Buying a stag

Author
Discussion

Chinski

Original Poster:

205 posts

152 months

Wednesday 30th October 2013
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After a long and hard think I an considering buying a stag. I guess original cars or restored cars are the ones to buy, any recommendations on Mk 1 or Mk 2? What would I expect to pay for a nice stag.

Thanks in advance.

Dr Interceptor

7,743 posts

195 months

Thursday 31st October 2013
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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!

Chinski

Original Poster:

205 posts

152 months

Thursday 31st October 2013
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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?

Dr Interceptor

7,743 posts

195 months

Friday 1st November 2013
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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 smile

Lots come on the market after Christmas, when wives start moaning about 'that car in the garage that never gets used'

Chinski

Original Poster:

205 posts

152 months

Monday 4th November 2013
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Lets see if any cars become available as suggested. I've placed an ad on the stag owners club site with no luck yet.

Chinski

Original Poster:

205 posts

152 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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Anyone under pressure from their better half about the stag? Buyer waiting.

bullstarz

47 posts

168 months

Monday 23rd December 2013
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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.



Edited by bullstarz on Monday 23 December 23:56

Chinski

Original Poster:

205 posts

152 months

Sunday 29th December 2013
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I'm in the camp on trying to enjoy the car for its original purpose in the 70s. I'm still looking if anyone know of a good car? I have cash waiting.

BadRed

3,450 posts

227 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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Thinking about selling mine, I need to get back to a TVR.

1976 (MK11) 3500 Rover V8, so no fears about it blowing its own brains out.
Offenhauser, 4 barrell Holley. auto. 20k yes 20k miles from new, lots of history. complete rebuild 1999



Chinski

Original Poster:

205 posts

152 months

Monday 6th January 2014
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Fantastic looking car. Unfortunately I'm looking for a stag with a triumph V8 engine. Cheers.

Anyone else thinking of selling?

BadRed

3,450 posts

227 months

Wednesday 8th January 2014
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Chinski said:
Fantastic looking car. Unfortunately I'm looking for a stag with a triumph V8 engine. Cheers.
Good Luck smile

trackerjack

649 posts

183 months

Sunday 9th February 2014
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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.

trackerjack

649 posts

183 months

Sunday 9th February 2014
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To add, be very wary of a Stag thats got a Rover lump in as much as the Triumph V8 revs to over 6000 rpm but the Rover doesnt, so if the diff is not changed for a higher ratio its top speed is reduced and the fuel consumption will be bad.

Skyedriver

17,667 posts

281 months

Wednesday 12th February 2014
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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.

steve320ise

159 posts

142 months

Sunday 9th March 2014
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Hi, Im getting ready to sell my Stag,it needs some tlc to get it right, but im trying to get it ready for the mot this week

Yertis

18,016 posts

265 months

Sunday 9th March 2014
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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.

Comeinhandy

15 posts

131 months

Monday 10th March 2014
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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

Chinski

Original Poster:

205 posts

152 months

Wednesday 25th November 2015
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Hi,

I bought a lovely stag last year however due to a divorce the car had to go. Now things have settled down for me I'm after a Stag in good condition. A manual car would be my preference. Please get in touch.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 26th November 2015
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There's load for sale on here, carandandclassicforsale, eBay or all you wanting someone to sell you a minter dirt cheap?

Chinski

Original Poster:

205 posts

152 months

Friday 27th November 2015
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Just looking for a nice car. Budgets are budgets. Maybe a car will come available after Christmas?