Triumph TR6 / Stag
16 July 2003, 11:17 AM
#2
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I thought Stags were horrifically unreliable? I mean, I know all British cars are, but the Stag in particular?
TR6 bit more sporty, Stag more poseur, IMuninformedO.
TR6 bit more sporty, Stag more poseur, IMuninformedO.
16 July 2003, 12:23 PM
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Mechanic mate of mine was apprenticed on Stags and now has a minter with manual / OD box.
He's a little biased of course, but he reckons the Stag got its bad rep because of poor maintenance rather than inherent faults.
The real problem was ally corrosion furring the head passages and radiator -- giving warped heads and overheating etc. The cause of this was .... dumb-**** owners and Triumph dealers NOT using anti-freeze all year round in the aluminium engine, and not changing coolant every two years.
The other problem was tensioning the timing chain .... like using anti-freeze and changing coolant, this sort of maintenance was largely unheard of in '71 / '72 in mass-market cars.
However, the Stag motor is still ****-weak (145bhp) so don't expect a rocketship .... sound & look great tho'
He's a little biased of course, but he reckons the Stag got its bad rep because of poor maintenance rather than inherent faults.
The real problem was ally corrosion furring the head passages and radiator -- giving warped heads and overheating etc. The cause of this was .... dumb-**** owners and Triumph dealers NOT using anti-freeze all year round in the aluminium engine, and not changing coolant every two years.
The other problem was tensioning the timing chain .... like using anti-freeze and changing coolant, this sort of maintenance was largely unheard of in '71 / '72 in mass-market cars.
However, the Stag motor is still ****-weak (145bhp) so don't expect a rocketship .... sound & look great tho'
16 July 2003, 12:41 PM
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aka Triumph Snag. A bit unfair and I'm sure that there are some very good (restored) Stags out there that would be worth a look these days.
10 years back I messed around with Triumphs, Heralds mainly, and the guy that I learned most from loved his Stags.
I believe that the design, without the integral roll bar which I assume is *highly* structural, was put forward to Maserati. For whatever reason, they rejected it but Triumph got their hands on it and made it what it was.
You might find one with a Rover V8 which could be easier to maintain but my view is that unless you want somthing just to tinker with and do a few thousand miles a year then you really need to throw money at a classic car and of course, you won't get much of it back.
If money was no object then a totally 're-manufactured' Stag would be something to behold but you could sink £30k into a project like that and if you ever sold you would proably loose a lot more than if you had spent the same on a brand new car like a nice 3-series cab.
IMHO.
10 years back I messed around with Triumphs, Heralds mainly, and the guy that I learned most from loved his Stags.
I believe that the design, without the integral roll bar which I assume is *highly* structural, was put forward to Maserati. For whatever reason, they rejected it but Triumph got their hands on it and made it what it was.
You might find one with a Rover V8 which could be easier to maintain but my view is that unless you want somthing just to tinker with and do a few thousand miles a year then you really need to throw money at a classic car and of course, you won't get much of it back.
If money was no object then a totally 're-manufactured' Stag would be something to behold but you could sink £30k into a project like that and if you ever sold you would proably loose a lot more than if you had spent the same on a brand new car like a nice 3-series cab.
IMHO.
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16 July 2003, 07:26 PM
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Brickboy as said it all...i use to work at triumph/rover/jag dealership...there wasnt a month without one coming into the garage with all of the above mentioned..pity it didnt have the rover V8 as this was very reiable..
and i would love a TR6 with t/bodies
and i would love a TR6 with t/bodies
16 July 2003, 11:46 PM
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I thought most stags still alive now had rover v8s transplanted in them? (I believe at the time the motors were a design leased from the US and they were rationed as to the amount they could use hence stag was designed originally for rover v8, hence also demise of mg v8, as they need to satisfy demand for rovers).
Anyway either way, if the bodywork is not great expect major bills, you won't recoup what you spend, and as always with such cars be very careful of nice looking cars that are rust buckets...if you really want one make sure you get some professional advice...
Good luck
CS
Anyway either way, if the bodywork is not great expect major bills, you won't recoup what you spend, and as always with such cars be very careful of nice looking cars that are rust buckets...if you really want one make sure you get some professional advice...
Good luck
CS
17 July 2003, 08:32 AM
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I had a TR6 for a year or so - only sold it cos I was only getting chance to drive it every other weekend.
It was a 1973 UK 150bhp. It was superb. I was well impressed at how well it drove for an almost 30 year old car - would put many modern cars to shame. Mechanice are farily straightforward, straight 6 2.5 litre is brill. Like any car of that age bodywork is the biggest issue.
Make sure you know exactly what you're buying. Do a bit of homework - the best is definitely as above - UK 150bhp.
I think running costs of the TR6 will be less than the Stag.
Ian
It was a 1973 UK 150bhp. It was superb. I was well impressed at how well it drove for an almost 30 year old car - would put many modern cars to shame. Mechanice are farily straightforward, straight 6 2.5 litre is brill. Like any car of that age bodywork is the biggest issue.
Make sure you know exactly what you're buying. Do a bit of homework - the best is definitely as above - UK 150bhp.
I think running costs of the TR6 will be less than the Stag.
Ian
17 July 2003, 11:35 AM
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Oddly enough a friend of mine has recently bought a Stag...
He loves it because he can take the family out and enjoy the summer and country drives in it. His still has the original engine and hasn't experienced any heating problems yet (though budgeted for an engine swap when buying!)... Sometimes he does the 60 mile round journey commute in it and so far its held up ok. More of a cruiser than a sports car if you ask me though!
Anyway someone I used to work for has owned a TR6 from when it was 3 years old (and the family owned it from new)... Its been extremely reliable the whole time with no major failures and bills... I think his is a '72 model with even the orignal radio
Loads of fun and much more of a sports car than the stag!
He loves it because he can take the family out and enjoy the summer and country drives in it. His still has the original engine and hasn't experienced any heating problems yet (though budgeted for an engine swap when buying!)... Sometimes he does the 60 mile round journey commute in it and so far its held up ok. More of a cruiser than a sports car if you ask me though!
Anyway someone I used to work for has owned a TR6 from when it was 3 years old (and the family owned it from new)... Its been extremely reliable the whole time with no major failures and bills... I think his is a '72 model with even the orignal radio
Loads of fun and much more of a sports car than the stag!
17 July 2003, 11:41 AM
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Stags missed out on Rover V8s purely because of internal BL politics - Triumph didn't want to go cap-in-hand to arch rival Rover for a motor, so instead they slapped together two four cylinder Dolomite engines (true).
Rob
Rob
