Facts & figures

Stag specifications and history

Index

Technical Specifications

Stag versus its Contemporary Rivals

Stag Performance Summary

Paint & Trim Colour Codes

Colour & Trim Changes by Model Year

Principal Production Modifications

Production Figures

Some More Background Reading

Technical Specifications

DRIVE LAYOUT		Front engine mounted longitudinally, gearbox in-line, rear-wheel drive
ENGINE	Type	90° V8 with five-bearing, cast-iron block and aluminium alloy cylinder heads with overhead valves. One overhead camshaft per cylinder bank.
	Capacity	2997cc (182.9cu in)
	Compression	LF HE engines up to 20000: 8.80:1 LF HE engines, 20001 on: 9.25:1 LE UE engines, up to 20000: 8.00:1 LE UE engines, 20001 on: 7.75:1
	Bore/stroke	86mm x 64.5mm (3.39in x 2.54in)
	Max power	LF HE engines, up to 20000: 145bhp DIN @ 5,500rpm LF HE engines, 20000 on: 146bhp DIN @ 5,700rpm LE UE engines, up to 20000: 127bhp @ 6,000rpm LE UE engines, 20001 on: 127bhp @ 5,500rpm
	Max torque	LF HE engines, up to 20000: 170 Ibs/ft @ 3500rpm LF HE engines, 20001 on: 167 Ibs/ft @ 3500rpm LE UE engines, up to 20000: 142 Ibs/ft @ 3200rpm LE UE engines, 20001 on: 148 Ibs/ft @ 3500rpm
	Fuel system	Engines numbered up to 20000: two Zenith-Stromberg 175CD carburettors Engines numbered 20001 on: two Zenith-Stromberg 175 CDS (E)V carburettors
MANUAL GEARBOX		Four forward speeds, all-synchromesh, driven through a 9in diameter single dry plate clutch Laycock A-type overdrive operating on third and top gears optional prior to October 1972; standard from October 1972 to January 1973 except in certain export markets. Laycock J-type overdrive operating on third and top gears standard from February 1973 except in certain export markets Ratios: 2.995:1, 2.1:1, 1.386:1, 1.0:1; reverse 3.369:1. Overdrive 3rd (pre-February 1973 A type overdrive) 1.135:1, overdrive top 0.82:1. Overdrive 3rd (post-February 1973) 1.10:1, overdrive top 0.797:1.
AUTO GEARBOX
Pre-October 1976:		Borg Warner type 35 with three forward speeds, driven through a torque converter. Ratios 2.39:1, 1.45:1, 1.0:1; reverse 2.09:1.
Post-October 1976:		Borg Warner type 65 with three forward speeds, driven through a torque converter. Ratios as for type 35.
FINAL DRIVE		3.70:1
DIMENSIONS
	Length	14ft 5.75in (4420mm)
	Width	5ft 3.5in (1612mm)
	Height	4ft 1.5in (1258mm) with hood erected
	Wheelbase	100 in (2540mm)
	Track	Front 52.5in (1330mm). Rear 52.9in (1340mm)
SUSPENSION		Front: Independent with MacPherson struts, lower links, anti-roll bar and telescopic dampers. Rear: Independent with semi-trailing arms, coil springs and telescopic dampers.
STEERING		Power-assisted rack-and-pinion
BRAKES		Servo-assisted split-circuit system with tandem master-cylinder 10.6in diameter discs at the front; 9in diameter drums at the rear.
WHEELS & TYRES
	Pre-10/75	5.5J pressed-steel disc wheels with four-stud fixing and push-on trims. Centre-lock chromed wire wheels available until mid-1975 only (export only). Five-spoke alloy wheels optional from 1973. 185HR14 tyres (Michelin XAS fitted as standard to January 1973; Michelin XAS or Avon alternatives from February 1973)
	Post-10/75	5.5J five-spoke alloy wheels standard. 185HR14 tyres (Michelin XAS or Avon fitted as standard).
WEIGHT		2981 Ibs (1355kg) with hard top.

THE STAG AND ITS RIVALS

	Max speed	0-60mph	30-50mph	Overall
	(mph)	(sec)	(sec)	mpg
Triumph Stag	116	9.3	8.1	20.7
MGB GT V8	125	7.7	6.2	19.8
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV	115	8.9	10.9	20.8
Datsun 240Z	125	8.3	9.0	25.7
Lotus Elan +2S	121	7.7	8.5	21.0
Mercedes-Benz 280SL	121	9.3	8.8	19.0
Peugeot 504 V6 coupe	117	9.3	-	18.0
Ford Capri 3000GT	113	10.3	-	19.3
Reliant Scimitar GTE	120	8.7	7.6	21.7

Note: All figures are for cars with manual transmission, except for the Mercedes-Benz 280SL which had a four-speed automatic gearbox. The Ford was by far the cheapest of these cars and the Mercedes-Benz was expensive enough to fall into a completely different market sector.

Triumph Stag Performance
(from contemporary road tests)

UK market
	manual/overdrive	automatic
	(1971 model)	(1971 model)
Mean maximum speed (mph)	116	112
Maximum speeds in gears (mph)
Overdrive top	116
Top	113
Overdrive 3rd	105
3rd	92	113
2nd	61	89
1st	42	54
Acceleration (sec)
0-30mph	3.5	4.1
0 40mph	5.5	5.8
0-50mph	7.1	7.9
0-60mph	9.3	10.4
0-70mph	12.7	14.2
0-80mph	16.5	18.6
0-90mph	21.8	24.9
0-l00mph	29.2	34.5
Standing 1/4 mile	17.1 sec/ 82mph	17.9 sec/ 78mph

Acceleration on the move (sec)*

10-30mph	3.0 (1)	3.0 (1)
20-40mph	2.8 (1)	3.0 (1)
30-50mph	3.7 (2)	3.7 (1)
40 60mph	4.3 (2)	5.3 (2)
50-70mph	6.0 (3)	5.9 (2)
60 80mph	7.4 (3)	7.4 (2)
70-90mph	9.8 (3)	9 9 (3)
80 l00mph	13.3 (o/d 3)	14.8 (3)

Overall fuel consumption (mpg) 20.7 17.2
Typical fuel consumption (mpg) 22** 20
Kerb weight (lb) 2805 2835
Original test published Autocar, 10 June 1971 Autocar, 10 June 1971

* Figures given are the best times achieved; the figure in brackets is the gear used.

**This figure is from the original Autocar test of a pre-production manual/overdrive car published in the issue dated 30th July 1970.

Paint & Trim Colour Codes

Paint and trim colours are recorded on the Commission plate by means of two sets of two or three-digit colour codes. The codes are:

Code	Colour Name	Body Colour	Trim Colour
11	Black		black
17	Damson	maroon
19	White	white
23	Sienna	brown
26	Wedgwood Blue	pale blue
27	Shadow Blue	pale blue
32	Signal Red	red
43	Saddle Tan		mid-brown
54	Saffron Yellow	dark yellow
55	Laurel Green	dark green
56	Royal Blue	very dark blue
62	Inca Red		red
63	Chestnut		dark brown
64	Mimosa	light yellow
65	Emerald	bright mid-green
66	Valencia Blue	mid-blue
72	Pimento Red	bright red
74	Beige		beige
75	Brooklands Green	dark green
78	Grey		grey
82	Carmine	dark red
84	Topaz	orange-yellow
85	Java	bright green
92	Magenta	bright purple
93	Russet Brown	mid-brown
94	Inca Yellow	bright yellow
.96	Sapphire Blue	deep blue
106	Mallard	dark blue-green
126	French Blue	light blue
136	Delft	bright mid-blue
AAE	Russet Brown	mid-brown
CAA	Carmine	dark red
HAB	Java	bright green
JAE	Tahiti Blue	bright mid-blue
NAF	Leyland White	white

Although black was listed as a colour, it was never offered on the Stag as a production option.

Grey vinyl trim was only fitted to the Stag in the first year of production.

All Stags were built with vinyl (Ambla) upholstery. Neither leather nor cloth were ever a fitted options.

Colour And Trim Changes

Note: Triumph paint and trim changes are notoriously difficult to determine and this list may therefore not be exhaustive.

1970/71 model year

Damson	Black or Saddle Tan trim
Laurel	Black, Grey or Inca Red trim
Royal Blue	Black, Grey or Shadow Blue trim
Saffron	Black or Saddle Tan trim
Signal Red	Black or Saddle Tan trim
White	Black, Inca Red or Saddle Tan trim

Sills and tail panels were finished in body colour.

1972 model year

Damson	Black or Tan trim
Laurel Green	Black, Grey, Red or Tan trim
Saffron	Black or Tan trim
Sienna	Black or Tan trim
Signal Red	Black or Tan trim
White	Black, Red or Tan trim

1973 model year

Carmine	Black or Saddle Tan trim
Emerald	Black trim
French Blue	Black trim
Magenta	Black trim
Mallard	Black or Tan trim
Mimosa	Black or Chestnut trim
Pimento	Black or Chestnut trim
Sapphire Blue	Black or Shadow Blue trim
Sienna	Black or Saddle Tan trim
White	Black, Chestnut or Shadow Blue trim

For 1973, the tail panel was painted matt black, and the sills in black ripple effect. All cars had side-stripes in Aluminium, Black, or Gold.

1974 model year

Carmine	Black or Tan trim
Emerald	Black trim
French Blue	Black trim
Magenta	Black trim
Mallard	Black or Tan trim
Maple	Black or Tan trim
Mimosa	Black or Chestnut trim
Pimento	Black or Chestnut trim
Sapphire Blue	Black or Shadow Blue trim
White	Black, Chestnut, or Shadow Blue trim

1975 model year

Carmine	Beige or Chestnut trim
British Racing Green	Beige or Black trim
French Blue	Black trim
Delft	Beige or Black trim
Java	Beige or Black trim
Maple	Beige or Chestnut trim
Mimosa	Beige or Black trim
Pimento	Black trim
Topaz	Beige or Black trim
White	with Beige or Black trim

1976 model year

Carmine	Beige or Chestnut trim
French Blue	Black trim
Delft	Beige or Black trim
Java	Beige or Black trim
Maple	Beige or Chestnut trim
Mimosa	Beige or Black trim
Pimento	Black trim
Topaz	Beige or Black trim
White	Beige or Black trim

Sills now have bright cover plates and the tail lamp panel reverts to body colour.

1977 model year

Carmine	Beige or Chestnut trim
French Blue	Black trim
Delft	Beige or Black trim
Inca Yellow	Black trim
Java	Beige or Black trim
Leyland White	Beige or Black trim
Maple	Beige or Chestnut trim
Mimosa	Beige or Black trim
Pageant Blue	Beige or Black trim
Pimento	Black trim
Russet Brown	Beige trim
Tahiti Blue	Beige or Black trim
Topaz	Beige or Black trim
White	Beige or Black trim

Principal Production Modifications

Date	Modification	Commission	Engine No
1970	Air cleaner/intake system has thermal sensor for warm-up	LD 482
	Four-bolt crankshaft flange changed to 6 bolt flange		LF 509
1971	Bonnet release moved from offside dash to nearside dash	T4284LD*
1972	No-loss cooling system introduced with sealed header tank		LF 11,277
	Cylinder head temperature warning switch deleted		LF 13,344
Feb 73	Combustion chamber and piston design altered		LF 20,001
	Rostyle hub caps finish from black to matt chrome recesses	LD 20,001
	Left footrest introduced	LD 20,001
	Alternator changed from external to internal regulator	LD 20,001
	Distributor characteristics changed for emissions	LD 20,001
	Number plate lamps moved from bumper nacelle to boot lid	LD 20,001
	B post interior lamps (2) moved to T-bar (1)	LD 20,001
	Instrument bezels changed from all-black to black/chrome	LD 20,001
	Exterior ‘Stag’ badges background changed from grey to black	LD 20,001
	Stainless strip added to top of sill and black crinkle finish added to sill exterior	LD 20,001
	Rear lamp panel now finished in matt black	LD 20,001
	Flick-wipe stalk changed to intermittent windscreen wipe	LD 20,001
	Body side stripes added	LD 20,001
	reading lamp deleted from glove box lid	LD 20,001
	Seat design and cover materials changed, headrests on stalks	LD 20,001
	Overdrive goes from ‘A’ type to ‘J’ type Laycock	LD 21,231
	Door locks changed to anti-burst type	T21883LD*
	Cooling fan and Torquatrol unit upgraded to high capacity	LD 24,662	LF 23,070
	Carburettors changed to low emissions type		LF 23,932
	Hazard warning switch added to dashboard	LD 25,000
1974	Dismantleable rear half-shafts introduced	LD 32,900
1975	Speedometer trip knob taken from under dash to speedo face	LD 35,940
	High efficiency radiator introduced	LD 36,373
	Seat belt warning light added to dash	LD 38,324
	Manufacturer of power steering pump changed to Saginaw		LF 41,970
Sept 75	Alloy wheels became standard, tyre size from 185 to 175x14"	LD 40,001
	Carburettors became tamper-proof	LD 40,001	LF 42,914
	Stainless strip deleted from top of sill, stainless steel sill covers added, rear lamp panel now body colour	LD 40,001
1976	Automatic gearbox type 35 goes to type 65	LD 41,994
1977	Upgrade 6 to 12 blade water pump and cover		LF 44,931
June 77	Last Stag built	LD 45,722

* Due to inconsistent methods of recording change points, these two figures are actually body numbers.

Production Figures

Model Year	UK		Export		Total
	Manual	Automatic	Manual	Automatic	Manual	Automatic
1970	358	342	30	10	388	352
1971	1,291	699	1,221	690	2,512	1,389
1972	2,015	1,490	432	567	2,447	2,057
1973	1,511	1 683	1,138	1,176	2,649	2,859
1974	1,327	1,279	405	431	1,732	1,710
1975	935	1,051	440	472	1,375	1,523
1976	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
1977	501	871	112	352	613	1,223
Totals	17,819		8,120		25,939

COMMISSION NUMBER SERIES

First off-tools car	LD 1 14th November 1969
Second off-tools car	LD 2 12th February 1970
First line-built car 1970	LD 3 13th March 1970
First car built in 1971	LD 748 2nd January 1971
First car built in 1972	LD 10760 3rd January 1972
First car built in 1973	LD 21087 2nd January 1973
First car built in 1974	LD 31153 4th January 1974
First car built in 1975	LD 34617 2nd January 1975
First car built in 1976	LD 40809 5th January 1976
First car built in 1977	LD 43908 4th January 1977
Last Stag built	LD 45722 24th June 1977

Source: British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.

Some More Background Reading

It is suggested some of the following books might assist your research for your ‘own’ car, from deciding whether you want a manual or automatic, performance to be expected, and why the Stag was designed as it is. All these books are now officially out of print but may be available in specialist bookshops.

Triumph Cars: The Complete Story

By Graham Robson and Richard Langworth

Published by Motor Racing Publications

A full history of the Triumph marque, 'from Tri-Car to Acclaim'. Two respected journalists and industry commentators pool their considerable knowledge of the marque and come up with a good read. Graham Robson also worked for Triumph at the time of the launch of the Stag.

Triumph Stag, by Andrew Morland

Published by Osprey Publishing

An interesting book of many colour pictures of the Stag

Triumph Stag, 1970-1977: Choice, Purchase and Performance

By James Taylor

Published by Windrow and Greene Automotive.

A guide to the potential pitfalls of buying a Triumph Stag today.

Triumph Stag, 1970-1980

Published by Brooklands Books.

A collection of contemporary road tests and other reports on the Stag in Brooklands' well-known archive series, mainly emanating from the launch of the Stag in 1970.

Triumph Stag Collection, No.1

Published by Brooklands Books.

A smaller volume of reprinted road tests and other press materials on the Stag, compiled after the previous work.

Triumph Stag Restoration

Published by Kelsey Publishing

A collection of articles from ‘Practical Classics and Car Restorer’ magazine detailing the step-by-step restoration of a 1972 Mark I Stag. The restoration was carefully managed by the owner over a few weeks, using sub-contractors for all work apart from unit strip and re-assembly. It therefore shows how quickly the job can be done when money is no object.

Triumph Stag Super Profile

By James Taylor

Published by Haynes

A brief overview of the Stag for newcomers, lightweight and with plenty of photographs. The author was inaccurately briefed in preparation of this book.

Triumph Stag - The Complete History

by James Taylor and Dave Jell

Published by Windrow & Greene Automotive Ltd

The latest and definitive volume on the Stag, with James Taylors journalistic skills and the knowledge of Dave Jell. Nevertheless contains some omissions and inaccuracies but still very interesting for any Stag buyer and owner.