Essential Buyer's Guide to Triumph Stag

STOP!

Don’t buy a Triumph Stag without buying this book FIRST!

The Essential Buyer’s Guide Triumph

STAG

Triumph STAG

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from Norm Mort’s and Tony Fox’s years of experience; learn how to spot a bad car quickly, and how to assess a promising car like a professional. Get the right car at the right price!

Packed with good advice – from running costs, through paperwork, vital statistics, valuation, and the Stag community, to will your Stag fit in your garage and with your lifestyle – this is the complete guide to choosing, assessing and buying the Stag of your dreams.

The Essential Buyer’s Guide

£9.99 UK / $19.95 USA

www.velocebooks.com Veloce

Your marque experts: Norm Mort & Tony Fox

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Contents Introduction & thanks

– the purpose of this book .................3

1 Is it the right car for you?

– marriage guidance . ........................6

2 Cost considerations

– affordable, or a money pit?..............8

3 Living with a Stag

11 Paperwork

– correct documentation is essential! ......................................47

12 What’s it worth?

– let your head rule your heart! ........50

13 Do you really want to restore?

– will you get along together?...........10

– it’ll take longer and cost more than you think . .............................52

4 Relative values

14 Paint problems

– which model for you? ...................13

5 Before you view

– be well informed ...........................16

6 Inspection equipment

– these items will really help .............19

7 Fifteen minute evaluation

– a bad complexion, including dimples, pimples and bubbles.......54

15 Problems due to lack of use – just like their owners, Stags need exercise! .......................................56

16 The Community

– walk away or stay?........................20

– key people, organisations and companies in the Stag world.........58

8 Key points

17 Vital statistics

9 Serious evaluation

Index..............................................64

– where to look for problems............25

– 60 minutes for years of enjoyment ....................................27

– essential data at your fingertips . ...60

10 Auctions

– sold! Another way to buy your dream . .........................................45

Essential Buyer’s GuideTM currency

At the time of publication a BG unit of currency “l” equals approximately £1.00/US$2.00/Euro 1.10. Please adjust to suit current exchange rates.

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Other great books from Veloce – Essential Buyer’s Guide Series Alfa GT (Booker) Alfa Romeo Spider Giulia (Booker & Talbott) BMW GS (Henshaw) BSA Bantam (Henshaw) BSA Twins (Henshaw) Citroën 2CV (Paxton) Citroën ID & DS (Heilig) Fiat 500 & 600 (Bobbitt) Ford Capri (Paxton) Hinckley Triumph triples & fours 750, 900, 955, 1000, 1050, 1200 – 1991-2009 (Henshaw) Honda SOHC Fours (Henshaw) Jaguar E-type 3.8 & 4.2-litre (Crespin) Jaguar E-type V12 5.3-litre (Crespin) Jaguar XJ 1995-2003 (Crespin) Jaguar/Daimler XJ6, XJ12 & Sovereign (Crespin) Jaguar/Daimler XJ40 (Crespin) Jaguar XJ-S (Crespin) MGB & MGB GT (Williams) Mercedes-Benz 280SL-560DSL Roadsters (Bass) Mercedes-Benz ‘Pagoda’ 230SL, 250SL & 280SL Roadsters & Coupés (Bass) Mini (Paxton) Morris Minor & 1000 (Newell) Norton Commando (Henshaw) Porsche 928 (Hemmings) Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow & Bentley T-Series (Bobbitt) Subaru Impreza (Hobbs) Triumph Bonneville (Henshaw) Triumph Stag (Mort & Fox) Triumph TR6 (Williams) VW Beetle (Cservenka & Copping) VW Bus (Cservenka & Copping) VW Golf GTI (Cservenka & Copping)

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www.veloce.co.uk First published in November 2009 by Veloce Publishing Limited, 33 Trinity Street, Dorchester DT1 1TT, England. Fax 01305 268864/e-mail info@veloce.co.uk/web www.veloce.co.uk or www.velocebooks.com.

ISBN: 978-1-845842-70-3/UPC: 6-36847-04270-7 © Norm Mort, Tony Fox and Veloce Publishing 2009. All rights reserved. With the exception of quoting brief passages for the purpose of review, no part of this publication may be recorded, reproduced or transmitted by any means, including photocopying, without the written permission of Veloce Publishing Ltd. Throughout this book logos, model names and designations, etc, have been used for the purposes of identification, illustration and decoration. Such names are the property of the trademark holder as this is not an official publication.

Readers with ideas for automotive books, or books on other transport or related hobby subjects, are invited to write to the editorial director of Veloce Publishing at the above address.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data – A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Typesetting, design and page make-up all by Veloce Publishing Ltd on Apple Mac. Printed in India by Replika Press.

Introduction & thanks – the purpose of this book

Introduction

With the introduction of the TR series in 1952, the Triumph nameplate came to the forefront of the world’s sports car market. Sporting saloons evolved, as did Triumph’s popular TR, Spitfire and GT6 models. This eventually led to the development of the more powerful, up-market Stag.

Introduced as a 1970 model in the Triumph range, the grand touring 4-seater, V8 Stag was a completely new concept for the marque.

Introduced in 1970, the production Triumph Stag combined the smoothness and performance of a 145bhp (127bhp in North America – NA) DOHC V8 engine, in a stylish, 2+2 model, Italian coachwork design for either GT, or open grand touring.

The long list of standard features included synchromesh 4-speed transmission with overdrive (or an optional Borg Warner 3-speed automatic), fully independent suspension, power assisted rack-and-pinion steering, power windows, vacuum servo brakes with front discs, and a T-brace roll bar. All new was the 3.0L V8 engine, based on the four-cylinder units developed in cooperation with Saab.

Today, with all the major problems having been largely resolved, owning a Triumph Stag can be a very rewarding experience. Keen enthusiasts and excellent club support means there’s always help nearby.

In production terms, most of the difficulties were resolved by the mid-1970s, yet the earlier Stags tend to be favoured by some because the majority of cars have been upgraded over the past three decades, appear to have a better build quality, and were more commonly fitted with a manual transmission. Prices vary considerably, though, and, although, spares are generally plentiful, the cost of restoration can easily outstrip the current market value.

Many of the UK and US collector car magazines, such as Classic Cars in the UK and Sports Car Market in the US, contain price guide information. Similar magazines are offered in other countries, too, but all contain values based on the average price, or an individual car.

Demand for the Triumph Stag has been steadily increasing, and this book is an indispensable tool for pre-inspection, purchase and future reference. The handy pocket-sized Essential Buyer’s Guide is designed to assist the potential owner to find the right car at the right price. This guide explains every aspect of purchasing a Triumph Stag, and is designed to answer all questions, whether you’re seeking to purchase a fully restored example, a project car, a well cared for original, or a modified/updated version. To help you make a confident purchase the book contains essential costing data, step-by-step inspection techniques, and a unique points system designed to help you evaluate any Stag.

The following pages include a wealth of information, from vital statistics to the optional factory equipment offered, as well as highlighting many of the ‘fixes and upgrades’ available to ensure you enjoy your Triumph Stag for years to come.

Thanks

Andrew Mort’s keen eye was responsible for virtually all the photographs in this book. Thanks also to Stag owners Albert Koo, Roger Tipple, Patrick Rushe, Michael Coffey and Tony Fox (Jr).

Norm Mort & Tony Fox Ontario, Canada

The Triumph Stag changed little in appearance throughout its production.

3 Living with a Stag – will you get along together?

The original concept car was styled by Michelotti as a European show car in 1966, based on a 2000 saloon supplied by Triumph preceding the formation of British Leyland. The prototype was so well liked by Triumph’s Director of Engineering, Harry Webster, that he insisted on taking the car back to Coventry for consideration by the Triumph Board of Directors for production.

The Stag nomenclature came into the Triumph range as the prototype’s code name and, ultimately, Marketing approved and adopted the model name when launched.

An early MkI Stag can be quickly recognized by its clean flanks, although many owners have since applied rub strips along the side.

Slated for production, over the ensuing four years the design was further developed by Triumph. The 2000 sedan colours was shortened, widened and stiffened. The grille became a series of simple chrome bars that abandoned Michelotti’s original sliding cover arrangement, while the front running/turning lights and the taillights were both sunken and V-ed; all of which provided the Stag with a smoother appearance fore and aft.

Although the Stag was first on to the drawing board, the Michelotti-styled 2000 saloon MkII, the Spitfire MkIV, and the GT6 MkIII all shared its styling cues, and appeared in 1969 and 1970.

Mechanically, the Stag utilized the front suspension, steering, rear suspension, gearbox, rear axle and brakes of the 2000, with only minor modifications.

The 2+2 Stag’s most distinctive feature was its T-bar roof which was originally designed for structural integrity and to meet potential American convertible safety regulations. Initially, a hefty hardtop that clipped into position with four latches and a spring loaded latch at the rear, was optional. Later, these all-weather tops became standard equipment.

When removed, the manual cloth top was neatly hidden under a padded metal tonneau, virtually identical to that of the Mercedes-Benz 280SL. This top was easily 10

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Index Bodywork 20, 25, 27 Brakes 40 Buying 16, 45 Carburetion 39 Clubs/community 58 Commission/VIN plates 20 Conversions 24, 43 Cooling system 39 Cost considerations 6, 8 Description 3, 6, 10, 27 Dimensions 6 Electrical issues 33, 34, 40 Engine 24, 39, 40 Evaluation 20,27 Exhaust 41 Federal specifications 61 Foibles/undesirables 7 Fuel 17 Fuel tank 40 Gearboxes 39, 41 Handling 40

64

Hardtops 33 Heater 38 History 10 Hoods 33 Instruments 38 Insurance 7 Inspections 19, 20, 27 Interior 6, 22, 26, 36 Interior room 6, 36 Introduction 3 Investment values 7, 13 Key points 25 Lights 34 Luggage space 6 Maintenance 8 Model variations 15, 60 Modifications 14, 24, 39, 43

Paintwork and colours 28, 43, 54 Parts 6, 8 Performance 60 Production changes 60 Production run 60 Publications 59 Rear axle 42 Registration 47 Restoration 52 Seats 36 Servicing 12, 23 Spares 12 Specifications 3, 10, 36, 60 Steering 36, 38, 40 Storage 56 Suspension 10 Wheels 35

Numbers built 60 Values 7, 13, 50 Numbers (identification) 60 Options 43, 60 Overdrive 42

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STOP!

Don’t buy a Triumph Stag without buying this book FIRST!

The Essential Buyer’s Guide Triumph

STAG

Triumph STAG

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from Norm Mort’s and Tony Fox’s years of experience; learn how to spot a bad car quickly, and how to assess a promising car like a professional. Get the right car at the right price!

Packed with good advice – from running costs, through paperwork, vital statistics, valuation, and the Stag community, to will your Stag fit in your garage and with your lifestyle – this is the complete guide to choosing, assessing and buying the Stag of your dreams.

The Essential Buyer’s Guide

£9.99 UK / $19.95 USA

www.velocebooks.com Veloce

Your marque experts: Norm Mort & Tony Fox