1974 Triumph Stag 3.0L Petrol · EFH 280M
1974 Triumph Stag (3.0L, petrol). First registered 21 Mar 1974. Recorded mileage 4,481 miles. MOT valid until 12 Apr 2027.
- Make & Model
- TRIUMPH STAG
- Year / Origin
- 1974 · Chelmsford
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 12 Apr 2027
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 4,481 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 3.0L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
EFH 280M Key Findings
- 24 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 14/04/2026
- 4,481 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 6 historical MOT failures
- 3 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (22 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
EFH 280M MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
24 MOT tests are recorded for this 1974 Triumph Stag (EFH 280M) between September 2005 and April 2026.
The record contains 18 passes and 6 failures.
The most recent test on 14 April 2026 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 6 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (22 issues), Lighting (21 issues), Suspension (20 issues), Steering (5 issues), Tyres (3 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 58 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded sill (2.4.A.3)”; “Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)”; “Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)”.
EFH 280M Mileage History
- 24/09/200575,023 mi
- 28/09/200675,741 mi+718 mi
- 11/10/200776,266 mi+525 mi
- 11/10/200776,266 mi
- 21/10/200876,861 mi+595 mi
- 19/10/200977,892 mi+1,031 mi
- 24/09/201079,546 mi+1,654 mi
- 26/09/201180,430 mi+884 mi
- 28/09/201180,430 mi
- 16/10/201281,176 mi+746 mi
- 16/10/201281,176 mi
- 03/10/201381,848 mi+672 mi
- 08/10/201381,848 mi
- 20/10/201485,672 mi+3,824 mi
- 21/10/201587,927 mi+2,255 mi
- 22/10/201587,972 mi+45 mi
- 28/09/201690,569 mi+2,597 mi
- 18/10/201690,606 mi+37 mi
- 24/10/201793,025 mi+2,419 mi
- 24/10/201895,590 mi+2,565 mi
- 11/02/202099,329 mi+3,739 mi
- 16/04/2021268 mi-99,061 mi
- 10/03/20253,824 mi+3,556 mi
- 14/04/20264,481 mi+657 mi
Average of roughly -3,432 miles per year across 24 recorded odometer readings.
Recorded mileage decreased between one or more tests — a potential clocking indicator worth verifying before purchase.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
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Known faults for Triumph Triumph Stag
Our database tracks 4 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Good
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
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TRIUMPH STAG Model Intelligence & Reliability
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Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1974 model year cars.
- V8 cooling system overheating and warped alloy cylinder headsSerious
The bespoke 3.0-litre Triumph V8 suffered notorious overheating due to a high-mounted water pump that easily air-locked if coolant dropped, narrow engine water passages, and casting sand left in blocks from the factory. Furthermore, cylinder head studs entered the block at two opposing angles, producing lateral stress when hot that readily warped the aluminium heads and breached head gaskets.
- Duplex timing chain stretch and tensioner failureSerious
The Triumph 3.0-litre V8 uses long single-row duplex chains to drive each overhead camshaft from a jackshaft. The timing chains stretch with use, and hydraulic tensioners wear or fail when oil changes are neglected or oil pressure drops. A stretched chain causes severe valve timing deviation, can jump teeth on sprockets, or snap completely, causing catastrophic piston-to-valve collision in the interference engine.
- Bodyshell structural corrosion in sills, floors and A-pillarsSerious
Constructed from untreated 1970s British Leyland steel with complex multi-box sections, the Stag body is highly prone to structural tinworm. Water leaks through weathered targa and windscreen seals soak into cabin carpets, rotting out inner and outer sills, floorpans and the crucial A-pillars behind front trim panels. Corroded sills cause the open body tub to flex and sag, misaligning doors and weakening the roll hoop structure.
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