Triumph’s Stag (1970-78) competed with touring cars like the Mercedes SL, offering seating for four and a V8 engine beneath its long bonnet. Built solely as convertibles, US Stags gained a targa bar to meet safety requirements in “the colonies.” This solid-looking 1972 Triumph Stag in Williston, Florida shows some wear and a sizeable left front fender dent and comes fitted with this handsome removable hardtop. Taken in trade by the seller, the solid-looking Triumph comes to market here on eBay where it’s failed to attract a $10,000 opening bid. The deep red classic unexpectedly packs a Chevrolet small block V8 under the hood. Check out another Stag featured in March of 2024 showing the top removed.
According to ThirdGen, this GM blue graced low-performance versions of the venerable small-block Chevy engines from 1977 to 1982. Most likely a 350 cid (5.7L) version, the GM mill should provide satisfying torque and better performance than the original 3.0L (183 cid) Triumph V8. An Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum intake manifold and what looks like a four-barrel Holley carburetor with vacuum secondaries should add a few ponies. No V8 is easier to keep alive and build for power. The engineering included a compressor and air conditioning lines, suggesting more than a quick and dirty swap of convenience.
Operating condition escaped the listing, but the registration sticker from 1984 and lack of information suggests project car status. The automatic shifter likely connects to a General Motors three-speed automatic transmission (no overdrive). The small brake pedal suggests the Stag left the factory with a four-speed manual gearbox.
Twenty inches longer than an MGB, the Stag offers additional trunk space and a luggage rack for extra bags.
The leaping Stag logo suggests graceful power, and we hope this beast finds an owner with the passion to get it running and stretching its legs in the wild.
A luxury compared to many two-seat British sports cars, the Stag’s rear seat could best be described as 2+2 accommodations for children and well-acquainted friends of small stature and good temperament. The small block should provide entertaining cruising and opens the door to other variations. LS, anyone? Purists may rejoice knowing the original engine is available as well. How would you put this long-ignored Stag back in action?
This is the 3rd different small block Chevy equipped Triumph Stag featured on the site in the last 3 weeks. Unfortunately, it doesn’t make the car desirable with the other 2 racking up high bids of $4,950 and $4,650 respectively. That’s not much money for a car that has the potential to be a lot of fun.
Steve R
Wow, something whacked that fender a good one, but it looks like an unfortunate event, not an accident. The interior looks nice! I’d leave the top on and have a dependable tourer :^)
I believe all Stags had the “targa bar” for structural strength and safety.These cars should have had the highly reliable Rover/Buick 3500 ( at the time) V8 and they would have hit a home run..
Because most of the British designers were stupid at the time! They already had the Buick V8 engine that was installed in the Rover cars but no, they had to have a British engine, and what they got was crap. I think that this engine most likely hastened the end of the Rootes Group, and if it did then they deserved exactly what they got!
Yank the cast iron lump and go LS and a Tremec. It would be as light as when it came from the factory and would have more than twice torque and power. You can get a 5.7 liter one for around $3k and a Tremec 5 speed for around a grand. Yes it would cost even more but in the end a more modern engine would make the car worth a lot more too. It would have what they used to refer to in Road and Track as “that extra margin of highway passing safety”…
LS no, with $3k you could rebuild the original engine and install a 5 speed. Fix the front fender and you then would have a great cruiser for around $10k total. Seems reasonable.
Ended with 0 bids.
The selling dealer will have to come down from the clouds, took it in on a trade and probably paid $1000, has it relisted for same amount and its a non runner …