1972 Triumph Stag

This particular 1972 example is from the very end of the MkI production, before the MkII 'officially' began in 1973, and as a result the vendor informs us that whilst being a MkI by age it is in fact a very early MkII, that has all the hallmarks of a MkII yet the glove box door and badge on the front grille from a Mk I. 

Retaining the original and correct 3.0-litre V8 engine & in the care of the vendor for the last nine-and-a-half years, this Stag has been fastidiously maintained regardless of cost, with an incredibly detail-oriented approach to both maintaining and documenting the vehicle.

Evidently, this approach to ownership has paid dividends. Having used the vehicle as a weekend ‘toy’ throughout their ownership, the vendor has also undertaken several longer road trips with the vehicle with great success, including tours of the UK and France, along with completing the well-known London-Brighton classic car run.

Alongside regular maintenance and upkeep, the vendor has also upgraded the vehicle with a considered approach to retaining the period-correct nature of the car. The standard differential has been upgraded to an E J Ward development, while the original universal joint driveshafts have been replaced with splined driveshafts to improve the ride quality of this Stag.

While most owners wouldn’t be keen on using their classics at night, this particular Stag is at least suitably equipped, thanks to boasting a set of upgraded E J Ward headlights. The standard three-speed gearbox has also been upgraded to a four-speed conversion developed by the Treasurer of the Stag Owners Club using a Jaguar gearbox offering improved drivability and economy.

In total, the vendor has spent around £22,500 on the vehicle during the last 9.5 years, with the result being a Stag which is ‘on the button’ and ready to go.

Externally, this Stag looks to be in very good shape, with the iconic Michelotti-penned lines remaining largely straight and crisp to this day. Despite its age, this Stag still cuts an impressive shape on the road, and will happily turn plenty of heads as you drive by.

Keen-eyed viewers will note the mis-aligned drivers door, which can be seen in the photographs, along with a few dents and creases in the chrome rear bumper. There is also the usual smattering of stone chips and minor blemishes which are to be expected from a car of this era, though these do not detract from the overall condition of the vehicle, and all the notable marks can be seen in the gallery below.

All four wheels are in presentable condition, though they would benefit from a refurbishment to bring them back to their best. The nearside mirror also requires attention as it does not remain upright on its mount.

A new soft top and mechanism was installed during March 2014, and remains in great shape with no signs of any rips, tears or major discolouration to the plastic rear window. The mechanism itself is nice and smooth, meaning the roof can be quickly put up or down in changeable weather conditions.

Inside, the seats are all in very good condition, with only minor signs of typical wear-and-tear to the bases and bolsters, though there are no rips or tears that we noted during our inspection.

Elsewhere, the wood veneer trim on the dashboard requires some TLC, as does the area around the shifter lever and centre console, though it is perfectly usable and presentable as it sits.

The carpets are all in excellent shape, as are the door cards and wood-rimmed steering wheel, though the original Stag item is also included. As far as we could tell, all the gauges worked exactly as they should, with no warning lights on the dashboard and the ‘choke’ light extinguishing as it should once the choke is all the way in.

Of particular note is the upgraded Pioneer stereo system, which also benefits from aftermarket Alpine speakers which have been installed to mimic the OEM speaker setup.

On the whole, this is a great example of the stag’s (largely original) cabin, and was a very pleasant place to spend some time during our short test drive.

Going underneath the car, the chassis looks to be in good order and largely free of any issues, with only the usual ‘bloom’ visible on areas such has the exhaust system, outer sills and suspension components.

Under the bonnet, the engine bay presents in generally good condition, with numerous warning stickers still remaining in-place which is a good sign of a cared-for engine bay. During our inspection, we did not notice any obvious fluid leaks or seeping, though there does appear to be some moisture ingress or perhaps a small leak in the engine bay with a small pool of water noted towards the rear of the bay, though this liquid did not smell of coolant or fuel, which suggests it may just be a faulty weather seal at fault.

Out on the road, this Stag starts with ease and gives an impressive engine note from the 3.0-litre V8 engine. The upgraded transmission means that the shifter occasionally does not line up exactly with the graphics on the transmission tunnel, but the slight ‘dip’ of the vehicle when drive or reverse is selected is more than confirmation enough that the transmission has been put into gear.

The gearbox was happy to shift up-and-down as needed while on the go, with the Stag running well during our short test drive. The choke locking system also works as it should, and there was no sign of any alignment issues or brake pulling that we noted.

In fact, the only issue we did note was that the brakes were somewhat spongy, while there was also a rubbing noise when braking, though this did not translate into any vibration or ‘pulling’ when slowing down.

The history folder that accompanies this car is nothing short of extraordinary, with the significant number of invoices and documents further supplemented by the current owner having documented every item of expenditure during their ownership, as well as tracing back significant events in the vehicle’s life with previous owners.

For example, we’ve learned that during 1992 the engine was completely rebuilt, along with a prior rebuild in 1985 - while information such as this does not reflect the vehicle’s current condition, it does show that previous owners have cared for the car significantly and kept it wanting for nothing.

During the vendor’s ownership, a full set of refurbished carburettors have been installed, along with the aforementioned new soft top and carpets during 2014, a new differential along with the upgraded driveshafts were installed in 2016, and the uprated four-speed Jaguar gearbox was fitted in 2017 by the treasurer of the Stag Owners Club.

There are also notes in the history folder about new door cards in 2016, numerous new fuel pipes between 2017 and 2020 upgrading to new material due to the Biofuel additive in current petrol, a new master cylinder during 2017 and other small routine items throughout the last 9.5 years, ensuring this Stag remains in tip-top condition.

Throughout the vendor’s ownership, all the regular maintenance has been taken care of by local motor works, with plentiful support from the Stag owners club and other specialist resources.

Also included with the vehicle are a number of Stag ownership magazines, maintenance manuals, miscellaneous spare parts and various ‘exploded’ diagrams.

The car has been registered with and the owner has been a member of the Stag Owners Club for the last 10 years and the SOC have carried out valuations for Insurance purposes twice during this period, once soon after the owner acquired the car and the second after the Drive (Gearbox, Diff & Drive shafts) were replaced. It is a genuine early MkII Triumph with some updates and upgrades to maintain its usefulness for regular use. As was British Leyland’s practice some parts that were left in the bins at the time of converting to the new model were used in the transition, e.g. the Glovebox, in addition the grill badge is from a MK1 which was a replacement for a badly damaged MK2 version. At the time when the grill was cleaned and powder coated new badges were not available and the few old ones were not any better than the original. Stag Owners' Club Tooling Fund Limited has for some time been trying to get a re-make of the MK2 badge but the original machinery and dies/moulds are no longer available. The vendor has not tried to acquire a replacement for a long time.

With summer on the horizon, temperatures starting to creep up above 20 degrees and the prospect of late evening drives and cross-continental road trips seeming ever-closer, this 1972 Triumph Stag is looking very appealing indeed.

Boasting a proven record of long-distance road trips, extensive and intricate history folder and presenting in generally very good condition throughout, this Stag is ready to enjoy as it sits, but also offers the prospect for gentle tinkering and TLC to take the car to the next level, should the new owner wish to do so.

So, what do we reckon? Well, given the condition and history of this Stag - along with it retaining its original 3.0-litre engine - we estimate it to fetch in the region of £10,000 - £17,000, so be sure to get your bids in early to be in with the chance of getting behind the wheel of this classic British sports car.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.