1973 Triumph STAG

Here at The Market, we’re huge fans of buying period cars in period colours, and few period colours are more period than this Magenta Triumph Stag. And, before you ask, yes it’s a factory colour, and yes it left the factory looking like this.

Can you imagine how cool the original owner was to specify his new Stag in Magenta? He must have had some massive cojones..... Channelling his inner Sean Connery, obviously… (enough, ed.)

In addition to an earlier, twenty-five-year-old bodywork freshening, the previous owner spent his three-and-a-half years with the car re-restoring the bodywork, a mammoth job that included welding the floor pans, a new driver’s side wing and door, and a new rear quarter panel, along with other assorted repairs. Then, and only then, was the car carefully prepped before being painted in this gorgeous colour. And, when the paint was dry, there was only one thing left to do, and that was to fit twin gold pinstripes. Bravo sir, we salute you!

The work has held up very well and there is only one spot of rust on the boot lid plus a couple of light parking dings.

The underside of the car has been undersealed with Waxoyl, not, as is often the case, to hide anything but to preserve it from the liberal application of salt we Brits seem to enjoy throwing all over the place during the cold winter months. The result is neat enough to have drawn complementary noises from the latest MOT tester.

The roof is a relatively recent replacement and is in fine order but for a tonneau cover that can be hard to clip down on the driver’s side (please see photos).

It’s the little things that set a great restoration apart from the merely very good, and in this case we’d like to direct your attention towards the stereo, in particular the RetroMod RetroSound speakers and Bluetooth-enabled JVC stereo. The result looks and sounds great, and is indicative of the love, care and attention to detail the most recent owner has lavished on the car.

The rest of the interior is in good condition, with the emphasis having been placed firmly on preserving what was already there. The driver’s seat base has been recovered but in a slightly different material to the rest of the seat material, which is a shame. In addition, both front seats benefit from having had new foam fitted in order to restore their shape and the headrests have been restored too. Other than that, the black vinyl interior is all original bar the carpets and boot lining, both of which have been recently replaced.

If the Triumph Stag has a weakness it is its engine, which overheats whenever the ambient temperature reaches double-digits thanks to a cooling system that was borderline at best, even when new and properly maintained.

As a result, many owners chose to fit the ultra-reliable V8 engine from the Rover SD1 instead as a cost-effective 1980s and 90s alternative to constantly faffing about with the original, which is exactly what’s happened here. So, while the car’s engine is not original, the refreshed Rover V8 that now lurks under the bonnet has been fitted very neatly and offers almost unlimited cheap tuning potential.

Which can be a slippery slope, as the vendor will attest; there's an Offenhauser inlet manifold (with new gasket), a Holley 4160 carburettor (with unused rebuild kit), which add a few extra horsepower in addition to a very attractive induction rasp, an auditory treat that is underscored by the wonderful exhaust burble that emanates from the stainless steel exhaust.

However, being a cautious and methodical man, he also fitted a Stoney Racing electric cooling fan (properly wired in) and a new 4-core radiator, which he filled with the proper antifreeze coolant and deionized water! He went on to carry out a thorough service on the car, including new air, oil and fuel filters, eight new spark plugs, new alternator and power steering drive belts, a new battery, and a change of engine and gearbox oil. All-in-all, he spent almost £4,000 doing all the jobs, large and small, that most people would have ignored, all of which have been diligently recorded on a 4-page spreadsheet for the new owner to appreciate, digest and enjoy…

The gearbox, rear differential, and overdrive have also been reconditioned and the car has been partly rewired and a new starter motor fitted in the near past. Again, all recorded and neatly listed.

The car comes with bills and invoices going back to 1992, and all the old MOTs going back to 1989, neatly filed and collated in a colour-coded folder.

Please visit the ‘Records’ section of this listing where you will find a large number of scanned invoices and bills plus other paperwork, including a multi-page detailed spreadsheet listing the work that the previous and current owner have undertaken. How many other owners replace the bulb holders in side indicators, let alone record the 3 quid it cost? Or rewire each bulb in the rear lights with their own earth to ensure long-term gain?

The Triumph Stag is on many petrolhead’s Bucket List, and with good reason; the soundtrack is unrivalled in its class and there’s enough room for the driver and three mates to enjoy it together. The spares situation is very healthy making them cheap and easy to run and there’s always a ready market for good cars, which can make them a sound financial investment too.

With a guide price of £12,000 (and the reserve is, as always, set at a lower point than this) this model offers exceedingly good value - and while a Magenta Stag with a Rover V8 could be seen as not the easiest sell, we think that this is a great opportunity for an extrovert enthusiast who prizes a sorted car's usability and reliability more highly than a slavish adherence to originality.

Viewing is encouraged in order that potential bidders can see for themselves what an outstanding opportunity this presents. The Stag is with us at The Market HQ, near Abingdon. Please press the ‘contact seller’ button at the top of the page to book an appointment.

Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.