Lot 408: Triumph Stag Sports

Envisioned as a luxury sports car, the Triumph Stag was designed to be a gentleman's sports tourer, to compete directly with the Mercedes Benz SL class models. All Stags were four-seater convertible coupes; for structural rigidity, the Stag required a B-Pillar ‘Roll bar’ hoop connected to the windscreen frame by a T-bar. The car started as a styling experiment literally cut and shaped from a 1963-4Triumph 2000 pre-production saloon, which had also been styled by Michelotti, and loaned to him by HarryWebster, Director of Triumph Engineering from the early to late 1960's. Their agreement was under the premise that if Harry liked the design,Triumph could use the prototype as the basis of a new Triumph model. Harry, who was a long time friend of Giovanni whom he called "Micho", absolutely loved the design and spirited the prototype back to England.The end result, a two door drop head (convertible) had little in common with the styling of its progenitor 2000, but retained the suspension and drive line.Triumph liked the Michelotti design so much that they propagated the styling lines of the Stag into the new T2000/T2500 saloon and estate model lines of the 1970's. This 1973 sports version is said by the owner to be in very good overall condition, with much spent in the last 1,000 miles of service including new timing chains, tensioners, sprockets, Kenlowe fan, big core radiator, steering rack, fuel pump, seat belts, belts and hoses. In addition the fuel tank has been cleaned, the carbs overhauled and a full service completed. With a good mohair hood, a recent twin pack respray and new boot boards this car would appear to be a very serviceable example.The mileage is stated as 18,000, but as yet I have not seen any documents to support this. Taxed and MOT’d, and estimated at a come and buy me price, this particular Monarch of the Glen should stir up quite a hunt.