TRIUMPH

Stag

The Triumph Stag was conceived as a luxurious four-seat grand tourer to rival the Mercedes-Benz SL, and it began as a styling exercise by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, who reworked a pre-production Triumph 2000 saloon into an open car that Triumph's management loved so much they put it into production. Launched in 1970, the Triumph Stag was distinguished by its handsome 2+2 convertible body and a prominent, integrated T-bar roll hoop, fitted both to brace the structure and to allow a removable hardtop. At its heart sat a bespoke 3.0-litre V8 engine, effectively two of Triumph's slant-four units joined at the crankshaft, giving the Triumph Stag a wonderfully smooth and characterful soundtrack. Sold as a stylish boulevard cruiser with standard power steering and an available automatic gearbox, the Triumph Stag promised effortless top-down touring. Unfortunately the V8 quickly earned a reputation for overheating and head-gasket trouble, problems caused by poor maintenance, marginal cooling and warped alloy heads, and this dented the car's reputation during its lifetime. Built at the Canley factory in Coventry, the Triumph Stag ran until 1977, by which time 25,877 had been made, of which 6,780 were exported. Today, with the cooling-system gremlins long understood and cured, the Triumph Stag is a cherished and increasingly appreciated British classic, prized for its rakish Michelotti looks and its rich V8 note.