Triumph Stag driven by Dennis Waterman heads to auction

A 1975 Triumph Stag with an impressive record of TV stardom will come up for auction this week. 

Most famously, the classic Stag was driven by the late Dennis Waterman, making regular appearances in the BBC’s New Tricks TV series.

The Stag will go under the hammer as part of the H&H Classics Imperial War Museum sale, which takes place in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, on Wednesday 19 June 2024.

A majestic Stag

Created to compete with upmarket roadsters of the era, the Triumph Stag was launched in 1970. Styling was by famed Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, while power came from a brawny 3.0-litre V8 engine.

A 2+2 seating layout and the choice of hard- and soft-top roofs made the Stag a more practical sports car than most. Initially, it proved a success for Triumph, generating a waiting list of eager buyers. 

Issues with reliability would trouble the Stag as time went on, although nearly 26,000 were built by the time production ended in 1977.

Today, fewer than 9,500 examples of the Triumph Stag are thought to remain, making it a relatively rare sight.

Driven by Dennis

The 1975 Stag up for auction comes in an attractive colour combination of British Racing Green with a tan interior. It also has the four-speed overdrive manual transmission, to make the most of the V8 engine’s 145hp output.

However, the biggest appeal with this Triumph is likely to be its extensive number of TV appearances, most notably in the BBC’s New Tricks programme. 

Driven by Dennis Waterman’s character of Gerry Standing, the Stag made numerous cameos between 2003 and 2015. Waterman is even responsible for the small cigarette burn on the driver’s seat.

The Stag was also used in Murphy’s Law with James Nesbitt, The Last Weekend and Midsomer Murders.

Ready for another TV debut

Such was its connection with Dennis Waterman, the Stag was even present at a memorial service held for the late actor. 

The car has received extensive maintenance and restoration work, including a £5,000 respray that was completed in 2021. The engine was overhauled in 2002, which is documented in a substantial history file.

Given the TV stardom the Stag has enjoyed, along with its good condition, a pre-auction guide price of £18,000 to £22,000 has been set.