hoping for a bit of advice. I’m an indecisive so and so and I am hoping that people with some experience of Triumph Stags will convince me, one way or the other, about what I should do.
I currently have three classics (Mini, Triumph Vitesse and Caterham) and two children - none of the cars is particularly suited to trips out with the whole family.
I don’t really want to part with any of them but I don’t have enough time to enjoy them all or look after them properly. The Vitesse is probably the most useful, but it’s also the one I am most likely to get rid of... which brings me to my dilemma.
I have seen what looks like a decent Stag for sale and I am considering seeing if I can do some sort of deal and swap it for the Mini and the Vitesse. The Stag would seemingly fit the family needs better (kids in the back, wife likes the looks) but I have owned the Mini and Vitesse twenty odd years each and I’m worried I’d be parting with two good cars for something a lot riskier...
The kids love the Caterham (so do I) so that is staying. I love the Mini but I don’t feel it’s that good for the kids to travel in it for any distance.
I’d appreciate anybody’s thoughts and also what to look out for if buying a Stag. I’ve read a few things online and heard some of the horror stories about the engines but would love some feedback from owners...
I currently have three classics (Mini, Triumph Vitesse and Caterham) and two children - none of the cars is particularly suited to trips out with the whole family.
I don’t really want to part with any of them but I don’t have enough time to enjoy them all or look after them properly. The Vitesse is probably the most useful, but it’s also the one I am most likely to get rid of... which brings me to my dilemma.
I have seen what looks like a decent Stag for sale and I am considering seeing if I can do some sort of deal and swap it for the Mini and the Vitesse. The Stag would seemingly fit the family needs better (kids in the back, wife likes the looks) but I have owned the Mini and Vitesse twenty odd years each and I’m worried I’d be parting with two good cars for something a lot riskier...
The kids love the Caterham (so do I) so that is staying. I love the Mini but I don’t feel it’s that good for the kids to travel in it for any distance.
I’d appreciate anybody’s thoughts and also what to look out for if buying a Stag. I’ve read a few things online and heard some of the horror stories about the engines but would love some feedback from owners...
OP I have a Vitesse and another classic ( see my garage). If your Mini and Vitesse are any good their combined value would exceed most Stags. I’m a TSSC member and as others have said most of the original reliability concerns can be or will have been addressed.
I don’t know if you follow classic car prices but Mini ( especially Coopers) fetch crazy money and a tidy 2.0 litre Vitesse is also strong. I think if the Stag has benefitted from improvements and good maintenance it will be ok but beware of recent paint.
Do you have pictures of yours and details of what you are going to see?
I don’t know if you follow classic car prices but Mini ( especially Coopers) fetch crazy money and a tidy 2.0 litre Vitesse is also strong. I think if the Stag has benefitted from improvements and good maintenance it will be ok but beware of recent paint.
Do you have pictures of yours and details of what you are going to see?
I think you will find that if your Mini Cooper is an original one it's worth rather a tidy sum.
As for Stags, choose wisely. Prices vary greatly and so does the condition of the cars, most engine woes should be sorted now.
I would take someone who knows Stags with you to view any potential purchase.
As for Stags, choose wisely. Prices vary greatly and so does the condition of the cars, most engine woes should be sorted now.
I would take someone who knows Stags with you to view any potential purchase.
Cooper is Almond Green with Old English White roof (I know it should be Snowberry but I didn’t like it and got it resprayed - I was only 18 at the time, purists please forgive me).
It’s in generally good condition but not totally original. Interior is excellent but has Cobra Classic buckets. Bodywork fair but good underneath - would benefit from a respray but I like the patina. Has 6 inch Minilite replicas with Gp 2 arches.
Engine is original 998 but modified before I bought it (and painted red) and further modified by me. High lift cam, unleaded stage 3 head, bigger carbs etc.
I love it, have had it 24 years, but it’s not suited to the current set up! It’s also been off the road for a while as I’m replacing the head gasket but what should have been a weekend’s work is taking months with family commitments!
Brakes uprated - ‘S’ discs and alloy 4 pots (still have original disc assemblies) - this was done after I scared myself silly in the nineties on a track day with the original brakes!
It’s in generally good condition but not totally original. Interior is excellent but has Cobra Classic buckets. Bodywork fair but good underneath - would benefit from a respray but I like the patina. Has 6 inch Minilite replicas with Gp 2 arches.
Engine is original 998 but modified before I bought it (and painted red) and further modified by me. High lift cam, unleaded stage 3 head, bigger carbs etc.
I love it, have had it 24 years, but it’s not suited to the current set up! It’s also been off the road for a while as I’m replacing the head gasket but what should have been a weekend’s work is taking months with family commitments!
Brakes uprated - ‘S’ discs and alloy 4 pots (still have original disc assemblies) - this was done after I scared myself silly in the nineties on a track day with the original brakes!
Good luck but my goodness get the wrong Stag & you're in for a bundle of trouble.
The original concept & practical factors that seem to appeal to you were laudable at the time the trouble was the execution was abysmal.
For sure many Stags HAVE had their woes sorted, some by DIYers with delusions of ability others by professionals. You need to be able to tell the difference so yes get proper non-biased expert opinion to avoid the tinted glasses effect.
Personally the reliability issue will always worry me especially if I was responsible for the care & safety of others with me.
The original concept & practical factors that seem to appeal to you were laudable at the time the trouble was the execution was abysmal.
For sure many Stags HAVE had their woes sorted, some by DIYers with delusions of ability others by professionals. You need to be able to tell the difference so yes get proper non-biased expert opinion to avoid the tinted glasses effect.
Personally the reliability issue will always worry me especially if I was responsible for the care & safety of others with me.
Drooles said:
Cooper is Almond Green with Old English White roof (I know it should be Snowberry but I didn’t like it and got it resprayed - I was only 18 at the time, purists please forgive me).
It’s in generally good condition but not totally original. Interior is excellent but has Cobra Classic buckets. Bodywork fair but good underneath - would benefit from a respray but I like the patina. Has 6 inch Minilite replicas with Gp 2 arches.
Engine is original 998 but modified before I bought it (and painted red) and further modified by me. High lift cam, unleaded stage 3 head, bigger carbs etc.
I love it, have had it 24 years, but it’s not suited to the current set up! It’s also been off the road for a while as I’m replacing the head gasket but what should have been a weekend’s work is taking months with family commitments!
Brakes uprated - ‘S’ discs and alloy 4 pots (still have original disc assemblies) - this was done after I scared myself silly in the nineties on a track day with the original brakes!
S discs are a godsend, both of my Mk2 Coopers had them fitted by previous owners, praise be and all that!It’s in generally good condition but not totally original. Interior is excellent but has Cobra Classic buckets. Bodywork fair but good underneath - would benefit from a respray but I like the patina. Has 6 inch Minilite replicas with Gp 2 arches.
Engine is original 998 but modified before I bought it (and painted red) and further modified by me. High lift cam, unleaded stage 3 head, bigger carbs etc.
I love it, have had it 24 years, but it’s not suited to the current set up! It’s also been off the road for a while as I’m replacing the head gasket but what should have been a weekend’s work is taking months with family commitments!
Brakes uprated - ‘S’ discs and alloy 4 pots (still have original disc assemblies) - this was done after I scared myself silly in the nineties on a track day with the original brakes!
Yours sounds very nice, precise factory spec is nice but I'm very partial to period mods, most of which are easily reversed anyway. Almond Green & White is nice on a Mk2, and it's not as common as Island Blue & White. I've been itching to put a set of Wood & Pickett arches and 6x10 Mk2 Cosmics on my Mk2 S but it looks so nice on the 5x10 Mk3 Cosmics so I think I'll leave them on for now. Had it almost ten years now, love Mk1s and 2s, they have so much character.
Good luck with the Stag venture if you go down that route
I rebuilt a Stag engine for a customer once - I’d be very reluctant to do another one! Not a bad design, hideously executed.
If it was my money I’d go for an BMW e30 convertible. Much better built and nice to work on. Similar values as well plus enough space for 4. R107 Mercs are good, just not much room in the back.
If it was my money I’d go for an BMW e30 convertible. Much better built and nice to work on. Similar values as well plus enough space for 4. R107 Mercs are good, just not much room in the back.
There's a quite a bit of room in the back of a Stag. Ok for up to a 11 or 12 year old, I'd say.
I just sold mine after 20 years. It was probably one of the most reliable cars I've ever had.
Most will have had engine rebuilds by now, but you need to check. Original crankshafts were made of chocolate so need to be tuftrided.
Check for:
Rust at the base of the A pillars.
Rust at the rear of the sills/front of rear arches
Axle clonk/whine
Axle and gearbox oil leaks (they all drip a bit, but can be severe)
Oil pooling at the back of the vee could indicate water pump failure - not an easy job.
Great cars. Good luck.
I just sold mine after 20 years. It was probably one of the most reliable cars I've ever had.
Most will have had engine rebuilds by now, but you need to check. Original crankshafts were made of chocolate so need to be tuftrided.
Check for:
Rust at the base of the A pillars.
Rust at the rear of the sills/front of rear arches
Axle clonk/whine
Axle and gearbox oil leaks (they all drip a bit, but can be severe)
Oil pooling at the back of the vee could indicate water pump failure - not an easy job.
Great cars. Good luck.
Thanks for all the help, guys.
Had a look this morning and I don’t think this one is the car for me. I might have been being a bit naive but I was hoping for a car in better condition than the two I want to exchange... space and time are at a premium for me at the moment and the last thing I need is another project.
My Vitesse needs a bit of tidying but is in excellent mechanical order, the Mini just needs the carbs, exhaust and hoses connecting back up and will hopefully be good to go...
I’m definitely still interested in a Stag, but sadly I’ll have to keep looking!
Edited for typo
Had a look this morning and I don’t think this one is the car for me. I might have been being a bit naive but I was hoping for a car in better condition than the two I want to exchange... space and time are at a premium for me at the moment and the last thing I need is another project.
My Vitesse needs a bit of tidying but is in excellent mechanical order, the Mini just needs the carbs, exhaust and hoses connecting back up and will hopefully be good to go...
I’m definitely still interested in a Stag, but sadly I’ll have to keep looking!
Edited for typo
OK Mr Bentley.
Here is mine. I owned it for six years before selling in 2015. It is the only car that I’ve sold that I’d buy another in a heartbeat.
I think a key point about ownership of a Stag is to appreciate what they are. They are not sportscars, but a GT car and in that they are sublime (or certainly mine was).
I have to admit that the hardtop was almost always on my car. I preferred the looks better and it gave those in the rear more headroom and much more light. It was one of the few cars that a hardtop doesn’t spoil it’s lines.
Visiting Geux Reims
No prizes for guessing the location
Somewhere in Germany
Compiegne (where the Armistice was signed)
In Luxembourg being dwarfed by supposedly small modern city cars
Pierrefonds (again look how much bigger a Twingo looks even allowing for camera perspective)
[img]
Parked next to another masterpiece of British engineering
Here is mine. I owned it for six years before selling in 2015. It is the only car that I’ve sold that I’d buy another in a heartbeat.
I think a key point about ownership of a Stag is to appreciate what they are. They are not sportscars, but a GT car and in that they are sublime (or certainly mine was).
I have to admit that the hardtop was almost always on my car. I preferred the looks better and it gave those in the rear more headroom and much more light. It was one of the few cars that a hardtop doesn’t spoil it’s lines.
Visiting Geux Reims
No prizes for guessing the location
Somewhere in Germany
Compiegne (where the Armistice was signed)
In Luxembourg being dwarfed by supposedly small modern city cars
Pierrefonds (again look how much bigger a Twingo looks even allowing for camera perspective)
[img]Parked next to another masterpiece of British engineering
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