Stag as first car - questions...

[Mike Wattam <MikeWattam@domain.elided>]

Hi Jules

First thing you need to consider is insurance.  There are 2 things which
will put off the insurance companies who specialise in classic cars - your
age and your use of the Stag as the 'first' car.  So I suggest you start
off with getting insurance sorted out first.  You may need to go with an
'ordinary' insurance policy - that is without agreed value - to get insured
at all.  Privilege the telephone direct insurers have insured Stags before,
give them a try on 0113 292 5555.  Or try Aon on 01384 455011 and ask for
their classic car department.

Regarding a Rover engined car, yes they are cheaper to buy (but there are a
lot of bodged conversions including some with bonnet bulges to clear the
big SU carburrettors).  There is no practical difference between the 2
engines maintenance-wise as the Rover motor has its valve gear and head
gasket problems too.  The Rover is much more tunable than the Stag but
getting the heat away is a big problem, also is breaking exhaust manifolds
to which there doesn't seem to be a 100% answer.  Some Rover motors also
come with the Rover 5-speed 'box which is quite nice.

The Stag started off with both hard and soft tops being extras but after
the first few months it could be bought with either hrad or soft top, the
'other' top being an extra.  By 1973 and the MkII, both tops were standard
on all UK cars.  You may well find when you try to buy a Stag, that many
have no hardtop supplied, this is probably because they tended to rot away
badly and may have been scrapped.

IMHO - Mike Wattam
Chairman - Triumph Stag Register