the triumph stag wheels are better than them rover ones at 1:26 but other than them wheels beautiful car ,nice big v8 in them aswell, sounds very nice!
The aussie Stags have the Rover V8 anyway now or 6?I went to BL in 1978 they took a lot of care with their cars!more than all the other shit you buy now and at mortgage house buying prices too.
@Jack21editing Oh I seeeeeee. You want a car to boost your ego & masculinity? The Porsche 911 GT2 RS beautiful? It's just another over-styled, fat, bloated, computer generated, sterile over-powered modern car. It's about as elegant as a steaming turd on a wedding cake & about as sensual as a kick in the testicles. I'm afraid that car can never be described as beautiful, old chap. Sorry but you're wrong.
@Jack21editing No, I'm talking about any cars. Who cares whether something is faster? Driving pleasure isn't measured by that. It how a car feels that matters.
In my opinion, England made the most exiting cars from the 50's to the mid-70's. If only the quality could have been equal to the japanese models things could have been a lot different.
I recall a lot of Aussie Stags getting shot of the original motor and having Ford "Windsor" V8's (289/302) or small block Holden/Chev engines shoehorned in. Relability and power problems solved, but the fit and finish of the interior was appalling!
why? hindsight has said that Rover simply couldn't supply enough engines to fit the intended stag production run. It would have neccessitated a boat load of money to upgrade/extend the engine plant or re-tool the triumph works to manufacture it, which was not viable for a low production niche market car like the stag. I don't believe internal politics/rivalry between Rover/Triumph was so much of an influencing factor.
I believe it was. It would have been easy to up the Rover V8 production, more shifts etc. The Triumph V8 would have already been designed (on paper, at least) before the Triumph/Rover and Triumph just ploughed on with it. In hindsight, Triumph shoulkd have designed their own heads to go on the Rover V8 engine, to give it their own identity.
I recently got myself a classic sportscar. Tried out 3 different auto's many times from different sellers. I tried the Stag, Triumph TR6 & the good old MGB Roadster.All had their good points & quirky strange things but having tested all of them thoroughly guess what I went for.? The good old MGB. It was nothing to do with the prices being asked but purely on my own thoughts about each car. All were good but for me it was the MGB which came out on top.
@BobbieandSteveDooley err... it wasn't even intended as a humor at all! It's just a basic car review, man. Jeremy is not a stand-up comedian, he's a journalist with a sense of humor.
If they had kept the Buick 3.5 engine in, they would have still had some problems. But it would be so nice to retrofit the BMW tuned Range Rover/Jag supercharged engines into that lovely frame.
My father's regret when he was working here in the US for BLM, initially @ one of their ad agencies, then w/ Mike Dale & Mike Cook @ BLM. JRT, Jaguar was that he didn't buy one & find a safe garage to hide it.
Of course, the Prince of Darkness [Lucas] electrics didn't help. pt 1
I know a guy with a 1975 Stag & he's never had the slightest problem with the Triumph engine. Never overheats,oil pressure perfect ,etc.etc. So not everyone has a problem with the Stag.
@midsaint776 I agree with you about Clarkson (& his 2 mates). They have no respect for any car they drive on "Top Gear". Over paid spoilt brats!!! Clarkson is a nasty piece of work!
@rontenn Overheats happened to those who didn't use antifreeze solution for coolant. Any modern engine is designed to run antifreeze all year round, creating a thermally stable unit. Good engine, poor servicing, the same problem continues to wreck engines today. Run them on water alone and you get hotspots meaning the coolant will boil and not do the job intended.
@TheBeebopper "Overheats happened to those who didn't use antifreeze solution for coolant. Any modern engine is designed to run antifreeze all year round, creating a thermally stable unit. Good engine, poor servicing, the same problem continues to wreck engines today. Run them on water alone and you get hotspots meaning the coolant will boil and not do the job intended."
Yet it didn't happen to other comtemporary engines... excepting Dolomite Sprints. Spot the link? The design was flawed.
@CodeTwo2 The link is any aluminium alloy head and an unwary vehicle technician or just a grease monkey whose so clever to tell you it's the water that cools. Unfortunately substandard water pumps were also found in Stag's. This affected resale so many were ran to there grave with little servicing or lay at the back of a garage unloved.
@TheBeebopper Of course the water cools! Running antifreeze makes a slight improvement to engine cooling. In a marginal engine design, then marginal factors matter. Any properly designed engine will run perfectly without antifreeze, albeit falling short on corrosion protection long term. An engine should not be so close to the trouble area that it relies on the increased cooling of antifreeze/coolant mix. That is an INADEQUATE design. Old or modern engines don't NEED antifreeze to cool properly.
@CodeTwo2 One of the main factors in the Stag's cooling problems, not mentioned here, was the water pump; the same issue that affected Sprints. The Stag shares the same pump set-up. As well as the pump design, the delivery curve v engine speed/temp was badly specified. Later pumps and covers were upgraded. The biggest reason to be vigilant re. the cooling mix was to avoid waterway corrosion - the waterways were restrictive from the outset, based on the cooling required.
@CodeTwo2 I did mention the water pump. Engines of high thermal efficiency are run hot with shear stable oils, like a racing engine. To run at the edge like this demands the use of antifreeze to prevent localised boiling of the coolant and therefore localised overheating. This is more than a minor problem with mixed metal engines. I am led to believe these are solid engines once passed through an engineering workshop and anti-freeze is used as the engine as it was designed.
@TheBeebopper Yes... I should've said "you" mentioned here. You said the pivotal phrase, run "at the edge". The Stag had a pretty ordinary engine that ran at the edge due to poor design. It has to be remembered that in the 70s, volume production alloy heads/blocks were a new thing.
Manufacturers emphasized using antifreeze, but the culture at the time meant that most drivers only did this for Winter. Selling cars relying on antifreeze to stay together would've been a bad idea.
@CodeTwo2 Stag engines can now be properly engineered for reasonable reliabilty, the failings are all well known. Back in their time, an aftermarket fix grew quickly, to replace their engines with the Ford Essex 3.0 V6... most Stags that I saw in the 80s had these in place of the original engine.
There's no splitting hairs about it all IMO. The Stag was a nice car but the engine was crap.
@CodeTwo2 Ahhh, but you forget, the religious BMC/Leyland purchaser would have their vehicle serviced at the dealership under SUPERCOVER, the aftermarket bodge for Friday/Monday products. You should drink whisky and get over it.
Why didn't they use the 2.5 Hemi V8 out of the old Daimler? - or even the big 4.5 V8 Daimler? (if it fit!) Both British, alloy, ohc. I just don't get why Jag never really used either of these torquey, light engines. B.L. could've dug them up out of the woodwork, surely? They did own them by then.
@derrotkreig Leyland Motor Company merged with BMH in 1968 to create BL. Development of the Stag by Triumph started before the merger in 1965. By 1968 Triumph was already well underway developing their V8. To throw that all away would be frowned upon by the bean counters. Similar issue in regards to the RV8. Before Webster was moved to Austin Morris, the TV8 was fine. Harry had authority on parts used. Spen King didn't so the bean counters had their way = cheap gaskets = you know the rest
I own a stag, and against all advice insisted on buying with the stag engine, the problems with the initial unit was overheating, remember we were in the 70s, and people generally topped the rads up with tap water. today with larger rads and coolants, the stag engine is a reliable unit. BUT clarkson is right the Rover V8 should have been used, not only for reliability but tuning.
If the dolomite engine had worked as a V8. Triumph would have been able to make a 4 valves per cylinder V8, which might have been what the engineers were after.
This might have become very interesting.
Since the rover v8 was used in the tr7/8 which previously used the dolomite slant 4. The v8 should probably also fit the stag. They probably thought they had a good reason to not use the rover v8 to solve the problems risen by the stag v8.
@roosten72 Making a 32 valve V8 out of Dolly sprint parts isn't hard. The right hand head can be made but the real challenge is getting the camshaft to rotate the other way. In order to work, it must run in the opposite direction to the left hand cam. Apparently Triumph did dabble with the idea but whether they actually made one that worked I don't know.
You may say it was a bad engine, but god it sounded good. I can remember seeing these cars around as a child, and back then I thought they sounded like a gift from heaven.
The RV8 is fine but it is an old overhead valve design. The Triumph V8 is an overhead cam design. It sounds much cooler. I know several people that have nice reliable Stags. Modern radiator design and advances in metalurgy have helped. I'd really like to find an unmolested example some day. In the meantime my TR8 with it's old fashioned Rover/Buick V8 will have to do.
I have got a very good hint for you to keeping the nice old Engine in good shape with todays ultra dry eco fuels: Use 1:100 API TC two stroke oil / fuel mix as regular driving fuel, that keeps the old fuel-system gaskets, rubber parts, alloy parts etc... and cast iron metal surfaces of those vintage engines in excellent shape...and it also lubricates the valves and upper piston regions. Most Porsche vintage owners in Germany do so :) Also keeps EFi and tank clean and rustfree
Magic car, but costly engine issues. I believe it was bored out too much (should have been a 2.5l), crap crank, crap timing chain, poor ally used in the heads, However no better noise than one on song, thats why over half of Stags mad are still registered with DVLA today, that must be a record
I have a 1979 Triumph, it starts first time. Almost every time. I`m sorry but the BS that surrounds British cars is totally undeserved. The Stag just needed some investment.
Reliable? I think not. A family friend had one - it destroyed three engines and multiple gearboxes in the (12-month) guarantee period. He returned the car and got his money back, went off to Ford with it. Still, it is a pretty car, and if the reliability issues have now been sorted, I wouldn't mind having one =)
What's really funny is when Richard Hammond tested the Corvette, it was out run by the TVR 350C, which has that Buick V8. The Corvette, great as it is new, got out run by it's own companies' old designs. Imagine how far the company has walked backwards. That alone speaks volumes....
@hardcore4republican Your talking ancient history (in automotive terms) The last Buick that used that engine was a 1963 Buick Skylark. Buick went to iron block V8's in '64 and never looked back.
The Stag would have worked better with a Rover V8. Clarkson isn't knocking the car's driving abilities or its looks, just saying the Triumph V8 was an expensive disaster that wasn't needed.
@Glenn1967ful It is a shocking car i live in Australia but my next door neighbour is a Scott and has a Green Stag looks real nice from a distance. Problem is ever few months he spends a furtune to keep getting rust cut out and the Rover 3500 they have shits it all the time. In 10 years they have rebuilt/changed the engine four times that i know of for sure. Im willing to bet its been even more they even know the engine is shocking but they wont sell it. Fucken thing has never ran right
The worst car they ever made was the Austin Montego, I had one and it broke down constantly. Also the Triumph TR7 was a disaster in its early years, being notorious for rust and breakdowns.
Funny that! My 1977 Stag has sailed through two MOT's and completed 4000 miles in the last two years. Even more scary she has her original Triumph V8 under the bonnet!
@triumphstagdriver I've owned a Stag, I had a Mk1 Auto, It was a great car but you can't argue that the triumph engine was a waste when the perfectly good Rover/ Buick unit was available. Having said that, hindsight is a great thing and Triumph had no idea that developing their own V8 would turn into the reliability nightmare that it did. Shame.
@ratty383 Yep, as they say, hindsight is a useless commodity. Reliability issues were not really the fault of the design but rather service mechanics not knowing what to do. Also I would wager that the prod. figs. would be far lower had they used the RV8 - the RV8 production was stretched and doubtfull could meet the supply demand of the Stag alongside the other cars.
Could have made it work but they would know beforehand that prospected prod. figures would certainly not have been met.
@triumphstagdriver One of my best friends had one. No problems for the first 4 months, after that, many electrical problems, running on 7, 6, 5 or only 4 cilinders. And the rust, even worse than an Alfa from those years, under the windscreen, the fenders, constantly checking, repairing and give it a fresh coat of Tectyl on the underside. Now he has a Spitfire, much more reliable and easier to maintain.
Really? I've never driven either a Triumph or Rover, so I don't know what they're like to drive or own. I'm just making my judgment based on what Jeremy said about why the Triumph Stag failed here in the USA.
Perhaps they should've stuck with the Buick 3 litre V8 engine, instead of even try to develop their own. I see nothing wrong with developing your own engine if you know what the hell you're doing. Apparently, though, the engine turned out to be a pile of shit. Unreliable, poorly built, useless!
Rubbish! The Rover engine was free for all BL companies to use. Triumph simply couldn't accept that their hated in-house rival had created an engine which would become a legend, still in production today 50 years after it was first launched. They were bitter and tried to get back at Rover.
Jag's in the seventies and eighties generally had great engines. It was the hydraulics and electrical that required attention. Yes, the Triumph TR8 was and is still a great buy with a solid powerplant. A little 'preventive and pre-emptive' work goes a long way on these. If you know rust can be an issue in certain areas, why not build-up these to be waterproof and so on.
The only good thing about the TR8 was its engine. The chassis was useless. The gearbox was useless. The build quality was useless. The styling was awful. They're only fit to be broken up to surrender their best bits to more deserving cars.
I briefly had one, as my Dad helped me buy it off one of his friends, it was shit and was soo glad to see it go. Horrible fit and finish on the panels, electrical, tuning and wheel alignment problems two busted head gaskets etc
I had 2 stag's in the eighties..a white one and a red one.. lovely cars.. I was that good at taking the engine out..it only took me about one hour..the car was way ahead of it's time but the engine as we all know was a let down..under powered..but it sounded lovely ..thinking of getting another one!!
i have a stag and i love it. it might have its bad sides but they don't mater when you have the wind in your hair and the sound of that 3.0l v8. it sounds beautifal.
the triumph stag wheels are better than them rover ones at 1:26 but other than them wheels beautiful car ,nice big v8 in them aswell, sounds very nice!
980wilson1 2 months ago
triumph pi was the best car BL came out with for sure
triumphpi25002010 2 months ago
the engine on the 1970-1977 Triumph Stag
Engine
3.0L Triumph V8
Annihilator1111 3 months ago
why????? because the beauty is Italian and the ugly is English!!!! Capeesh?!!
paintingglass 3 months ago
"so what the hell went wrong"
89ford150302 3 months ago
Sex while waiting the mechanic... lol
maurirossi 4 months ago
That car has a hideous front.
robobrain44449 5 months ago
@robobrain44449 no its doesnt
980wilson1 2 months ago
The aussie Stags have the Rover V8 anyway now or 6?I went to BL in 1978 they took a lot of care with their cars!more than all the other shit you buy now and at mortgage house buying prices too.
LandroverB1 5 months ago
This is an early Mk1 Stag, the Mk2 looked nicer.
matrixsenior 5 months ago
This is the thing that really annoys me...........
When we really want to do something, we can!
Instead, we sell off our best assets for the sake of shareholders! VERY SAD!!!
hearts76100 6 months ago
i want one so badly
melo15no1 6 months ago
3:01 reminds me of Duke Nukem xD
crogeek 6 months ago
Forget Ferraris & Lamborghinis etc, the Stag is the most beautiful car ever made.
whitbyjet65 7 months ago
@whitbyjet65
no, it looks like a pickup
Jack21editing 6 months ago
@Jack21editing You clearly need to see someone about your mind. So what's the best looking car in your opinion? I can't wait for this.
whitbyjet65 6 months ago
@whitbyjet65
The best looking car ever made is the Porsche 911 GT2 RS. (997 of course) Now THAT car actually has balls.
Jack21editing 6 months ago
@Jack21editing Oh I seeeeeee. You want a car to boost your ego & masculinity? The Porsche 911 GT2 RS beautiful? It's just another over-styled, fat, bloated, computer generated, sterile over-powered modern car. It's about as elegant as a steaming turd on a wedding cake & about as sensual as a kick in the testicles. I'm afraid that car can never be described as beautiful, old chap. Sorry but you're wrong.
whitbyjet65 6 months ago
@whitbyjet65
If you're talking about older cars, The Sunbeam Tiger is 10 Times better looking and faster!
Jack21editing 6 months ago
@Jack21editing No, I'm talking about any cars. Who cares whether something is faster? Driving pleasure isn't measured by that. It how a car feels that matters.
whitbyjet65 6 months ago
hah XD its curious cuz i actualy am starting to love how the name ryms with Jag
get it XD STAAAAG JAAAAAAAAAAAG XD hah whats next?
FLAME4564 7 months ago
What is the name of the song @ 2:30 ? Thank you in advance.
Capitanvolume 7 months ago
@Capitanvolume spirit of the sky by Steve Harris
angrygunsmith 7 months ago
just proves with a gm v8 you can accomplish ANYTHING
mrpontiacfirebird 7 months ago
In my opinion, England made the most exiting cars from the 50's to the mid-70's. If only the quality could have been equal to the japanese models things could have been a lot different.
And I would still love to own a Jag!
trident1702 7 months ago
I don't care about it's problems...that Triumph is pure sex.
SPQRImperator 8 months ago
@SPQRImperator sex with problems... lol
crownroyal111 8 months ago 5
@crownroyal111 You leave the ex-gf out of this! Ha ha!
SPQRImperator 8 months ago
1987 Bucik GNX, 1968 442 Hurst , and 1972 Cutlass supreme...oh yes but thats it
dickcheese663 8 months ago
Buick all the way!
hondabigredatc 8 months ago in playlist Clarkson's Car Years
From what DVD are these episodes from?
moffe247 9 months ago
lol try to watch top deer in youtube
patko1610 9 months ago
To everyone who still complains about the ads:
Step 1. Get adblock plus
Step 2. Block youtube ads in preferences
Step 3. ???
Step 4. Profit!
Watabou89 9 months ago
@Watabou89 where is the preferences button then? Right click didn't revealeither... I would like to block the syhte ads. thx.
trident3b 8 months ago
@trident3b Just click on the adblock plus button and click preferences. I should also add that this only works in Firefox and not chrome.
Watabou89 8 months ago
Jeremy is wrong. Engine in stag is brilliant but radiator is failed and engine overheated.
justas525 9 months ago
Stag is nice car. But the damn radiator can cool normal engine so car was helled. But despite this problem it is still cool car
justas525 9 months ago
I recall a lot of Aussie Stags getting shot of the original motor and having Ford "Windsor" V8's (289/302) or small block Holden/Chev engines shoehorned in. Relability and power problems solved, but the fit and finish of the interior was appalling!
IowaOz 9 months ago
Buick :D
DEATH94SQUAD 10 months ago 2
would have been nice but to see this clip but I can't be arsed to sit through the add
blobby1972 10 months ago
why? hindsight has said that Rover simply couldn't supply enough engines to fit the intended stag production run. It would have neccessitated a boat load of money to upgrade/extend the engine plant or re-tool the triumph works to manufacture it, which was not viable for a low production niche market car like the stag. I don't believe internal politics/rivalry between Rover/Triumph was so much of an influencing factor.
mrspivvy 10 months ago
@mrspivvy
I believe it was. It would have been easy to up the Rover V8 production, more shifts etc. The Triumph V8 would have already been designed (on paper, at least) before the Triumph/Rover and Triumph just ploughed on with it. In hindsight, Triumph shoulkd have designed their own heads to go on the Rover V8 engine, to give it their own identity.
lewis72 10 months ago
I recently got myself a classic sportscar. Tried out 3 different auto's many times from different sellers. I tried the Stag, Triumph TR6 & the good old MGB Roadster.All had their good points & quirky strange things but having tested all of them thoroughly guess what I went for.? The good old MGB. It was nothing to do with the prices being asked but purely on my own thoughts about each car. All were good but for me it was the MGB which came out on top.
rontenn 1 year ago
I like the Staaaaag, but I think the Jaaaaaaag is better.
ahmedeox 1 year ago
So if you put a proper V-8 in a Stag, all your problems are solved then?
quirpco 1 year ago
I park my Staaaaaaaaaaaaaag next to my Jaaaaaaaaaaaaag
13owlets 1 year ago
And WHY did they BL put those stupid little carbs on it, just put a simple 4 barrel on it and be done with it, my gawd!
BobbieandSteveDooley 1 year ago
@BobbieandSteveDooley - or even better, a couple of 45 DCOE Weber sidedraughts.
JBofBrisbane 1 year ago
@JBofBrisbane Too complicated, keep it simple!
BobbieandSteveDooley 1 year ago
My god British humor is just awful especially when Clarkston is trying to do it!
Bobbie
BobbieandSteveDooley 1 year ago
@BobbieandSteveDooley err... it wasn't even intended as a humor at all! It's just a basic car review, man. Jeremy is not a stand-up comedian, he's a journalist with a sense of humor.
Dragsteryourself 11 months ago
If they had kept the Buick 3.5 engine in, they would have still had some problems. But it would be so nice to retrofit the BMW tuned Range Rover/Jag supercharged engines into that lovely frame.
My father's regret when he was working here in the US for BLM, initially @ one of their ad agencies, then w/ Mike Dale & Mike Cook @ BLM. JRT, Jaguar was that he didn't buy one & find a safe garage to hide it.
Of course, the Prince of Darkness [Lucas] electrics didn't help. pt 1
82Echo411 1 year ago
Did the cam driver keep putting it in reverse? :L
konopatom 1 year ago
I have a stag, sitting in a container pulled to bits and sadly, i don't know anything about cars! D:
EggMayonaise1 1 year ago
@EggMayonaise1 sell it to me in denmark
MrRobthebrit 1 year ago
The Lotus will always be British's glory....
and Land Rover too....
Athrunwong 1 year ago
whats the song from 2:26 to 3:00
bryangullickson 1 year ago
@bryangullickson Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum.
Mattyvole 1 year ago
This STAAAAAG would go along with my JAAAAAAAAG
maxhamer 1 year ago 63
@maxhamer Im actually thinking of trading my Jaaag for a Staaaaag.
InmyJag 6 months ago
I know a guy with a 1975 Stag & he's never had the slightest problem with the Triumph engine. Never overheats,oil pressure perfect ,etc.etc. So not everyone has a problem with the Stag.
rontenn 1 year ago
I've got a77 Stag and owned it for almost 3 years.....
even has its original sweet sounding triumph v8 - so they all can't be ba can they?!
Wouldn't sell it either...
WelshyM 1 year ago
@rontenn
Altough Clarkson is very funny, he tends to blow things out of proportion :P
eddohan 1 year ago
CLARKSON 'S AS FUNNY AS A BROKEN LEG , HE'S A COMPLETE ASSHOLE , KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT CARS. I WISH THE BBC WOULD SACK HIM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
midsaint776 11 months ago
@midsaint776
Thanks for youre opinion :)
eddohan 11 months ago
@midsaint776 I agree with you about Clarkson (& his 2 mates). They have no respect for any car they drive on "Top Gear". Over paid spoilt brats!!! Clarkson is a nasty piece of work!
rontenn 11 months ago
@rontenn Overheats happened to those who didn't use antifreeze solution for coolant. Any modern engine is designed to run antifreeze all year round, creating a thermally stable unit. Good engine, poor servicing, the same problem continues to wreck engines today. Run them on water alone and you get hotspots meaning the coolant will boil and not do the job intended.
TheBeebopper 1 year ago
@TheBeebopper "Overheats happened to those who didn't use antifreeze solution for coolant. Any modern engine is designed to run antifreeze all year round, creating a thermally stable unit. Good engine, poor servicing, the same problem continues to wreck engines today. Run them on water alone and you get hotspots meaning the coolant will boil and not do the job intended."
Yet it didn't happen to other comtemporary engines... excepting Dolomite Sprints. Spot the link? The design was flawed.
CodeTwo2 11 months ago
@CodeTwo2 The link is any aluminium alloy head and an unwary vehicle technician or just a grease monkey whose so clever to tell you it's the water that cools. Unfortunately substandard water pumps were also found in Stag's. This affected resale so many were ran to there grave with little servicing or lay at the back of a garage unloved.
TheBeebopper 11 months ago
@TheBeebopper Of course the water cools! Running antifreeze makes a slight improvement to engine cooling. In a marginal engine design, then marginal factors matter. Any properly designed engine will run perfectly without antifreeze, albeit falling short on corrosion protection long term. An engine should not be so close to the trouble area that it relies on the increased cooling of antifreeze/coolant mix. That is an INADEQUATE design. Old or modern engines don't NEED antifreeze to cool properly.
CodeTwo2 11 months ago
@CodeTwo2 One of the main factors in the Stag's cooling problems, not mentioned here, was the water pump; the same issue that affected Sprints. The Stag shares the same pump set-up. As well as the pump design, the delivery curve v engine speed/temp was badly specified. Later pumps and covers were upgraded. The biggest reason to be vigilant re. the cooling mix was to avoid waterway corrosion - the waterways were restrictive from the outset, based on the cooling required.
CodeTwo2 11 months ago
@CodeTwo2 I did mention the water pump. Engines of high thermal efficiency are run hot with shear stable oils, like a racing engine. To run at the edge like this demands the use of antifreeze to prevent localised boiling of the coolant and therefore localised overheating. This is more than a minor problem with mixed metal engines. I am led to believe these are solid engines once passed through an engineering workshop and anti-freeze is used as the engine as it was designed.
TheBeebopper 10 months ago
@TheBeebopper Yes... I should've said "you" mentioned here. You said the pivotal phrase, run "at the edge". The Stag had a pretty ordinary engine that ran at the edge due to poor design. It has to be remembered that in the 70s, volume production alloy heads/blocks were a new thing.
Manufacturers emphasized using antifreeze, but the culture at the time meant that most drivers only did this for Winter. Selling cars relying on antifreeze to stay together would've been a bad idea.
CodeTwo2 10 months ago
@CodeTwo2 Stag engines can now be properly engineered for reasonable reliabilty, the failings are all well known. Back in their time, an aftermarket fix grew quickly, to replace their engines with the Ford Essex 3.0 V6... most Stags that I saw in the 80s had these in place of the original engine.
There's no splitting hairs about it all IMO. The Stag was a nice car but the engine was crap.
CodeTwo2 10 months ago
@CodeTwo2 Ahhh, but you forget, the religious BMC/Leyland purchaser would have their vehicle serviced at the dealership under SUPERCOVER, the aftermarket bodge for Friday/Monday products. You should drink whisky and get over it.
TheBeebopper 10 months ago
@TheBeebopper There was something else I felt I had to say, but I forgot about it. Peace. Cheers!
TheBeebopper 10 months ago
@TheBeebopper "You should drink whisky and get over it."
Over what?
CodeTwo2 10 months ago
Why didn't they use the 2.5 Hemi V8 out of the old Daimler? - or even the big 4.5 V8 Daimler? (if it fit!) Both British, alloy, ohc. I just don't get why Jag never really used either of these torquey, light engines. B.L. could've dug them up out of the woodwork, surely? They did own them by then.
derrotkreig 1 year ago
@derrotkreig Leyland Motor Company merged with BMH in 1968 to create BL. Development of the Stag by Triumph started before the merger in 1965. By 1968 Triumph was already well underway developing their V8. To throw that all away would be frowned upon by the bean counters. Similar issue in regards to the RV8. Before Webster was moved to Austin Morris, the TV8 was fine. Harry had authority on parts used. Spen King didn't so the bean counters had their way = cheap gaskets = you know the rest
triumphstagdriver 1 year ago
Yes, we know the faults now?
Keep the timing cahin new....i think thats the knack. The old one would miss a cog IIRC.
Pity it wasn't sorted back then.
Lovely v8 when its good.
Dav123xyz 1 year ago
My dad had one, and I lucked into getting it when I was about 19. It drove like a DREAM, but sadly, broke down constantly.
davidrodgersNJ 1 year ago
I own a stag, and against all advice insisted on buying with the stag engine, the problems with the initial unit was overheating, remember we were in the 70s, and people generally topped the rads up with tap water. today with larger rads and coolants, the stag engine is a reliable unit. BUT clarkson is right the Rover V8 should have been used, not only for reliability but tuning.
unigateman 1 year ago
If the dolomite engine had worked as a V8. Triumph would have been able to make a 4 valves per cylinder V8, which might have been what the engineers were after.
This might have become very interesting.
Since the rover v8 was used in the tr7/8 which previously used the dolomite slant 4. The v8 should probably also fit the stag. They probably thought they had a good reason to not use the rover v8 to solve the problems risen by the stag v8.
roosten72 1 year ago
@roosten72 Making a 32 valve V8 out of Dolly sprint parts isn't hard. The right hand head can be made but the real challenge is getting the camshaft to rotate the other way. In order to work, it must run in the opposite direction to the left hand cam. Apparently Triumph did dabble with the idea but whether they actually made one that worked I don't know.
triumphstagdriver 1 year ago
STIG STAG STIG STAG STIG...STAG
LemonyTiger 1 year ago
Does anyone know what the average insurance would be on one of these?
rcukreviews 1 year ago
My uncle has a Stag and it is AMAZING i love the stag.. great car
Ow3ned101 1 year ago
Put the Stig in a Stag
scrubahatchu 1 year ago 2
haha back then clarkson was like staaaaag, now hes all about the new jaaaag
LamboRoy 1 year ago
the boat that rocked: Stag...
rav05pimpin 1 year ago
I love a Stag........
horsedood13 1 year ago
You may say it was a bad engine, but god it sounded good. I can remember seeing these cars around as a child, and back then I thought they sounded like a gift from heaven.
aus2045 1 year ago
I was close to buying one of those last years but opted for a car with power steering...
Globodyne 1 year ago
@Globodyne They have power steering and some even have A/C
PaulBriden 1 year ago
3:14.. wot?
arlingo 1 year ago
one day I shall own one of these beauties, one day............
marshalllucky 1 year ago
Comment removed
tommarsh2500 1 year ago
Thats why I like me a nice tr6 (:
DrobertsPB 1 year ago
those land rover clips are from top gear
MrThestig8 1 year ago
The RV8 is fine but it is an old overhead valve design. The Triumph V8 is an overhead cam design. It sounds much cooler. I know several people that have nice reliable Stags. Modern radiator design and advances in metalurgy have helped. I'd really like to find an unmolested example some day. In the meantime my TR8 with it's old fashioned Rover/Buick V8 will have to do.
Spectatohead 1 year ago
my dad has a Staaaaaag to this day. wish he could get the Rover v8 to drop in :S
trinifishstix 1 year ago
I'd like to see how the STAAAAAAAAG deals with the STIIIIIIIIIIIIG!
almostlasse123 1 year ago 69
@almostlasse123 it would conk out from the start,what do you think?
peaceman1234567 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I have got a very good hint for you to keeping the nice old Engine in good shape with todays ultra dry eco fuels: Use 1:100 API TC two stroke oil / fuel mix as regular driving fuel, that keeps the old fuel-system gaskets, rubber parts, alloy parts etc... and cast iron metal surfaces of those vintage engines in excellent shape...and it also lubricates the valves and upper piston regions. Most Porsche vintage owners in Germany do so :) Also keeps EFi and tank clean and rustfree
Pnoerre 1 year ago
It sounds awesome.
undeadkillers 1 year ago
I can really imagine Leslie Phillips saying Staaaaaaaaaaag
tantive4 1 year ago
What's the song at 1:50?
modtbod 1 year ago
@modtbod bill withers lovely day
jakieeey 1 year ago
@modtbod The song is called:
Sunshine By Twista
carstopguy 1 year ago
my aunt is very sick
marshalllucky 1 year ago
nowerdays its a great car, all the heatin probs can be easily and cheaply fixed with modern radiators etc
mine has even been more reliable than my wifes car, and that was built in 2005!!!
orion696 1 year ago
@orion696 Which is great if you can find a survivor. Keyword "If".
DemoFly 1 year ago
Triumph Stag
jmswms 1 year ago
WHAt happen to Noble?
linkinpark9800 1 year ago
@linkinpark9800 when this was out they had not been founded
reel2real5 1 year ago
STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGG
SaltDogHaHaha 1 year ago
Magic car, but costly engine issues. I believe it was bored out too much (should have been a 2.5l), crap crank, crap timing chain, poor ally used in the heads, However no better noise than one on song, thats why over half of Stags mad are still registered with DVLA today, that must be a record
malcstag 1 year ago
@malcstag Could have actually been bored out to 4 litres... The prototype engines were 2.5 but were too small - not enough torque.
All the crap was down to BL using cheap materials instead of good materials.
triumphstagdriver 1 year ago
no the mini is
10yroldcarlover 1 year ago
sounds excellent though
huskobusko 1 year ago
I have a 1979 Triumph, it starts first time. Almost every time. I`m sorry but the BS that surrounds British cars is totally undeserved. The Stag just needed some investment.
Polybeast 1 year ago 2
now that's a wonderful car !!!!!
mrbogdan441 1 year ago 2
best car bl ever made? nah the dolomite sprint was the best
EXTREME4YEARSTOCOME 1 year ago 2
Should have put 2 Sprint heads under the Staaaag bonnet!
WelshyM 1 year ago 2
They've actually found that a better head conversion is the heads from a Jensen Healey!!!
Suprahampton 1 year ago
@EXTREME4YEARSTOCOME - Rover P6? Reliable, well-built, pioneering in the field of safety, fantastic handling, and THAT V8...
EccentricRichard 1 year ago
@EccentricRichard dolomite sprint fast reliable 4 dr saloon rwd 2.0 130bhp engine and then sound is heavenley
EXTREME4YEARSTOCOME 1 year ago
Reliable? I think not. A family friend had one - it destroyed three engines and multiple gearboxes in the (12-month) guarantee period. He returned the car and got his money back, went off to Ford with it. Still, it is a pretty car, and if the reliability issues have now been sorted, I wouldn't mind having one =)
EccentricRichard 1 year ago
My fatehr had one of those until 1 year before i got my driving license.. i could kill him for selling it :P
HondaNsrFan 1 year ago
British cars are the best in the world!!
agnosticcc 1 year ago
what is the song's name at 2:00 ? thanks
peda1fachso 2 years ago
What's really funny is when Richard Hammond tested the Corvette, it was out run by the TVR 350C, which has that Buick V8. The Corvette, great as it is new, got out run by it's own companies' old designs. Imagine how far the company has walked backwards. That alone speaks volumes....
ThePatUltra 2 years ago
The 350C uses a 3.6 litre straight 6.
Lukeno52 2 years ago
@ThePatUltra Bit of a weight difference, buddy.
Rzeractor 1 year ago
so jeremy is saying that gm buick division designed great engines.
so next time you interest yourself in a british car you are just buying a rebadged buick electra, skylark, roadmaster, or park avenue
hardcore4republican 2 years ago
@hardcore4republican Your talking ancient history (in automotive terms) The last Buick that used that engine was a 1963 Buick Skylark. Buick went to iron block V8's in '64 and never looked back.
4thstooge 8 months ago
The Staaaaaag looks like crap.
Stevenx22x 2 years ago
Omg, what's up with those gloves?
fedorkleber 2 years ago
The Stag would have worked better with a Rover V8. Clarkson isn't knocking the car's driving abilities or its looks, just saying the Triumph V8 was an expensive disaster that wasn't needed.
Glenn1967ful 2 years ago 38
@Glenn1967ful It is a shocking car i live in Australia but my next door neighbour is a Scott and has a Green Stag looks real nice from a distance. Problem is ever few months he spends a furtune to keep getting rust cut out and the Rover 3500 they have shits it all the time. In 10 years they have rebuilt/changed the engine four times that i know of for sure. Im willing to bet its been even more they even know the engine is shocking but they wont sell it. Fucken thing has never ran right
fpvshitsonhsv 1 year ago
@fpvshitsonhsv
The worst car they ever made was the Austin Montego, I had one and it broke down constantly. Also the Triumph TR7 was a disaster in its early years, being notorious for rust and breakdowns.
Glenn1967ful 1 year ago
How many of you detractors has ever driven or owned a Stag?
triumphstagdriver 2 years ago 5
Funny that! My 1977 Stag has sailed through two MOT's and completed 4000 miles in the last two years. Even more scary she has her original Triumph V8 under the bonnet!
Not bad for a 40 year old design eh?
WelshyM 2 years ago
@triumphstagdriver . I owned a 1972 Inca Yellow Stag back in 1984 with original V8 .... loved every minute of it
louiseme 1 year ago
@triumphstagdriver I feel Lucky, im helping my step dad restore his mk2 stag :)
Lipsmoker 1 year ago
@triumphstagdriver I've owned a Stag, I had a Mk1 Auto, It was a great car but you can't argue that the triumph engine was a waste when the perfectly good Rover/ Buick unit was available. Having said that, hindsight is a great thing and Triumph had no idea that developing their own V8 would turn into the reliability nightmare that it did. Shame.
ratty383 1 year ago
@ratty383 Yep, as they say, hindsight is a useless commodity. Reliability issues were not really the fault of the design but rather service mechanics not knowing what to do. Also I would wager that the prod. figs. would be far lower had they used the RV8 - the RV8 production was stretched and doubtfull could meet the supply demand of the Stag alongside the other cars.
Could have made it work but they would know beforehand that prospected prod. figures would certainly not have been met.
triumphstagdriver 1 year ago
@triumphstagdriver One of my best friends had one. No problems for the first 4 months, after that, many electrical problems, running on 7, 6, 5 or only 4 cilinders. And the rust, even worse than an Alfa from those years, under the windscreen, the fenders, constantly checking, repairing and give it a fresh coat of Tectyl on the underside. Now he has a Spitfire, much more reliable and easier to maintain.
Brera011 1 year ago
the triumph dolomite sprint was then best car bl ever made and the stag was second
EXTREME4YEARSTOCOME 2 years ago
Really? I've never driven either a Triumph or Rover, so I don't know what they're like to drive or own. I'm just making my judgment based on what Jeremy said about why the Triumph Stag failed here in the USA.
Seattlecarnut 2 years ago
Perhaps they should've stuck with the Buick 3 litre V8 engine, instead of even try to develop their own. I see nothing wrong with developing your own engine if you know what the hell you're doing. Apparently, though, the engine turned out to be a pile of shit. Unreliable, poorly built, useless!
Seattlecarnut 2 years ago 3
@seattlecarnut
i have to disagree with you there...the engines were fantastic and only really didnt work in cold weather or when going at high speeds :P
nath0987 2 years ago
they done the same thing on Top Gear with the Jaguar, "i have a Jaaaaaag"
Bigngreen 2 years ago
At 3:50 is the ONLY time that I HAVE EVER heard Buick mentioned on a British TV show!!
landyachtfan79 2 years ago 2
it wasnt that triumph didnt want to use rovers v8 in the stag it was that rover refused them the engine and so triumph decided to create there own
EXTREME4YEARSTOCOME 2 years ago
Rubbish! The Rover engine was free for all BL companies to use. Triumph simply couldn't accept that their hated in-house rival had created an engine which would become a legend, still in production today 50 years after it was first launched. They were bitter and tried to get back at Rover.
EccentricRichard 2 years ago
"still in production today "
really?
It's out of production since 2006 according to wikipedia.
I don't see why Morgan, TVR, etc. stopped using it if it's still in production.
Molo9000 2 years ago
RPI in Norwich still make it to order. Wikipedia is unreliable, as I know all too well as a former Wikipedian.
EccentricRichard 2 years ago
yes but this program aired in 2000... well before the rover v8 went out of production
allabouthejazz 2 years ago
@Molo9000
this was made about 10 years or so ago.
dan171717d 1 year ago
WHYYYYY
Ovechkin81 2 years ago
mmm buick v8
StarsMarsRadio 2 years ago
what did he say in 2:32?
indoscorp 2 years ago
And "indoscorp", that's Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum. ;)
HenkJanPit 2 years ago
"The spirit in the sky"
Petersworld518 2 years ago
What's the song when Jeremy starts the Triumph Stag?
1958plymouth440V8 2 years ago
Bill Withers - Lovely Day
HenkJanPit 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
on my opinion that is one of the ugliest cars of ALL time
PoorPinky 2 years ago
*facepalm*
pablorambo123 2 years ago
The stag may have had a horrible engine but it did sound very nice :)
cornflakes002 2 years ago 2
Jag's in the seventies and eighties generally had great engines. It was the hydraulics and electrical that required attention. Yes, the Triumph TR8 was and is still a great buy with a solid powerplant. A little 'preventive and pre-emptive' work goes a long way on these. If you know rust can be an issue in certain areas, why not build-up these to be waterproof and so on.
You can buy a Stag and do a 3.5 swap too.
gametamer 2 years ago
The only good thing about the TR8 was its engine. The chassis was useless. The gearbox was useless. The build quality was useless. The styling was awful. They're only fit to be broken up to surrender their best bits to more deserving cars.
EccentricRichard 2 years ago
I briefly had one, as my Dad helped me buy it off one of his friends, it was shit and was soo glad to see it go. Horrible fit and finish on the panels, electrical, tuning and wheel alignment problems two busted head gaskets etc
pantsman29 2 years ago
reminds me of "It's a JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG"
BassT2k7 2 years ago 3
mainly cos jezza recycles some of the stuff he says but alters it a bit
notrickroll 2 years ago 3
Fantastic car. Should have been a world beater.
triumph1231 2 years ago 2
I had 2 stag's in the eighties..a white one and a red one.. lovely cars.. I was that good at taking the engine out..it only took me about one hour..the car was way ahead of it's time but the engine as we all know was a let down..under powered..but it sounded lovely ..thinking of getting another one!!
trevb320 2 years ago
i have a stag and i love it. it might have its bad sides but they don't mater when you have the wind in your hair and the sound of that 3.0l v8. it sounds beautifal.
MrMusclecarman 2 years ago