Colour conudrum

[The G Man]

Hello,I recently bought my first Stag, it left the factory in december '74 as Magenta, about 20 years ago it was resprayed in BMW silver, it does suit the car but is obvously not a triumph colour.

The car is needing some paint work and some small rust patches dealing with all though on the whole the body is in good condition and although the engine bay matches it wasnt a full glass out respray.

I have decided that it needs a full glass and engine out respray and am therefore thinking about colours and as a consequence I have a couple of questions please.

I want to return to a orginal colour and one that matched the black upholstery, I am not a huge fan of Magenta (i know others will be ), whilst i plan to keep the car for a good few years I would like a view as to whether i will devalue the car by returning to a colour that doesnt match the orginal spec.

My first question is will it make that much difference provided it is a triumph colour? and secondly does it need to match the colour palate for the year of build or again as an example if i was to choose Topaz which is a 1975 colour would that effect the sale prive vesus Pimento which was a '74 colour.

Or am i over thinking this and as as long as its a high quality job with a photo record of the work and it is a Stag colour it wont make much difference, in effect the price will be set by the overall quality of the car.

I would really value the view of the forum.

Regards John

[MikeParker]

I think there is some small value in being as per the original car spec. Generally, the more original a car is, the more it is worth. Having said that, your car has already been sprayed a completely non-standard colour so returning it to a standard colour would be a plus. If you are not keen on Magenta, then I would go for the original Stag colour that you like the best. It is your car and it will affect your pleasure of ownership. My favourite scheme is probably British Racing Green with a tan interior, but my car has always been Mallard with a black interior and I will keep it that way. Mallard is a colour that looks different to different eyes and I see it as a green and really like the colour.

[022Dave]

Hello John,

You clearly bought the car because you liked it, and the colour (as well as condition) were major influences. Mine left the factory as Pimento red, but it changed to Carmine before I bought it some 30 years ago. I wouldn't get too hung up on originality; make it how you like it. It's not a Bugatti, and is only precious to you. There are some colours from the '70s that aren't so desirable; I won't mention them because it will upset those with brown cars. Oops!

Condition is more important than the paint code, so if Magenta isn't your favourite, then go with what you personally like; it's unlikely to have much effect on its value. Russell Lewis has one of the two 4x4 Stags that were built by FF. He has restored his, and painted it a gorgeous cherry red, certainly not a standard '70s colour, but if you see it at a show, it looks stunning and really suits the car.

Dave

[jbuckl]

Afaiaa, some stags didn’t get a paint or trim code stamped on the commission plate!
choose a triumph colour from your cars year, or any year. In total I think there were 26.

[DMT]

Not much to discuss here. FRENCH BLUE.

[flying farmer]

Not much to discuss here. FRENCH BLUE.

Naaaah, Topaz.

I have 3 cars in Topaz, 2 Stags and an Estate (the Estate was first)

Also have a couple of Signal red Triumphs, only one was originally Signal, and only one was originally Topaz, but I happen to like those colours.

The main thing with a respray is that it isn't obvious. There is nothing worse than opening the boot or bonnet and finding a different colour

[singapore stag]

20190521_171002.jpg
20190521_171104.jpg
My Stag not original colour, PO worked for BMW dealership in the office, whilst boss was on holiday he got the body shop to spray it BMW Hell Rot Red.
As long as you like the colour it does not matter whether original or not.... your car, pose in it!

[singapore stag]

Hello John,

You clearly bought the car because you liked it, and the colour (as well as condition) were major influences. Mine left the factory as Pimento red, but it changed to Carmine before I bought it some 30 years ago. I wouldn't get too hung up on originality; make it how you like it. It's not a Bugatti, and is only precious to you. There are some colours from the '70s that aren't so desirable; I won't mention them because it will upset those with brown cars. Oops!

Condition is more important than the paint code, so if Magenta isn't your favourite, then go with what you personally like; it's unlikely to have much effect on its value. Russell Lewis has one of the two 4x4 Stags that were built by FF. He has restored his, and painted it a gorgeous cherry red, certainly not a standard '70s colour, but if you see it at a show, it looks stunning and really suits the car.

Dave

I remember one of the guys on this forum some time ago say *"-"-'""'-** coloured stags ( poo coloured )

[Phil S]

Your car your choice go with what you like, you have said you plan to keep the car, just enjoy it

[The G Man]

Thanks all, that confirmed my thoughts, pick a colour I like and do like some of the 70's triumph colours, really like Topaz but that is a bit to close to my V8 MGB Roadster (pic below) so i think its between Mallard, Pimento and Saphire blue. Also love Black Tulip a sort of aubergine purple colour but thats a MGB colour so probably rules it out.

I will take photos of the work and post as it comes together over the next few months.

Now off to look at a mid eighties G-Wagon (an old crusty properly used 4x4, none blingy one) the wife is really on board with the Stag and prefers to my B, i think i am testing her patience with the G as well as my budget, that will have to be left for a year or so (but it looks like a decent project) while my Stag is returned to formy glories. I then just need to drive them all which will nicely coincide with my retirement.

Not driven the Stag much yet, only about 150 miles as its at 62k miles and i cant find a record of a timing chain change in the last 25 years, and also because its only been driven 1800 miles in the last 10 years. IMHO it needs a wholesale fluid refresh and thorough check of all saftey critical components (it has been MOT'ed every year with a few small advisories). It had had some mouse damage in the PO's garage, the insurer paid for a new hood and carpets, but i noticed gnawing marks on the dizzy, so it will be an engine out respray, check the wiring harness for any rodent damage and full service and check over of the engine whilst the timing chain is replaced and a new dizzy cap leads etc. Gear box seems fine OD works a treat, the diff is a little noisey, is that normal?

I ran a triumph 2500TC for a couple of years in the early eighties and i had forgotten how good the suspension setup was. The Stag just flows through corners and deals with broken road surfaces really well. Looking forward to spending many hours driving across Wales to the coast.

One more question please, it has the small alloy expansion tank mounted above the heads and has a thermostetic electric fan (so far so good) but i did notice when stuck at a queue it a cross roads that the temperature gauge was heading a good fingers width past normal before quickly dropping back down to N when we got moving again, is this normal? Or perhaps there is a need to flush the block?

[DMT]

Wedding car.jpg

I was looking for a British Racing Green or Red, but after seeing the French Blue I changed my mind.

[The G Man]

It does look very nice, is that a navy hood? blue seats or black?

[DJT]

Also love Black Tulip a sort of aubergine purple colour but thats a MGB colour so probably rules it out.

Black Tulip is a lovely colour and I don't think I have ever seen it on a Stag.

[DMT]

Blue hood, black interior. IMG_20200220_154754 (3).jpg

[Roy_S]

Funny how some colours grow on you, for me white or yellow was on the shopping list and bought a white one. This was due to two friends having one in white the other in yellow years ago and I always liked them. there was a third in the deep red but that never clicked with me.
But since then others like your French blue just suit the car, I even warmed to the Java...! I blame the 70's.

However, like mentioned above, if you change the colour it needs to be a full respray, I had an MGB in dark blue years ago, original colour was a sand gold. Previous owner had it done, they did everywhere, door shuts, engine bay etc, but for some reason not inside the boot area. Always bugged me.