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Photo of a Triumph Stag

Triumph Stag

Four seats, open skies, and a 3.0-liter V8 used by no other production car.1

Researched November 1, 2026 from 30 sources

Also called

  • Triumph SnagA pun on the Stag's engine troubles, especially its cooling system.2

At a glance

0100200
127–146 hpPower
07.515
10.5 s0–60 mph
0100200
188.3 km/hTop speed
0150300
230.5 N·mTorque
07501,500
1,275 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.169

Engine
2,997 cc SOHC Triumph V8; twin Zenith-Stromberg carburetors1
Layout
Front-engine, rear-wheel drive; all-independent suspension5
Gearbox
4-speed manual, A/J overdrive available; 3-speed Borg-Warner 35/65 auto2
Built at
Canley, Coventry, United Kingdom5
Units built
25,939 (1970-1977)8

The story

Created for executives and American luxury-tourer buyers, the Stag grew from Michelotti's Triumph 2000 concept. Its T-bar braced the convertible body and anticipated US rollover rules.1345

1965: Michelotti gets his Triumph 200019651968: Merger delays the planned launch19681970: June 9: the Stag reaches showrooms19701973: February: Mk II revises the recipe · July: America loses the Stag19731975: Alloy wheels become standard19751977: June 24: Canley builds the last Stag19771979: November 6: owners organize a rescue19792025: Around 8,500 survive in Britain2025 Standard Fourteen: 1945–1948Standard Vanguard: 1948–1963Triumph 2000 Mk 1 (Mk 1): 1963–1969Mk 1Triumph Stag Mark I (Mark I): 1970–1973Triumph Stag Mark II (Mark II): 1973–1977 19501960197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones125610151617
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1945–1948Standard Fourteen
1948–1963Standard Vanguard
1963–1969Triumph 2000 Mk 1 (Mk 1)
1970–1973Triumph Stag Mark I (Mark I)
1973–1977Triumph Stag Mark II (Mark II)
1965Michelotti gets his Triumph 2000
1968Merger delays the planned launch
1970June 9: the Stag reaches showrooms
1973February: Mk II revises the recipe
1973July: America loses the Stag
1975Alloy wheels become standard
1977June 24: Canley builds the last Stag
1979November 6: owners organize a rescue
2025Around 8,500 survive in Britain
  1. 1965

    Michelotti gets his Triumph 2000

    Michelotti turned a Triumph 2000 into a show-car concept. Harry Webster took it on for development; its Stag project code became the production name.34

  2. 1968

    Merger delays the planned launch

    The Leyland/BMH merger and powertrain changes under Spen King, Harry Webster's replacement, pushed the planned 1968 debut back.3

  3. 1970

    June 9: the Stag reaches showrooms

    After May's Knokke press debut, June 9 brought showrooms a V8 tourer with independent suspension, power steering and electric windows as standard.3

  4. 1973

    February: Mk II revises the recipe

    The Mk II brought upward-pointing gauges, revised seats and a smaller steering wheel. Domed pistons and reshaped combustion chambers revised the V8.12

  5. 1973

    July: America loses the Stag

    Warranty claims and weak sales undermined its main target market. US imports stopped in July; 2,871 cars were sold through American distributors.12

  6. 1975

    Alloy wheels become standard

    October brought standard alloy wheels and tinted glass, a body-color tail panel and stainless sill covers.16

  7. 1977

    June 24: Canley builds the last Stag

    Canley completed the last Stag on June 24. The 1970-1977 production run totaled 25,939 cars.78

  8. 1979

    November 6: owners organize a rescue

    Tony Hart helped form the Stag Owners Club on November 6. Specialists tackled the cooling, head-gasket and timing-chain troubles that had scarred the model.13

  9. 2025

    Around 8,500 survive in Britain

    Around 8,500 Stags were estimated to survive in the UK, roughly half the cars built for that market.4

Every generation

  • Standard Fourteen
    Standard Fourteen1945–1948
  • Standard Vanguard
    Standard Vanguard1948–1963
  • Triumph 2000 Mk 1
    Mk 11963–1969
  • Triumph Stag Mark I
    Mark I1970–1973
  • Triumph Stag Mark II
    Mark II1973–1977

Versions

3 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    Federal specification

    1971–1973

    2,871 built

  • Special

    GKN-FF four-wheel-drive prototypes

    3 built

  • Special

    Fastback prototypes

    3 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • The roll hoop links to the windshield by a T-bar, added for stiffness and proposed US rollover rules.5
  • Four headlights, rubber-tipped bumpers and Triumph lettering.914
  • Stag names and emblems appear on the rear flanks.14
  • Early roof choices were soft top, body-color removable hardtop or both; hardtops have heated rear glass.5
  • Early non-US Rostyle covers show five fake bolts; the actual wheels use four.5

Year by year

  1. 1972–1973 transition

    Rear quarter windows disappear from the soft top, leaving fabric side panels.513

  2. February 1973

    Black replaces gray behind badges; twin coachlines, black sills and tail panel, and all-silver wheel covers arrive.1611

  3. 1973 model year

    LD20001 is the usual Mk II starting point; look for upward-pointing gauges and a smaller steering wheel.10

  4. October 1972–February 1973

    Crossover cars can mix Mk I and Mk II features; later owners also added stripes, wheels and newer trim.11

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Triumph Stag
    Stag
    Photo of a Triumph 2000 Mk 2
    Triumph 2000 Mk 2

    Triumph 2000 Mk 2

    The sedan shares the Stag-inspired nose but has four doors; the Stag has two doors and an opening roof.515

Against its rivals

  • M.G.-B V8 GT

    Stag vs M.G.-B V8 GT

    New price lower is better

    Stag2,615 £
    M.G.-B V8 GT2,294 £
    9
  • Jaguar XJS

    Stag vs Jaguar XJS

    Median auction price lower is better

    Stag9,735 £
    Jaguar XJS8,930 £
    18

Prices

Value today $7.8K–$14.5K2223

Price when newAuction saleValue today
$0$20K$40K$60K$80K 197019801990200020102020 Value today: $7,800–$14,500 1970 · $4,800 · UK base, approx. period USD 1970 · £1,995 17s 6d · UK base, 1970; approximate period USD conversion 2023 · $69,518 · 1971 Fastback Prototype, Bonhams2025 · $9,276 · 1971 Stag, BaT2025 · $15,000 · 1973 automatic, 44k miles shown (TMU), BaT2025 · $18,108 · 1977 MkII manual overdrive, 110,745 miles, Bonhams|Cars Online2026 · $7,800 · 1971 4-speed, 11k shown (odometer rolled), BaT2026 · $14,500 · 1973 Mk2 automatic, 11k miles shown, BaT2026 · $13,177 · Stag, Brightwells2026 · $11,335 · Stag, H&H Auctioneers2026 · $11,700 · Stag, Mathewsons $69.5K Bonhams, 2023
1222326282930
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
1970Launch price$4,800UK base, 1970; approximate period USD conversion
1970Price when new$4,800UK base, approx. period USD
2023Auction sale$69,5181971 Fastback Prototype, Bonhams
2025Auction sale$9,2761971 Stag, BaT
2025Auction sale$15,0001973 automatic, 44k miles shown (TMU), BaT
2025Auction sale$18,1081977 MkII manual overdrive, 110,745 miles, Bonhams|Cars Online
2026Auction sale$7,8001971 4-speed, 11k shown (odometer rolled), BaT
2026Auction sale$14,5001973 Mk2 automatic, 11k miles shown, BaT
2026Auction sale$13,177Stag, Brightwells
2026Auction sale$11,335Stag, H&H Auctioneers
2026Auction sale$11,700Stag, Mathewsons
2026Value today$7,800–$14,500

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 3 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 12 stories from its legend
    • “Leading America until mechanical trouble on day 17”
    • “Bond's hovercraft-bound Stag was chassis LD14”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 30 sources
  1. For Sale: James May's Triumph Stag From "The Grand Tour" Finale silodrome.com
  2. Stag – Triumph Club – Vintage Triumph Register vintagetriumphregister.org
  3. Classic Clubs Series – No. 3 – The Stag Owners Club – including a brief history of the Triumph Stag – Wheels Alive wheels-alive.co.uk
  4. 55 Years of the Triumph Stag: BL's One of a Kind GT - British Motor Heritage Limited bmh-ltd.com
  5. Triumph Stag - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  6. Triumph Stag: Buying guide and review (1970-1977) | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  7. Online Collections - Details Page britishmotormuseum.co.uk
  8. The Triumph Sports Six Club - Cars - Triumph Stag tssc.org.uk
  9. The Triumph Stag September 1973 - Motor Sport Magazine motorsportmagazine.com
  10. Triumph Stag Buyers Guide: The Reputation, the Reality, and the Rust | Classic Car Hub classiccarhub.co.uk
  11. Verschillen Stag Mk1 en Mk2 – Stag Club NL stag-club.nl
  12. Bonhams Cars : 1971 Triumph Stag Fastback Prototype Chassis no. X 815 carsd.bonhams.com
  13. Triumph Stag – Wikipedia de.wikipedia.org
  14. The Stag - at last October 1970 - Motor Sport Magazine motorsportmagazine.com
  15. Triumph 2000 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  16. Standard Fourteen - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  17. Standard Vanguard - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  18. Jaguar XJS vs Triumph Stag britishclassiccars.co.uk
  19. Trans-America Challenge 2015 - Photos, Results, Report sportscardigest.com
  20. Triumph Stag | Bond's Cars bondscars.com
  21. The Grand Tour Has Made Everyone Want A Triumph Stag carthrottle.com
  22. No Reserve: 1971 Triumph Stag 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $7,800 on July 23, 2026 (Lot #253,905) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  23. No Reserve: 1973 Triumph Stag for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $14,500 on August 24, 2026 (Lot #259,420) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  24. Triumph Stag Club of the Americas tscoa.org
  25. Triumph Stag Buying Guide - Petrolicious petrolicious.com
  26. Triumph Stag values: what they sell for at auction britishclassiccars.co.uk
  27. No Reserve: 1971 Triumph Stag 4-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $9,276 on August 26, 2025 (Lot #206,981) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  28. 1973 Triumph Stag for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $15,000 on July 3, 2025 (Lot #198,925) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  29. 1977 Triumph Stag For Sale by Auction themarket.co.uk
  30. Triumph Stag Fastback Prototype For Sale & Price Guide | TCV theclassicvaluer.com
  • silodrome.com
  • vintagetriumphregister.org
  • wheels-alive.co.uk
  • bmh-ltd.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • britishmotormuseum.co.uk
  • tssc.org.uk
  • motorsportmagazine.com
  • classiccarhub.co.uk
  • stag-club.nl
  • carsd.bonhams.com
  • de.wikipedia.org
  • britishclassiccars.co.uk

Photo credits

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