A featured car
KKH 295N — 1974 Triumph Stag
A 1974 Mk2 Stag in the rarely-seen French Blue, with the sought-after manual-plus-overdrive gearbox and its 3.0-litre Triumph V8. Well kept across five decades — around 51,750 miles, only some 7,000 of them since 2006 — and recently the subject of a comprehensive, documented bare-metal restoration. A Stag done properly, and a study in what that takes.
At a glance
| Built | Triumph, Canley, 1974 |
|---|---|
| Registration | KKH 295N |
| Model | Mk2 (“Series 2”) |
| Finish | French Blue with tan perforated-leather interior |
| Engine | 3.0-litre Triumph V8 · twin Zenith-Stromberg carburettors · dual sports exhaust |
| Transmission | Four-speed manual with overdrive on 3rd and 4th — the sought-after combination |
| Running gear | Independent suspension all round · servo-assisted brakes · power steering |
| Interior | Perforated leather (an upgrade on the original vinyl) · wood-rim Moto-Lita wheel |
| Mileage | Around 51,750, of which only ~7,000 since 2006 |
A documented restoration
KKH 295N’s history file tells the story every Stag buyer hopes to find — not one panicked push, but sustained, proper work over years.
2020 — a mechanical refresh
A thorough mechanical refresh: a full set of tyres, new front brake pads, both cylinder heads skimmed, a new manifold gasket, a new water pump, distributor cap and rotor arm, a new starter motor and battery, fresh timing chains, a gearbox oil service, and wax-oiling of the underside.
2025–26 — a bare-metal restoration
Between October 2025 and March 2026 the car underwent a major £40,000-plus restoration by Malton Coachworks. The underbody was completely stripped to bare metal, epoxy-treated and resprayed, with a partial top-half respray. The engine came out; the gearbox was rebuilt; the steering was rebuilt; the suspension was rebuilt on fresh bushes; the fuel tank was stripped and coated; the brakes were rebuilt; the twin carburettors were stripped, sonically cleaned and rebuilt; the seats were re-upholstered on new foam; and a period-style Bluetooth radio was fitted.
It is exactly the kind of work the rest of this archive argues for. A Stag is only ever as good as the work done on it — and this is what ‘done properly’ looks like.
Restoration gallery
The 2025–26 rebuild, in pictures — from a bare-metal shell to the finished car.
On the road
Sorted, a Stag is grand touring at its most characterful, and this one is no exception. The smooth 3.0-litre V8 offers easy torque and, through the dual sports exhaust, that signature Stag burble — often called one of the best-sounding engines of its era. The four-speed manual is crisp through the gears, the overdrive slipping in on third and fourth for relaxed cruising, while independent suspension all round, servo-assisted brakes and power steering make for an easy, comfortable drive. Inside, the perforated-leather trim, matching door panels and contrasting piping, with the wood-rim Moto-Lita wheel, make an inviting cockpit.
Why it matters
Three things make KKH 295N a notable survivor. It is a Mk2 with the manual-plus-overdrive gearbox — the combination enthusiasts seek out, and the one that best suits the Triumph V8. It wears the uncommon French Blue over tan leather. And it carries a deep, documented history culminating in a bare-metal restoration — the difference between a Stag that rewards its owner and one that drains them. It is, in short, the answer to the question this site keeps returning to: is the Stag really that bad? Not when it is this well sorted. The car is now in careful private ownership.
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