Stag STAG -- One of the 50 Worst Cars Ever?

[CuriousGeorge]

Check this out: https://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1658545_1658498_1657839,00.html

 

[CuriousGeorge]

Actually, there's some really hilarious stuff written in the Worst 50 Cars of All Time article...Ilove this description of the 1970 Chrysler Imperial:

https://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1658545_1658498_1658026,00.html

 

[TR3driver]

If you liked that, you gotta love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGJty_Rdp1U

 

[fogdot]

I love my wife's Stag. Finally got it to the "daily diver" stage. Even resurrected the AC.
I can't retire with two Triumphs, so when my wife suggested "Sell the Stag," I quickly decided that the TR3 should go.
Dave

 

[aeronca65t]

Here's the entire list:

(it's worth noting that the guy who created this list admits to owning an MGA that he restored....and loves)


1899-1939

1899 Horsey Horseless
1909 Ford Model T
1911 Overland OctoAuto
1913 Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo
1920 Briggs and Stratton Flyer
1933 Fuller Dymaxion
1934 Chrysler/Desoto Airflow

1940-1959

1949 Crosley Hotshot
1956 Renault Dauphine
1957 King Midget Model III
1957 Waterman Aerobile
1958 Ford Edsel
1958 Lotus Elite
1958 MGA Twin Cam
1958 Zunndapp Janus

1960-1974

1961 Amphicar
1961 Corvair
1966 Peel Trident
1970 AMC Gremlin
1970 Triumph Stag
1971 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron Two-Door Hardtop
1971 Ford Pinto
1974 Jaguar XK-E V12 Series III

1975-1989

1975 Bricklin SV1
1975 Morgan Plus 8 Propane
1975 Triumph TR7
1975 Trabant
1976 Aston Martin Lagonda
1976 Chevy Chevette
1978 AMC Pacer
1980 Corvette 305 "California"
1980 Ferrari Mondial 8
1981 Cadillac Fleetwood V-8-6-4
1981 De Lorean DMC-12
1982 Cadillac Cimarron
1982 Camaro Iron Duke
1984 Maserati Biturbo
1985 Mosler Consulier GTP
1985 Yugo GV
1986 Lamborghini LM002

1990-Present

1995 Ford Explorer
1997 GM EV1
1997 Plymouth Prowler
1998 Fiat Multipla
2000 Ford Excursion
2001 Jaguar X-Type
2001 Pontiac Aztek
2002 BMW 7-series
2003 Hummer H2
2004 Chevy SSR

 

[Andrew Mace]

Funny, isn't it, that a goodly number of these so called "worst cars ever" now bring huge sums of money when they change hands?

 

[billspohn]

The writers of these lists rarely know all that much about their subject matter.

In the 1940 - 1959 range, the two worst are the Lotus Elite, which was a wonderful car, although they did indeed have some issues with the stressed fibreglass monocoque handling the suspension mounting points. This was resoved fairly easily by subsequent owners.

The other one that stand out for me, because I own one, is the MGA Twin Cam. At least he got the nature of the problem right. A Twin Cam in good running order is an order of magnitude better than anything in the same price range (sorry, guys - Triumphs included) It is much closer to an Italian concept with 4 wheel dics brakes, excellent handling and an engine that ran willingly to 7000, than to the rather stodgy British roots from which it grew.

But these guys have to produce text to earn their keep, s they write whatever suits their purpose.

 

[rlandrum]

Actually, I found the article quite enjoyable. It wasn't too trashy, was well written, and he made it clear it was all opinion.

My favorite quote...

"What killed the Hotshot was its engine, a dual-overhead cam .75-liter four cylinder, not cast in iron but brazed together from pieces of stamped tin. When these brazed welds let go, as they often did, things quickly got noisy, and hot."

 

[tomshobby]

I see the '61 Corvair on there and agree. But then I had a '65 Corvair and it was one of the best cars I ever had.

 

[JamesWilson]

The writers of these lists rarely know all that much about their subject matter.

I very much doubt this fool has even seen let alone rode in or driven some of these cars they're criticising; particularly the older and more unusual ones...

As for the Model T Ford:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:] And by the way, with its blacksmithed body panels and crude instruments, the Model T was a piece of junk, the Yugo of its day.[/QUOTE]

Simply and uttterly ludicrous.

Perhaps Henry should have waited 90 years for electronic tachs and displays?

Perhaps this "authority" would like to drive a couple hundred miles in his modern car on 1909 roads... in the rain....

 

[Brosky]

If it weren't for the Chrysler Airflow, we'd still be driving boxes. Harley Earl and all of the (great) later automotive designers acclaimed the Chrysler designs of the 30's as the motivational force needed to get cars away from the horse and buggy look and their opinion is more valuable than another so called expert who never spent 10 minutes on a design board.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Excellent point! In fact, the Airflow design was good enough that Volvo copied it virtually line for line (or curve for curve if you will)! Of course, apparently they had second thoughts and ended up with boxes for many years.

 

[tom628]

Andy, you're right about the Volvo boxes. But just before that we drove the wonderful litte volvo PV544 which had great acceleration for its size, and handled so much better than Detroit iron of the early '60s, esp. when we fitted radial tires. Only surpassed in my memory when I finally got my '64 TR4!

Tom

 

[Andrew Mace]

(I realize we're straying a bit from the overall Triumph topic, but) Yes, 544s were great in so many ways, not the least of which being that 3/4-scale 1948 Ford styling! Same with Amazons (122), with their 1950s Willys sedan style. For a long time, my "second love" in the car world was Volvos, my favorite being a first-year ('67) 144 I bought from the original owners who had bought it new in Sweden and then brought it home to the US. With Konis and radials, one of the best cars I've ever owned. (Funny thing is, it was white with red interior, just like my current '62 Herald...which also has radials and Koni shocks, and that Herald also ranks right up there with the best cars I've ever owned!)