1973 Triumph Stag

Description

• AT AUCTION – Please click HERE
• One owner from new
• Original new car purchase invoice available
• Heritage Certificate
• Never been restored
• Carefully preserved
• A truly one-off opportunity

Our vendor has owned this Stag from new. He has the original invoice from the Triumph Dealer in Preston where it was bought. A genuine one owner Triumph Stag. The saying “find another one” has never had more relevance.

History and background

In 1964, designer Michelotti wanted to produce a one-off special for the Turin Motor Show. Triumph’s chief, Harry Webster, readily agreed. Michelotti worked his magic.

The gorgeous convertible overwhelmed Webster. Triumph immediately took the designs in-house. Michelotti never got to showcase his design at the Turin Show. But nevertheless, he’d produced an icon.

V8 power, four seats and Michelotti styling; the Stag has it all. The Stag is a consummate Grand Tourer. The V8, mated with a manual overdrive box, is an almost perfect specification. It is practical and comfy. Around town, the V8 makes life easy, open it up on dual carriageways and the Stag is effortless. Around country lanes with the torquey 3.0 litre V8 bubbling and the exhaust barking away, it is undiluted enjoyment.

• First registered 1 July 1973
• Heritage Certificate
• Most of the service history comes with the Stag
• Some documents claimed as business expenses are unfortunately lost
• This car is magazine featured

Our vendor Mike is Chairman of the Triumph Stag Register so is well placed to know a thing or two about this marque.

Outside

Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti had already styled the wonderful TR4A and TR5. The final Stag design was not a disappointment. It looks timeless. The dual headlights wrapped in a curved off grille, long bonnet and elongated tail with subtle rear haunches, results in a car which is quite possibly the best-looking car ever built by British Leyland.

This one is remarkable in that not only is it a one owner car, but it has also never been restored. We never get tired of saying how well Waxoyl preserves classic cars. This one has had several treatments.

• Mimosa Yellow
• Close inspection will reveal slowly ageing paintwork
• The images in the Gallery show all the detail
• It comes with a Mimosa Yellow hard top
• Original black convertible soft top
• Roll over bar

Having never been restored, the shut lines are all as they should be. Look closely and you’ll note details such as the original spot welds too. There is the obvious ageing to the original bumpers but not enough to be concerned about.

When we asked the vendor what it was what like outside, he told us “It has never been resprayed or restored. And it most certainly is not concours!”

Interior

The Triumph Stag is a genuine four-seater, which makes the car a supremely practical classic.

In keeping with the exterior, the inside has never been touched. It is just how it was when it left the plant – apart from that radio, obviously.

• BL branded pedal rubbers
• Triumph branded heel inserts on the carpet
• Chestnut Brown interior
• Matching door cards with elasticated pockets
• Wood veneer dash trim
• Original Stag steering wheel
• Radio modern Rover Stereo FM twin-spindle fitting

If anyone tries to tell you Stags do not last, they need to have a look at this one. It is in incredible condition for its age. Of course, it isn’t without imperfections, but to point those out is missing the point really. The 100 plus images are delightful.

Mechanicals

At the risk of repeating ourselves, yes, the principal mechanicals items have also never been restored either.

As you’d expect from a classic car with one owner, work has been on-going. Our vendor highlights some of the improvements carried out:

• Heavy duty German Jwis timing chains fitted
• 12 vane water pump and uprated flowed cover
• Saab specification oil pump with progressive spring
• Unipart canister oil filter with metal end faces
• Uprated Halogen bulb dipped and main beam light units
• Michelin MXV tyres of correct specification
• Uprated rear suspension bushes
• Spax adjustable rear shock absorbers
• Upgraded steering column torque bar (less assistance)
• All internal panels Waxoyled at years 5, 15 and 30
• Cylinder heads gas flowed
• Silicone brake fluid for corrosion resistance

A correctly rebuilt V8, like this one, is a delight. A Stag with a fully functioning 3.0 litre V8 carefully maintained by a Stag Club Chairman is a rare find.

The V8 Stag engine was a highly advanced OHC unit pushing out 148bhp in Mk2 form. This was above its peers on the market at the time – such as the 3500 Rover V8 producing 143bhp. The unique tooling created by BL for the new V8 was done with the intention of that tooling being used for the manufacture of a complete range of slant 4 and banked V engines.

As that time drew near, the chief architect, Harry Webster, had been moved to BL’s Austin-Morris Division. Spen King was appointed from Rover to develop the Stag for launch. Spen increased the V8 from 2.5 litres to 3 litres and reverted to carbs, away from fuel injection. The Stag V8 was born.

Ask anyone that really knows, such as our vendor, and they’ll tell you it is a marvellous engine.

In manual gearbox with overdrive form, it is a great driving combination. Stags do have a very undeserved reputation for various, mainly false issues. To lay bare those myths, Mike tells us this Stag of his spent most of its time being used abroad all over Europe including hot climes.

Our view

Triumph Stags need no real introduction. They have been under-valued for some time now due to poorly looked after ones giving rise to all sorts of false horror stories.

Here is one fact. Of all the British classic cars built, the Triumph Stag has an amazing survival rate. According to DVLA data, of the 17,819 UK registered, 46% are still around. That surely puts to bed several inaccurate myths about Stags.

In the last two years, the market prices are reflecting the attractiveness of a British built open-top sportster. We don’t see prices retreating, especially not for good cars like this one.

That is the market background. Then there is this car in particular.

A genuine one owner Stag registered in 1973. We couldn’t believe it either. What would we do? Buy it in a heartbeat and preserve it exactly like this because we genuinely believe there is not another car just like this in the UK. What an opportunity. Don’t miss it.

Additional Advisory Notes/Information from Our Vendor:

Mechanical work – needed and discretionary – prior to use

Inspect/overhaul brakes front and rear – front discs, pads, hoses, Silicone fluid supplied

Full service including chassis/suspension – oil and uprated stepped filter, fuel & air filter supplied

Fit new Inlet manifold gaskets – Correct new gaskets and bolts supplied

Fit set of correct reinforced coolant hoses – Hoses, correct clips and antifreeze supplied

Renew soft top material – Note: frame is complete & in good unbroken condition

Renew seat foams – driver and passenger – new headrest foams only supplied

Neither headlamp high beams working – Suspect relays may have stopped working

Exhaust system slight leak – New Unipart steel system/hangers supplied

Check bodywork for roadworthiness vs photo’s

MOT inspection suggested – but MOT not mandatory

Other Spare Parts Supplied 

Set of new Unipart Spark plugs

Small selection of new cosmetic body parts

Wide selection of ‘get you home’ parts in boot

2 large cartons of used Stag parts from TSR club

Documents Supplied

1973 Triumph Stag Brochure, paint chart etc

Copy of original new car purchase invoice

Registration document – current only

Drivers Handbook and Passport to Service

Copy of road test magazine by Classic & Sports Car

Full genuine workshop manual by Triumph

Triumph Technical Bulletins for Stag

Haynes manual for Triumph Stag

BL Heritage Authenticity Certificate

Invitation from DVLA to register as a historic vehicle

Stag Buyers Guide from Triumph Stag Register

Selection of Triumph Stag Register bulletins

Modifications and Improvements

Heavy duty German Jwis timing chains

12 vane water pump and uprated flowed cover

Saab specification oil pump with progressive spring

Uprated Unipart canister oil filter with metal stepped ends

Uprated Halogen dipped and main beam light units

Michelin MXV tyres of correct specification

Uprated rear suspension bushes

Spax adjustable rear shock absorbers

Upgraded steering column torque bar (less assistance)

All internal panels Waxoyled at years 5, 15 and 30

Cylinder heads gas flowed

Radio modern Rover Stereo FM twin-spindle fitting

Silicone brake and clutch fluid for corrosion resistance

Vehicle Location: Bournemouth, Dorset – it’s the responsibility of the winning bidder to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendors.

Would like to arrange a viewing or have a question about this Triumph Stag? Please contact us at team@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to the vendor on your behalf.

Guide Prices?

We’re different. But you know that. And we’re always honest. In a sector where no two classics are same, how does anyone put a ‘guide’.

Well, everyone knows the broad value of classic, let’s all be honest. So, we don’t need to tell you what you already know, do we.

The ‘market’ decides and the old cliché that ‘it’s worth what someone wants to pay’ is no less true. So why kid everyone!

But, because we are different, if it really does matter to you, that’s fine, we want you to be happy. Just drop us a line at team@evoke-classics.com and one of us will be delighted to get back to you, it’s what we do.

Tedious but it’s vital you read this, please.

We will always strive to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available. However, we can’t claim to be perfect. Your own analysis is very important, and we are here to help and answer any and all queries you may have prior to purchase.

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As with all vehicles of a certain age, localised paint repairs are common. This specifically applies with classics.

So, please, unless we state explicitly to the contrary, please assume that classic vehicles on our platform could have had remedial bodywork of any kind at some point in its life.

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