Bag a Stag? It’s a steal!

Why this Stag crept in below its auction estimate CAR 1972 Triumph Stag SOLD £7952 ORIGINAL ESTIMATE £8000-10,000, Brightwells, 13 August

There are plenty of Stags out there, but this one stood out.

You don’t have to look far if you fancy having a Stag on your driveway – there’s always a healthy selection in CCW’s classifieds, and they appear fairly frequently in classic auctions. However, many of those appearing in sales tend to be later models; early cars, such as this one, are a touch rarer. Usually, however, those early cars are often basket cases that need full restoration – this one definitely wasn’t one of those, though.

The history made this one a smart buy, too...

This car’s vendor had owned it since 1996 and there were 26 old MoT test certificates dating back to 1988 in the history file. There was also, as Brightwells described it, ‘a significant pile of bills (not only from local garages but also specialists such as SNG Barrett and

Rimmer Brothers) showing dedicated maintenance,’ among which was one for a replacement gearbox and overdrive re-fresh in 2009. Obviously, a paperwork trail like that is always good new for potential buyers.

...but it wasn’t all original.

It was re-painted from its original dark red to black around 20 years ago and the hardtop had been painted at the same time. The bodywork had been painted again (but not the hardtop this time) in the last two years and it still looked smart. Interestingly the factory never offered black, although it suits the Stag’s lines to a tee. Bodywork was said to be rust-free and ‘well above average’ and sitting nicely. The original steel wheels and hubcaps had been replaced by later Stag alloys but these, along with period black and silver registration plates gave a very smart, distinctive air. The tan interior had lasted well, too.

It represented a lot of value.

An abundance of Stags in sales helps to keep values in check, and may well explain why this one snuck in beneath its lower estimate. However, this particular example had plenty in its favour, and especially the way its condition was backed up by the paperwork. It was definitely well bought for the price paid.