The car
The Triumph Stag: History, Design and Variants
The car's own story: from a 1965 Michelotti show special on a Triumph 2000 floorpan to the end of production at Canley in 1977, through the design, the Mk1 and Mk2, the transmissions, the colours and the production data.
This section covers the car itself: where it came from, how it was designed, how the variants differ and how many were built. For what the Stag is, why it matters and what the whole archive covers, the main guide to the Triumph Stag is the place to start.
- i.
History & Development
From a 1965 Michelotti show special on a Triumph 2000 floorpan to Spen King's 3.0-litre V8 and the 1977 end of production.
- ii.
Transmission Guide
The 4-speed manual with optional Laycock overdrive and the Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic: reliability, driving characteristics and buying checks.
- iii.
Manual vs Automatic
The definitive comparison: the Borg-Warner Type 35 automatic against the manual with Laycock overdrive, driving feel, servicing, buying checks and what each does to values.
- iv.
Mk1 vs Mk2
Enthusiast terminology, not factory designation. The commission-number ranges by year, and the visual tells that distinguish them.
- v.
Design & Michelotti
The T-bar roll hoop, the four-seat convertible concept, the shortened floorpan, and the Mercedes-SL positioning.
- vi.
Production Data
Year-by-year build totals 1970–1977 (UK and export) and DVLA UK survivor figures, 25,939 built, 8,369 still on the UK register.
- vii.
Stag vs Rivals
How the Stag compares to the Mercedes 280SL, Reliant Scimitar GTE, BMW 3.0 CS and Triumph TR6, on price, power, seats and character.
- viii.
Colours & Paint Codes
Where the paint and trim codes live on the car, the 1977 change from numeric to letter codes, and where to find the full verified colour list.