ManiacStag restoration thread

[StagManiac]

Well it's 25 years ago today that I was bought my first car - my beloved Triumph Stag - by my late grandfather. So I am keen to start my restoration thread on this anniversary, having returned from an SOC club night in Kings Langley not long ago.

I'll post more details soon. Suffice it to say that my Stag project is a long term commitment. Nevertheless, I'll post some photos in the coming days.

Paul

[jleyton]

Well done Paul,

As Edd's project nears the end we'll have a new one to read. Mind you, he has set a pretty high level to beat

Good luck.

Cheers

Julian

[StagManiac]

Julian, he certainly has set an astonishing standard!

I am currently restoring my Singer Chamois sprint and hillclimb car. The Stag is next in line but I really wanted to start my thread on the anniversary of my acquiring the car. I actually missed that by about one minute! The invoice that I have in my collection of paperwork for the Stag says the 3rd July 1989 but my first post above was at 00:00 on the 4th July.

I do have some pictures of the engine and the bare bodyshell, though, so shall try to get 'em posted over the weekend.

Paul

[jleyton]

The invoice that I have in my collection of paperwork for the Stag says the 3rd July 1989 but my first post above was at 00:00 on the 4th July.

Paul

Isn't that the same as 24.00 on the 3rd ?

Looking forward to seeing your pics and your restoration.

Cheers

Julian

[StagManiac]

Here are the photos. This first batch were taken in August 2013. They show the condition of the bodyshell quite well, I think. The shell was plastic media blasted over a decade ago and then primed, ready for me to finish the body repairs and then paint the car. That didn't happen for various reasons. Some repair is still needed but I have seen far worse Stag bodyshells.

Missing sections of front portion of inner rear wing.





Battery box.



Front of nearside chassis leg from inside the engine compartment.



Front of firewall, where the chassis rail meets it.







Interior, looking somewhat spartan.





The rain gutters of the hard top.



Pinholes in the rear section of the hard top.



None too clever repairs to the bottoms of the A- and B-posts. I didn't do these!







Small, localised wheel arch repair.



Inside boot compartment. The boot floor needs considerable work. Several small sections of the car do.









The whole shell!



Now for some engine photos. Here are the cylinder heads on the bench in my garage. The tappets were rusted in place! The camshafts were not so bad but still not usable. I have managed to remove some of the tappets. I have some ideas to get the remainder out.













The engine block, as it sits in my shed, covered over for protection - of course.











I must emphasise that there will not be much progress on this car for at least a year. I am already restoring my 1966 Singer Chamois sprint and hillclimb car. Once that is finished, I'll devote my energy to the Stag. I have owned the car for over 25 years and it was bought for me when I was 16 by my late grandfather.

I still remember being driven around in the car before I stripped it for restoration in about 1991 or 1992. I loved it! Over the years, I have come to realise quite what special cars Stags are.

As and when I do make any progress, though, I shall post it here.

So what do you think?

Paul

[DJT]

Seen a lot worse. That body is almost concourse compared with some restorations that have appeared on here. Good luck.

[Dave M]

Hi Paul, like Dave says, seen a lot worse being done on here, got any pics of the Singer?

[StagManiac]

Thank you, guys.

...got any pics of the Sunbeam?

Oh yes. Lots. Would you like to see some? I could post some in an off topic thread somewhere.

Paul

[Dave M]

Thank you, guys.



Oh yes. Lots. Would you like to see some? I could post some in an off topic thread somewhere.

Paul

At the end of the day Paul if people like Stags it's highly likely that they like other old cars too, so I for one would like to see some pics of your Singer. There's been many "my other classic" threads in the past on here, look forward to seeing yours.
Dave

[edd]

At the end of the day Paul if people like Stags it's highly likely that they like other old cars too, so I for one would like to see some pics of your Sunbeam. There's been many "my other classic" threads in the past on here, look forward to seeing yours.
Dave

I agree lots of restoration tips and processing can be applied to a stag so why not . I really enjoyed Bruces gt6 thread . I love lots of classics but wouldn't want to join every single owners club .
ps. good luck with the stag . I can't believe the rot seeing as it was off the road so long ago . My dad's was suffering at 8 years old
Edd

[StagManiac]

Thanks, Edd. I'll post some pictures and a bit of blurb about the Singer then.

Yes, the Stag was quite rotten. She's had new front wings, rear quarter repair sections, full outer sills and a rear outer valence (inner needs replacing, though). Oh and the outer sections of the inner wings have been replaced. She was just 16 or 17 years old when she was taken off the road. Much more work is needed but friend and demon welder Dave 'new to this' has looked over the car and thinks she's not bad at all!

Paul