Re: New to the list

[Glenn Merrell <gmerrel@domain.elided>]

Hello Woody,
    Welcome to the list.  You bring up some interesting questions. Your
main concern should not be dents in the door, but rust.  Body panels are
readily available from England.  The Stag problems in the USA were
mainly mechanical, caused by lack of proper maintenance.  A car that has
been restored and is properly maintained will be relatively trouble
free.  But, do not expect the Stag to be a "set-it-and-forget-it" car
like maintenance free US and new cars.  It is, remember, 27 years old,
and an older British car to boot.  It will require regular periodic
maintenance like annual cooling system flushing, replacing the timing
chains at about 25,000 mile intervals or less, keeping the carbs and
timing properly adjusted, and paying attention to the all those little
knocks, clinks, grinds  and clunks WHEN they occur.
    The Stag is a very attractive car, one of the classiest around, a
joy to drive when properly restored and maintained.  It is becoming very
rare in the US,  likely less than 200 are actually running in the USA,
and probably less than 500 total survive in the USA.  This is opposed to
the UK and Europe having something around 10,000 Stags on the road.

Restoring the car to running condition will cost you between $5000 to
$10,000, parts, mostly your labor, including rebuilding the engine.  If
you  have someone else do the work, expect costs well over $10,000 for a
good restoration.  Do your research BEORE buying and your Stag ownership
will be much more enjoyable.  Buy some restoration books on Stags, join
a USA club like the Vintage Triumph Register and your local Triumph
club.

Regards,
Glenn Merrell
Triumph Stag Register USA VP
membership inquiry's to:
Mike Wattam <101714.1343@domain.elided>

"Keep Your Stag Cool, Install a NEW Composite Cowl Today"
See it at the site below:
http://pw1.netcom.com/~gmerrel/stagcowl001.html