I need to screem

[Jeff]

It was a matter of keeping the price down. The Stag was launched at just under £2k as a soft top only, or just over £2k with hard top only. If you bought the soft top, you could pay extra to have the optional hard top. It's all in the price list posted by Julian above #10.

Don't forget, this was in an era when radios, and in some cases heaters, were extras.

So what happened when you wanted to remove the hard top for the summer?

You don't really need a radio, but then again some American cars have roadsters, i.e. no hard or soft tops but then again they have better weather.

[DJT]

So what happened when you wanted to remove the hard top for the summer?.

A lot of owners didn't. There have been a few surfaced down this neck of the woods that had never had the hard tops removed by the original owner and only when sold on did the next owner reveal an unused soft top. I can't answer your question about how many never had a soft top fitted by the factory, and I doubt whether records exist now. James Taylor states in his book: "The Mk1 Stags were supplied in three versions: with soft-top only, with hard-top only, and with both. Some buyers who had chosen a hard-top car later ordered a soft-top, which was then fitted by the supplying dealer. All Mk2 models came with both a hard-top and soft-top."

[Jeff]

A lot of owners didn't. There have been a few surfaced down this neck of the woods that had never had the hard tops removed by the original owner and only when sold on did the next owner reveal an unused soft top. I can't answer your question about how many never had a soft top fitted by the factory, and I doubt whether records exist now. James Taylor states in his book: "The Mk1 Stags were supplied in three versions: with soft-top only, with hard-top only, and with both. Some buyers who had chosen a hard-top car later ordered a soft-top, which was then fitted by the supplying dealer. All Mk2 models came with both a hard-top and soft-top."

Thanks Dave,

No wonder a few people have asked me if it is the convertible model, they weren't as dumb as I thought, also when some Stags have been advertised, they state convertible....they all must have been Mk 2's.

A little knowledge can be dangerous (on my part).

[V Mad]

By comparison, Rootes Group made some Sunbeam Alpines (and even a few Tigers) as GT cars, which only had a (removable) hard top. As the rear seat squab support rail was further back for comfort, this prevented the fitting of a soft top. Many of these have now been modified back to roadster spec with soft top, plus optional hard top.

[jleyton]

Thanks Dave,

No wonder a few people have asked me if it is the convertible model, they weren't as dumb as I thought, also when some Stags have been advertised, they state convertible....they all must have been Mk 2's.

A little knowledge can be dangerous (on my part).

Don't be too hard on yourself Jeff. I suspect that most people who've asked you didn't really know - and the ads usually just say convertible because it helps to sell a car

Cheers

Julian

[davidf]

About 15 years ago, a couple joined Solent and New forest area, with a Stag they had had from new. They always came wth the hardtop on. After a few visits, they commented on the fact that most of our cars were convertible, so we showed them how to remove the hard-top, and there was an original, never-seen-the-light-of-day soft-top.
It is amazing how little some people know about the cars they buy!