1971 Triumph Stag Mk. 1

The Stag’s design was originally based around a six-cylinder engine originally, but Harry Webster had other plans. The Stag launched with a 3L V8, with the United States being a key market for the car, complicated fuel injection systems were deleted in favor of dual Zenith-Stromberg 175 CDSE carburetors. The Stag features unitary body construction, fully independent suspension, front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, and power-assisted rack and pinion steering.

This Stag is bright red, and a walk around the car presents very little flaws. The paint around the car is expertly applied, but there are some waves in the paint surrounding each of the taillights. Chrome around the car is straight and without any wrinkles. The black pinstriping along both sides of the car is crisp and free of damage. The chrome trim stretching from the rear quarter panels over the trunk does not line up with itself, but this is a relatively common occurrence among Stags. Both the headlights and taillights are clear and free of any cracks or chips. The removable hardtop is in excellent shape, the paint up top is clean and clear and the headliner underneath is both clean and tight. Once the hardtop is removed, the black canvas soft top folds out without issue, has one small area with a tear, and folds back into the car and tucks away with ease. The chrome wire wheels are pristine and appear to have no curb rash. While the tires don’t appear to have any cracks and still seemingly have a decent amount of tread to go, we always recommend a new set just to be safe. Stag badging is all around the vehicle, and at least two of those badges could benefit from some touch-up work. Specifically, the ‘Stag’ badges on the rear quarter panels need the most attention. However, the dirty badging seems to be the worst of this car’s exterior, which is quite impressive.

Unfortunately, the interior of this Stag is not quite as glorious as the exterior. Finished with tan leather complemented by red piping, the inside of this Stag is clean, but has its share of rough patches. Starting off with the positives, of which there are many, the two front seats are in great condition. Creasing appears to be minimal at best and neither seat shows any holes or tears. The wood used in the dashboard and center consoles looks gorgeous, though the glovebox may have acquired some tiny chips during this Stag’s travels. All of the mounted gauges are clean and easily readable. The wooden steering wheel looks stunning. The wood is clean, metal rivets really help the wood pop, and the textured center of the wheel really helps add weight to the rest of the design. A former owner took the liberty of having an aftermarket Alpine stereo fitted to the center console for a touch of modern convenience. The rear bench is also in excellent shape, with not a crease nor a scuff to be seen anywhere. As for negatives, there is really only one glaring issue: the carpets. All carpets are present, and lay neatly in their respective positions, but they have deteriorated quite a lot. It’s unclear if time has damaged the carpets or if animals of some kind might have been involved, but regardless, they will likely need to be addressed at some point.

We are happy to report that this Stag harbors no major damage underneath. The frame and floorboards appear solid, and the suspension components are all in order. Under the hood, we were blown away to see how well things had been kept. Everything appears to be in its proper place with plenty of space left over as well.

Among the available documents is a certified copy of the factory record. It tells us that the Stag rolled off the production line in March 1971, was built for North American export, and shipped to Newark, New Jersey. The exterior was painted Damson, the roof was black, and the interior was saddle tan. By 2002, the Stag made its way back to Hornchurch, England. In 2011, the car was bought and sent to Switzerland, where the seller purchased the car in 2012.

The Triumph Stag was a wonderful sports car from the UK that, like many others, failed to build a global audience. Triumph had a major hand in the car’s demise when they couldn’t fix parts for owners even though they were still under warranty and Triumph (motorcars) ultimately collapsed. Nevertheless, the Stag remains. A lightweight British sports car, roaring V8 engine, and burly American muscle-car styling all come together to create a fantastic automobile. This specific Stag has been excellently looked after and we are fully confident this little racer will have few problems achieving its $8,000 to $14,000 estimate.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL BIDDERS

It should be noted that this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

Please note that the title for this vehicle is in transit.