Triumph Stag Mk1
The Stag was built with the idea of being a luxury grand tourer, going head to head with the likes of Mercedes with its SL models. It started life though as a styling experiment, which was cut and shaped from a 1963/4 Triumph 2000 pre-production car. It was loaned to director of engineering at Triumph, Harry Webster, with the hopes that he’d be fond of the styling and give the go ahead to enter production as a new Triumph model.
In short, that’s exactly what it did. It became a two-door convertible, which had little in common with the original Triumph 2000 that was once its base, however, it did retain the suspension and drive line. The design was favoured so much so that the new T2000 and T2500 both in saloon and estate model used the styling lines of the Stag during their production run in the ’70s.
The engine was formed by mating two Dolomite four-cylinder blocks together and upping the capacity to 3-litres to produce a specially built V8 for the Stag. This later went on to power other models in the range.
Today, Mk1 Stag prices have been rising considerably over the past four years. Where £10,000 could have got you behind the wheel of a good example, today that figure is closer to £20,000 for a great example. Those that are running in good condition with good history sit around the £15,000 mark, with the ropiest examples coming in under £10,000.
Triumph TR4A
The TR4 received mixed opinion upon its arrival in 1961. The changes to the body were so radical when comparing it to its predecessor that many feared that the end of the simple, classic look spelt the end of Triumph. This in particular was the case with the American market, who instead of ordering TR4s, opted to order 3000 TR3As in 1962 for domestic consumption.
Despite this, it wasn’t long until people warmed to the looks and the improvements to the rest of the car were more than welcomed and even began to silence the die hard Triumph fans. Once the TR4A arrived in 1964, the revisions to the rear which saw the inclusion of independent rear suspension, and of course the overall TR4 upgrades including rack and pinion steering, power upgrades and an all-synchromesh gearbox, pieced an altogether brilliant package.
Today, prices for TR4As are relatively stable. Price aggregator, The Market, has tracked TR4 prices over the past four years, all of which average prices around the £18,000. The cars we saw for sale ranged from £18,000 to £24,000 depending on condition. The very best examples will demand closer to £30,000.
Triumph Vitesse
The Herald range may well have been old-fashioned by the standards of its competitors but its simplicity worked to Triumph’s advantage; the separate chassis construction enabled the firm to produce the car as a saloon, convertible, estate and even a van. This meant that the Herald and subsequent Vitesse is a viable option for those looking for a DIY-friendly vehicle to work on. As a result, those looking to get more hands on should look no further.
Despite this, the flipside to this is the fact that many will have been subject to restorations from previous owners and therefore cars can come in varying states.
Vitesse models are up there with the most affordable Triumphs, therefore, open top motoring can be yours for around £8000 for a good example. Those looking for projects can obtain such vehicles for under £5000, depending on the state of condition.
