For the Love of Cars

Triumph Stag (1x3)

Air date: May 04, 2014

Philip Glenister and Ant rescue a Triumph Stag sports car to restore it back to better than new. Philip meets comedian and car fan Alexei Sayle and pits the Stag against a Jaguar E-Type. The Triumph Stag is a car that represents the best and worst of British motoring. Launched in 1970 with continental good looks and a punchy V8 engine, the glamour faded rather quickly as the car became synonymous with overheating engines and unexpected breakdowns and ceased production after seven years. Philip and Ant Anstead find a Stag under a tarpaulin at the back of a scrapyard to restore. Philip meets members of the Stag owners' club in an attempt to understand whether the Stag's reputation for unreliability is fair. From a European road trip with comedian and motoring journalist Alexei Sayle, that almost ends on the back of a recovery truck, to pitting the Stag against one of the greatest cars ever built, the Jaguar E-Type, in a battle of the best sounding engines, Phil and Ant come to a surprising conclusion about the Stag.