The Triumph Stag is a British sports car sold between 1970 and 1978 by the Triumph Motor Company and styled by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti. In 1965, Michelotti requested access to a Triumph 2000 to form the basis of a new a styling piece for the forthcoming Turin Motor Show. The resulting design (see photo) was liked so much it never featured at the show and instead the Stag was born. The name Stag was originally the ‘code' name given to the model, but was adopted as the actual name during development in 1966.

The original idea was to take two years developing the concept to launch in 1968, however it was delayed by a further two years because of a number of problems, partly financial. Engine selection for the final production example also played a big part. Many alternatives were tried, but it was a specially developed Triumph V8 3-litre power unit which was chosen and this engine would become exclusive to the Stag.

Technically, the car was very advanced at launch in 1970, including independent suspension all round, servo-assisted disc/drum brakes and power steering and electric windows as standard. All Stags were four-seater convertible coupés and with its refined styling, distinctive roll-over bar (originally installed to stiffen the body to reduce scuttle-shake) and hard/soft top options, the car was widely acclaimed. Envisioned as a luxury sports car, the Triumph Stag was designed to compete directly with the Mercedes-Benz SL models.

The first car built from production tooling in Triumph's Project Development workshops, was pre-production car LD1. This famous car (still surviving and having been immortalised as a Corgi model) is very important in Triumph history as only two pre-production cars were built in this configuration. The other example, LD2, was a left-hand-drive car to US specification. Among Triumph Stag enthusiasts there is a real following and interest in these pre-production hand-built series of cars.

The series of ‘LDx' cars starts with LD1 (RRW 97H), with LD2 and LD3 still surviving outside UK, and then runs on consecutive plates from LD4 (RVC 425H - which starred in ‘The Sweeney' and ‘The Professionals') through LD9 (RVC 430H - which starred in ‘Straw Dogs') to LD14 (RVC 435H - which starred in ‘Diamonds are Forever') plus LD17 (RVC 438H - a much-used press car) and LD19 (a crash test car). The series concludes in late March/mid-April 1970 - still two months before the public launch - with LD20 being the first car sold to the public.

Presented here for sale is LD6, produced on the 26th March 1970, and still wearing its original Coventry plate of RVC 427H. Our vendor, himself a Triumph enthusiast, has owned the car for the last 12 years. He has set about fully restoring it, whilst ensuring it maintains a matching numbers status and the preservation of its specific original features, spending approximately £25,000 on it over the years. The car is in excellent condition and is said to drive superbly, having benefitted from a very good quality re-spray and a full engine & gear-box overhaul (the correct Borg-Warner 35 automatic BW-35 unit). With a recent MoT and full service, this car is ready to be enjoyed and appreciated. It's one of a small and unique group of Triumph cars and is part of Triumph's history, making it incredibly rare and sought-after.

This pre-production, hand-built and now fully restored car represents a great opportunity to buy into what many people want from classic car ownership and that is ‘exclusivity' - well, this is it and within a very accessible budget.

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