I've gone and done it... bought a Stag!
Discussion
Well... nearly!
Seen one advertised right up the other end of the country! Spoke with the owner last night, booked my train ticket up there for this morning, and going armed with the readies. It's going to be a fun 300 mile run home!
Train booked, insurance still to do... then off I go!
So what does a guy who has a Jensen Interceptor want with a Stag? Well, I've always wanted one, plus it'll be a more usable classic than the Jenny. Something I won't be so protective over, and might even allow to get wet every once in a while!!
Long term Stag itch is about to be scratched!
Will let you all know how I get on
Jon
Seen one advertised right up the other end of the country! Spoke with the owner last night, booked my train ticket up there for this morning, and going armed with the readies. It's going to be a fun 300 mile run home!
Train booked, insurance still to do... then off I go!
So what does a guy who has a Jensen Interceptor want with a Stag? Well, I've always wanted one, plus it'll be a more usable classic than the Jenny. Something I won't be so protective over, and might even allow to get wet every once in a while!!
Long term Stag itch is about to be scratched!
Will let you all know how I get on
Jon
I've never owned a Stag but I used to be in the stool of thinking that pretty much most cars from BL were crap. 40 years on and I look at cars like the Stag, any TR, Spitfire, GT6 and think, aren't they great cars. Aren't they amazing value for what you get.
These cars are all about having fun. Take any of those cars out for a day and the BMW joy advert starts to look very silly.
You will tire very quickly of the reliability comments thrown at you but if you've got one which has been well looked after then you will get to understand the meaning of joy.
The other Triumphs are amazing too in their own way. I remember looking at TR6 in the local showroom and recognising that it was crap. A separate chassis in the early 70s for Gods sake!
I now see that you can get a usable if not immaculate TR6 for not much over £10k and am amazed how much fun they represent. Easily on a par with my old Morgan or ny other old style roadster.
I like the idea that you won't be afraid of using the Stag. Thats a great way of looking at ownership. I am sure you will enjoy.
These cars are all about having fun. Take any of those cars out for a day and the BMW joy advert starts to look very silly.
You will tire very quickly of the reliability comments thrown at you but if you've got one which has been well looked after then you will get to understand the meaning of joy.
The other Triumphs are amazing too in their own way. I remember looking at TR6 in the local showroom and recognising that it was crap. A separate chassis in the early 70s for Gods sake!
I now see that you can get a usable if not immaculate TR6 for not much over £10k and am amazed how much fun they represent. Easily on a par with my old Morgan or ny other old style roadster.
I like the idea that you won't be afraid of using the Stag. Thats a great way of looking at ownership. I am sure you will enjoy.
Well I'm home!! Got up to Dalton-in-Furness yesterday at around 4.30pm... and set off having parted my my hard earned at around 6.30pm...
I stopped the night near Knutsford in an old bolt hole I used to use for work, meant I could peruse the paperwork that came with her.
Up bright and early this morning to complete the remainder 200 miles - unfortunately not completely without hitch! Of all the things to go wrong on a Stag, it had to be a poxy little rubber bung on the top of the fuel tank. It had perished, which meant when I brimmed the tank, the (usually bunged) breather pipe spat petrol into the boot!
A call to the breakdown folks... an hour later, some hose, a bolt and a pair of jubilee clips and a repair was effected.
That left me to complete the rest of the journey, and enjoy the drive! She ran very well, was surprisingly economical (1/2 a tank used for 185 miles)... just letting her cool down so I can go and see what fluids have been used etc.
Pics to follow...
I stopped the night near Knutsford in an old bolt hole I used to use for work, meant I could peruse the paperwork that came with her.
Up bright and early this morning to complete the remainder 200 miles - unfortunately not completely without hitch! Of all the things to go wrong on a Stag, it had to be a poxy little rubber bung on the top of the fuel tank. It had perished, which meant when I brimmed the tank, the (usually bunged) breather pipe spat petrol into the boot!
A call to the breakdown folks... an hour later, some hose, a bolt and a pair of jubilee clips and a repair was effected.
That left me to complete the rest of the journey, and enjoy the drive! She ran very well, was surprisingly economical (1/2 a tank used for 185 miles)... just letting her cool down so I can go and see what fluids have been used etc.
Pics to follow...
Couple of pics for you...
Will get some better ones once she's had some TLC... need to sort the wheels, one is missing a centre cap, and they all need the Stag centre logos... plus I have the side stripe to go on. Then she'll need a full service (more for my piece of mind than anything), possibly new rocker cover gaskets.
The history with her is amazing... all the old MOTs going back to 1977, service receipts back to 1978- and a detailed log of everything that has ever been done.
You don't see them like that very often!
Will get some better ones once she's had some TLC... need to sort the wheels, one is missing a centre cap, and they all need the Stag centre logos... plus I have the side stripe to go on. Then she'll need a full service (more for my piece of mind than anything), possibly new rocker cover gaskets.
The history with her is amazing... all the old MOTs going back to 1977, service receipts back to 1978- and a detailed log of everything that has ever been done.
You don't see them like that very often!
Edited by Dr Interceptor on Wednesday 22 August 18:00
Very nice!!
One (of many) things to check. There are little sprung valves in the carb butterflies that cause the revs to drop slowly for emission purposes. They also fall out and cause massive engine damage. Always used to araldite them up - problem solved.
Also, if/when it needs a clutch, there is a good mod available for the gearbox "nose" to improve the clutch operation. And don't ride the clutch as the thrust washers on the crank are a bit weak. Change the antifreeze every year and the cam chains every 20,000.
A brilliant car - and that sound of the V8.......
One (of many) things to check. There are little sprung valves in the carb butterflies that cause the revs to drop slowly for emission purposes. They also fall out and cause massive engine damage. Always used to araldite them up - problem solved.
Also, if/when it needs a clutch, there is a good mod available for the gearbox "nose" to improve the clutch operation. And don't ride the clutch as the thrust washers on the crank are a bit weak. Change the antifreeze every year and the cam chains every 20,000.
A brilliant car - and that sound of the V8.......
With proper care these cars really don't deserve the reputation they had in the seventies. I read an article about a guy that does classic car hire and the upshot was a Stag was the most reliable vehicle on his fleet. Four seats, soft top and a V8 whats not to like?
P.S Looks cracking
P.S Looks cracking
Cheers for the comments folks
I know a chap who loves old engines, works on a friends of mines' Jensen - so I'm getting him to give her a full service and tune up. The clutch was done just two years ago, but the latter end of her history is a bit vague as the previous owner suffered ill health... so she'll have the fluids, plugs, leads, filters, coolant - everything changed...
Then if she proves to be mechanically strong (which having covered 300 miles in 24 hours would suggest she is), I can have a few little paint and bodywork issues tended to in the Spring.
But yes, I intend to use her. Fired her up this morning and bought her into work, hard top now removed and stored away, I even took the long route in
I know a chap who loves old engines, works on a friends of mines' Jensen - so I'm getting him to give her a full service and tune up. The clutch was done just two years ago, but the latter end of her history is a bit vague as the previous owner suffered ill health... so she'll have the fluids, plugs, leads, filters, coolant - everything changed...
Then if she proves to be mechanically strong (which having covered 300 miles in 24 hours would suggest she is), I can have a few little paint and bodywork issues tended to in the Spring.
But yes, I intend to use her. Fired her up this morning and bought her into work, hard top now removed and stored away, I even took the long route in
LordBretSinclair said:
Love the wing mirrors, Radyot or Lucas?? 
Shamed to say - I don't know 
The first time I saw them, I wasn't all that keen - but they have grown on me. It has a small overtaking mirror on the drivers door too, have to say it makes visibility excellent! Especially lane changes on the motorway.
Well done, sure you'll be well pleased with it.
I had 3, a MK1 and 2 MK2's and remember them fondly.
Early reliability concerns were mostly down to poor build quality and inspection, leaving the intricate waterways blocked with resultant overheating and warped heads.
Any car that's still around and running will have gotten past any of the early issues.
I drove the MK1 down to the South of France, never missed a beat. I've owned plenty of classics and the Stags were probably the most reliable.
find someone good to look after it, who knows them to advise or service, join the owners club, and enjoy!
I had 3, a MK1 and 2 MK2's and remember them fondly.
Early reliability concerns were mostly down to poor build quality and inspection, leaving the intricate waterways blocked with resultant overheating and warped heads.
Any car that's still around and running will have gotten past any of the early issues.
I drove the MK1 down to the South of France, never missed a beat. I've owned plenty of classics and the Stags were probably the most reliable.
find someone good to look after it, who knows them to advise or service, join the owners club, and enjoy!
I vaguely remember a Triumph (or BL?) TV advertisement from the early 70s.
A couple of old lags are sat in their prison cell wistfully reminiscing about their crime and their mistake of choosing the wrong getaway car.
"We could have used a Dolomite Sprint or a Stag." Other cars are mentioned as well. Film footage is shown of each of the cars in action.
Does anyone else remember this? Can anyone remember the other cars featured?
A couple of old lags are sat in their prison cell wistfully reminiscing about their crime and their mistake of choosing the wrong getaway car.
"We could have used a Dolomite Sprint or a Stag." Other cars are mentioned as well. Film footage is shown of each of the cars in action.
Does anyone else remember this? Can anyone remember the other cars featured?
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