First Post - Looking for a Stag

[Rincewind]

Hi All,

The title gives it all away....complete newby when it comes to classic cars though I have built a couple of kit cars, (well three actually) in my past.

I have spent months buying the mags, trawling the internet, trying to work out what I really want and have moved from an MG TF (the 50's one!) through to a TR4 and then onto a TR5 (whooaa, they are expensive). But there is a part of me that has always wanted a V8 but it needed to be an open top, so, onto the SP250, expensive and challenging to look at (or quirky as I told the missus) then of course there is the Stag. Attractive, V8, open and closed tops and well priced, so perfect.

I have been looking around at what is available and found as with all classics there is the ridiculously cheap to the ridiculously expensive which makes the whole process of buying quite complicated.

Anyhow, a bit of advice. I have found one that is low mileage and been in storage in a garage for 15 years, only coming out once a year for its MOT. Having read of some of the Stag's frailties is this going to be a good idea? Assuming it is solid and relatively rust free how difficult/expensive is the re-commissioning likely to be?

Looking forward to your answers/opinions and hoping to join your club as a bona-fide Stag owning member.

Of course, if anybody is planning to sell their well fettled and gleaming pride and joy at a fair and honest price, I could be your man

Cheers

[Rincewind]

Hi All,

I hope you don't think I am rude bumping my own thread but there seems to be a long delay between sending a first post and it appearing on the forum. I couldn't find it and I was looking!!

Least ways I assume that is the case and that it's not because you don't like new people joining you. LOL.

Any which way hoping to get some comment soon.

Cheers

[whitev8stag]

Stags are a very good choice.
i'm only 16 and cant drive mine yet, but i love it

[Moraystag]

Hi there, not sure where your based but I would advise that get one of the SOC members to come with you and have a look at the one in the garage. The guys on here are really helpfull and if you let them know where your based they will go out of there way to help. The biggest and most costly thing is as you probably know RUST. Check it out everywhere, lift back the carpets as far as you can the foot wells are a bugger to go. Be very thourough and take your time looking in every nook and cranny. I bought mine before joining this club and made a big mistake. It has cost me a small fortune to sort mine out so as I said get one of the guys in the know, to come with you. Anything is better than buying a bag of ****e that rreally looks good, some of the guys on here know their Stag inside out

Mike P.S if you live in the North of Scotland let me know, I'm not an expert but I know what to look for through bitter experience

[DJT]

Stags are a very good choice.
i'm only 26 and cant drive mine yet, but i love it

Blimey! Where did the past 10 years go? You were only 16 last week!

[DJT]

Hi Keith, and welcome.

You are in a good area for help, there are plenty of Stag owners from your neck of the woods and I am sure someone will be happy to assist you.

As is the case with most classic cars, the best models are often in the club, and there are some nice Stags currently for sale. One thing often recommended is to join the club, go along to some local meetings, view as many cars as possible and then buy the best you can afford. Unless that is you are keen to do a complete rebuild and have the skills for it.

Most of all, be patient. The right car will turn up.

[jleyton]

Blimey! Where did the past 10 years go? You were only 16 last week!

Time flies, when you're having fun - with a Stag

Cheers

Julian

[Greenstag]

Anyhow, a bit of advice. I have found one that is low mileage and been in storage in a garage for 15 years, only coming out once a year for its MOT.

Hello Keith and welcome.

Why do people do this? I've always found more pleasure in driving my Stag than looking at it (although SWMBO has caught me a few times)
Unfortunately the Stag is one of those cars that doesn't benefit from being laid up so don't assume this one is going to be fault free. My sister's Stag had 24000 on the clock and had previously lived in a carpeted garage but still needed a bottom end rebuild when she owned it. Seals can go hard and give up the ghost and condensation can create rust in engine blocks especially after short runs that don't get the car up to temperature.
Saying that these motors are always worth a look as the bodywork can be superb and that's always an asset.
Regards
Dave

[rjahunter]

Hi there, not sure where your based but I would advise that get one of the SOC members to come with you and have a look at the one in the garage. The guys on here are really helpfull and if you let them know where your based they will go out of there way to help. The biggest and most costly thing is as you probably know RUST. Check it out everywhere, lift back the carpets as far as you can the foot wells are a bugger to go. Be very thourough and take your time looking in every nook and cranny. I bought mine before joining this club and made a big mistake. It has cost me a small fortune to sort mine out so as I said get one of the guys in the know, to come with you. Anything is better than buying a bag of ****e that rreally looks good, some of the guys on here know their Stag inside out

Mike P.S if you live in the North of Scotland let me know, I'm not an expert but I know what to look for through bitter experience

This is good advice ! I bought my Dad's 1977 Stag from my cousin. having been lying in a barn for 10-15 years. The pictures show it the day it was pulled from the barn. and then after it went through an acid bath to reveal its true state underneath the paint and rust. I think it was a hidden death trap. Mike's advice is spot on.

Richard

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[milothedog]

Hi Keith, welcome to the asylum, the wardens are quite nice once they know you. You are quite lucky there are quite a few members local to you I'm only a few miles away and you have Chris "Vmad" on your doorstep. if you need a second set of eye's or a second opinion please feel free to PM me. best of luck with the car hunting and as already said the right car will turn up. do you have a preference for colour or Gearbox, Mk1 or Mk2.

Ian.

[Rincewind]

Thanks for the welcome guys, I was beginning to think no one was going to talk to me!!

I did notice that V mad was round the corner and if I get a Stag I think the Weber Mod will be the first as they do seem to be a bit thirsty and I do really want to drive it and not just look at it!

It would be great to have some real experience along for the ride but the car isn't local to me, it's in Bexhill on the South Coast. Is there anyone down there who could cast an experienced eye oover this one.

It needs to be an MOD, and I really want to cheat the Government out of some tax revenue so Mark 1. I love the Yellow ones but it looks good in most colours though I am not hugely keen on some of the Greens and Brown. Sorry, if yours is Brown or Green, just a personal thing you understand lol.

Richard, I saw your pictures before, whooaaa scary or what. I really couldn't cope with that!!

Dave, that is what I was thiwondering but I am not sure how you can tell! Happy to do engine work, but not bodywork. Having said that this one is not cheap (£10,000 for a 72) so I don't really want to be throwing money at it immediately after buying.

Cheers for your comments.

Keith

[Kevin Garrod]

I live in Bexhill, but I'm not sure my eye is experienced enough! however I would be happy to view the car either with or without you.
You may do well to contact Kevin Reed (KevinR) who is the East Sussex co-ordinator as he may well know the car/owner.

[V Mad]

Hi All,


Anyhow, a bit of advice. I have found one that is low mileage and been in storage in a garage for 15 years, only coming out once a year for its MOT. Having read of some of the Stag's frailties is this going to be a good idea? Assuming it is solid and relatively rust free how difficult/expensive is the re-commissioning likely to be?

Of course, if anybody is planning to sell their well fettled and gleaming pride and joy at a fair and honest price, I could be your man

Cheers

You just missed mine; it is now sold, waiting for pickup this weekend, but it will be staying local (Ashrord Middx).

It is unusual to find one that has been stored for 15 years yet is quite solid; IF that is true, that is a good start. BUT: unless the engine was well prepared for storage (no coolant, fresh oil etc) then expect a complete engine rebuild. If you can do that yourself, fine, but if not it will cost you dear. Also factor in new brakes etc, and a respray and it starts to mount up.

[Stagdad]

Blimey! Where did the past 10 years go? You were only 16 last week!

I'm not going mad then ,cos thats what I thought

[Rubce]

Hi

If you are determined to purchase a tax exempt car, make sure you don't get conned into purchasing a "ringer" i.e a non tax exempt one masquarading as a tax exempt machine.

Good luck in your search

Bruce