We had a group of my wife's girlfriends over one night. One of whom hailed from the deep farming area of the midwest. She had heard from my wife that I had two International Harvesters: a pickup and a Scout. Being from farmland, she exclaimed "Hey! That's the only kind of truck my Dad would ever buy! I learned how to drive a stick on an International pickup! Can I see them?" So she drags a gaggle of girls, including my wife, out to the garage where there's a line of vehicles: two Internationals, a '67 Mustang, and the Stag.
The midwestern girl walks down the row and starts explaining to the others, "This one here is an International Truck, we used these on our farms. This other one here is a Scout, we also used these during the winter instead of our cars because they were 4 wheel drive and could go anywhere." Then, moving on to the Stag (which she clearly did not recognize), she looked down at the Stag emblem in the middle of the grille, furrowed her brow while pausing for a moment, and then looked up and proudly exlaimed, "And this one here is a John Deere."
I didn't have the heart to correct her and never have
Some say its curves are so alluring that it draws blondes to it like a magnet... and that its original engine was so unreliable that the only way it could possibly move under its own power is with an engine swap.
Very nice. I'm a big fan of Triumphs, both cars and bikes, and I'm enough of a non-purist to appreciate the swap. Even though the Stag was never my favorite, it still ranks highly. I'm admittedly biased by my first car being a Spitfire, so the Spitfire takes the top spot in my list of favorite Triumphs, and the GT6 is neck and neck with the TR6 for 2nd/3rd. The Stag comes in a solid 4th with a healthy lead over the TR7/8.
From there, the list becomes one of Triumphs that I have no real desire to own, but like nonetheless, starting with the TR3.
Closer to what the Stag should have been, though I would have opted for a 215 V8 as originally intended, because of less weight on the front end. The Stag is one of the great should-have-beens in autodom - a fine idea spoiled by lousy execution. Wonder if there's a way to remove that ugly roof-cage without causing the body to wilt like month-old celery?
@Zeusnemesis:
Tell your wife that this blonde has been given one month to live, and her dying wish was to put a dent in the hood of a Triumph Stag. So, the nice guy that you are obliged her and let her sit on your Stag.
Sorry for the late posting, but I actually had the pleasure of driving one of these rare and wonderful beasts. It was a rather fetching bright red, black top, black woven vinyl interior. The noise of the V-8 was wonderful, but it was equipped with the Borg-Warner automatic, and there were a few problems with it, like the manual choke wouldn't work (the lever inside the compartment snapped off in my hands), and the suspension has a curious creak over most bumps, but all was forgiven with the top down (on a very warm September weekend, as I remember fondly).
Ahhh well, I will never ever own one, so thanks for the memories.
@A strolling player: I think you're right-- there are few things wrong with the Stag that couldn't be fixed by a big ol' LS-series motor. I'd go for the LS7, though.
Have you checked out the Wall Street Journal today? They review a book on the malaise period and on Carter's "Malaise speech" in 1979. it's called "What the heck are you up to, Mr. President?". It seems up your alley.
Wow, this is like a British Leyland Mustang. I mean, I can't imagine what inspired them to build a coupe with a V8 and use a fast animal as the mascot.
Ah, this is one of my guilty pleasures. I've only actually seen a couple of them, both running, but probably--well, undoubtedly--using a replaced power plant.
It always struck me as having a little Alfa Romeo spice in the design.
Keep an eye on this, Murilee, and let us know if it actually rolls under its own power--and what that power might be--maybe it's original and running on money and optimism.
09/27/09
We had a group of my wife's girlfriends over one night. One of whom hailed from the deep farming area of the midwest. She had heard from my wife that I had two International Harvesters: a pickup and a Scout. Being from farmland, she exclaimed "Hey! That's the only kind of truck my Dad would ever buy! I learned how to drive a stick on an International pickup! Can I see them?" So she drags a gaggle of girls, including my wife, out to the garage where there's a line of vehicles: two Internationals, a '67 Mustang, and the Stag.
The midwestern girl walks down the row and starts explaining to the others, "This one here is an International Truck, we used these on our farms. This other one here is a Scout, we also used these during the winter instead of our cars because they were 4 wheel drive and could go anywhere." Then, moving on to the Stag (which she clearly did not recognize), she looked down at the Stag emblem in the middle of the grille, furrowed her brow while pausing for a moment, and then looked up and proudly exlaimed, "And this one here is a John Deere."
I didn't have the heart to correct her and never have
09/28/09
09/26/09
All we know is, it's called the Stag.
09/27/09
Have a Portago.
09/28/09
09/26/09
09/26/09
From there, the list becomes one of Triumphs that I have no real desire to own, but like nonetheless, starting with the TR3.
09/26/09
09/26/09
09/26/09
Tell your wife that this blonde has been given one month to live, and her dying wish was to put a dent in the hood of a Triumph Stag. So, the nice guy that you are obliged her and let her sit on your Stag.
09/26/09
09/26/09
09/26/09
But surely your wife knows about your blonde sister. Right?
06/20/09
Ahhh well, I will never ever own one, so thanks for the memories.
06/20/09
06/20/09
06/20/09
06/20/09
06/20/09
Have you checked out the Wall Street Journal today? They review a book on the malaise period and on Carter's "Malaise speech" in 1979. it's called "What the heck are you up to, Mr. President?". It seems up your alley.
06/20/09
06/20/09
06/20/09
It always struck me as having a little Alfa Romeo spice in the design.
Keep an eye on this, Murilee, and let us know if it actually rolls under its own power--and what that power might be--maybe it's original and running on money and optimism.
06/20/09