The Triumph Stag

Triumph Stag. The Triumph Stag was designed by Giovanni Michelotti in 1969 and is based on the Mk1 Saloon cars. The USA market was a main target for the car, and lots of specifications are adapted to meet the US standards. The equipment is quite luxurious: • 3 litre V8 engine • power steering • power brakes • standard electrical operated windows • Automatic gearbox • Air conditioning • Electronic ignition (Lumenition) Because of safety regulations the cars was equipped with a T-Bar, and some people say that Michelotti took "revenge" for the impact of this rule by designing a beautiful hardtop. Fact is, that the car looks great with the hard top on, but the T-Bar is also a very distinct recognition point for the Stag.The PF-XR-69, subject of the rebuilding project, was built in november 1972 and shipped to the USA. It´s a typical fully loaded version with all options stated above. According to the original papers which are still with the car it was sold on july 19 1973 to Hugh Friedman in Tarzana, California by the Palm Springs Lincoln Mercury Co. Inc in Palm Springs. An original Leyland radio was fitted. The 6000 miles service was carried out by Holiday Motors in Sherman Oaks / California on April 25 1974. After that note in the maintainance book the US-records stop. In 1995 we started looking for a Stag. After driving a Saloon for about 10 years we wanted an "open" car, but the necessity of fitting my 2 meters (6 ft 6) into a convertible limits the choice. The Stag was love at first sight. Tipped by a friend in Holland who had spent some time in the USA we found the as 219HXB registered but plated "USA STAG" car now owned by Raymond Porter. Still in the California area: San Marino. The car was for sale after a gasket blow-out which was repaired in the USA. After some negotiations we bought it "from the picture" It was shipped to Germany (Bremen is closer to Groningen than Rotterdam...) and arrived in November. First stage was getting it through the Dutch licensing office, which was succesful on june 12, 1996. The first years we didn´t drive a lot, but in 1997 we took the car for a holiday to the UK. More about this can be found on the website of the Club Triumph Holland: look for an article in the Triumph Tribune database (in Dutch!). Apart form some fueltank en pump problems we had a great time over there. In 1997 and 1998 some work was done on the car: a gearbox overhaul and an interior rebuild. (both described in the Triumph Tribune) In 1998 a trip to France was planned, but that went off quite different compered to the UK-trip. After problems with the fuelpump (again), brakes and a vacuum hose finally a broken torque converter made it necessary to leave the car over there. When it returned we decided that the only right way to cope with all the problems was a complete overhaul, including a respray. So the work started on august 22, 1998......