Howard Allen talks about his car, a classic Triumph Stag. Howard is A National Observer with the Group and Masters Driver.
There is nothing quite like the V8 burble from a Triumph Stag.
I purchased this car in 1995 from a garage in Bledlow Ridge Oxfordshire.
It had only covered 44,000 miles then, 3,000 of which had been covered by the owner over a period of 15 years. Even now it has covered only 85,000 miles
Although registered in April 1974 it was actually built on 28th October 1973 qualifying it as an Historic Vehicle and thus zero Vehicle Excise Duty and MOT Exempt, although I ensure it is tested every year.
It is an original Home Market model, finished in New White with Black Upholstery and Hood, and it was supplied with the following Factory Optional Equipment:- Heater, inertia Seatbelts, Overdrive, Tinted Laminated Windscreen, Hardtop, and 185x14 tyres.
A lot of criticism has been levied against the Stag for overheating and timing chain failure.There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the 3 litre V8 Triumph engine , it is in effect two Dolomite engines grafted together. Lack of maintenance procedures from the Manufacturer are the main causes for such failures. Antifreeze should be used all year round to prevent corrosion of the Aluminium Heads and timing chains should be renewed every 25, to 30,000 miles, otherwise they stretch or snap wrecking the engine.
My particular car has been on the back of a breakdown lorry four times, clutch slave cylinder, water pump, petrol pump and oil filter failures, nothing to do with the design of the engine.
The car is totally original except for normal running repairs, starter motor, steering rack etc, and other than minor paint touch ups the paintwork and interior trim are as they came out of the factory.
Spares are readily available from a number of Specialist Firms and Classic car insurance on Agreed Valuation and restricted mileage basis can be as little as £125 per annum, fuel consumption is an unimpressive 21 mpg, but if you only do a couple of thousand miles a year it's not a great expense in the whole scheme of things.
Although the car does not get used during the Winter it has been taken abroad for classic car events and Club trips.
I purchased the interesting registration 25 TAG at a DVLA auction in 2013, which is particularly appropriate for a Mark 2 Stag.
