THE STAG FASTBACK – TRIUMPH’S LOST OPPORTUNITY?

Many followers of ‘The British Motor Corporation/British Leyland Saga’ like to speculate on what might have been. The projects that never entered production are many and varied, from the 9X and the Austin Ant to the ‘Rolls-Healey 4000’ and Rovers P8 and P9. And there was also the fastback version of the Triumph Stag, which Bonhams auctioned earlier this month - Bonhams : 1971 Triumph Stag Fastback Prototype Chassis no. X 815

The Fastback’s story dates from 1968 when Triumph’s head of engineering Spen King asked Giovanni Michelotti to make a fastback version of the forthcoming Stag. The design was finalised by 1969, but the delays in bringing the new grand tourer to the market were one reason for shelving the project. Another was British Leyland internal politics, but, fortunately, this was not quite the end of the story. Canley’s Engineering Department did not scrap their ‘X 815’ prototype but instead developed it as a running car part-time.

By March 1971, work on the Fastback was completed and registered shortly afterwards. A Leyland director used the white Triumph for a while before it vanished from sight. A Mr. Alan Hart located it in 1985, and you can read more of the fascinating restoration story here - Fastback Stag Restoration | Stag Owners Club (wordpress.com)

As to the Fastback’s potential, had Triumph decided to commence production, it would almost certainly have been an attractive rival to the Reliant Scimitar GTE. Moreover, Leyland could also have pre-dated the Ford Capri 3.0 Ghia Mk. II. As for the important US export market, a Stag hatchback might well have tempted wealthy lawyers and doctors who might otherwise have looked at the Datsun 240Z.

However, it could be argued that the sales volumes were too low to justify a different version. Triumph devised the Stag with the American drivers in mind, but USA exports amounted to only 2,871 units. Had the Fastback been launched alongside the Tourer in 1969, the scenario might have been different, and PAE 755 stands as an example of another BL lost opportunity.

Plus, I surely cannot be alone in thinking a Triumph Stag Fastback would have made a splendid ‘James Bond Car’?