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Published on 29 November 2018

I bought mine as a runabout in 2000. Like the guy in the clip, I also have a Stag, and I wanted a car to "get around/get to work" while I did some work on the Stag.............and when I had finished with it, I had thoughts of getting a TR7 and putting the Sprint engine in it. It became too good for that, and became a runabout until 2012, when I parked it in Dad's garage and has been there ever since. Mine did everything from tow trailers to just get me round. Amazing enigma of a car with great features and bizarre ones as well. Like the guy in the clip, my Stag was an auto and I wanted a manual. I was offered a manual with all aux bits, but was in Melbourne. So I drove there in 2003. At Xmas. From Perth, 7,000 kms return. It was 48 degrees over the Eyre Peninsular; but "only" 38 or so across the Nullabor, so all good. Because of the overdrive, it could cruise in the middle of nowhere at 130 km/h. And the economy I got I could not believe. Coming back I had the G/box and bits in the boot, heavy toolbox in rear footwell; and a 2000 sedan diff in the front footwell a mate had given me. Pick up was affected, but car still cruised at 130..........to the amazement of the cop who saw me near Norseman....... but I can relate that later. :-) To me it was like a Copper S with overdrive, great to chuck around, like driving a go cart. Problem is that here, people are used to having heads lying around because old Holdens/Falcons are everywhere. As soon as they get a head of a car, they "skim it" as a matter of course. The heads I have for mine are overskimmed, and running at least 12 to one (should be 10) and all the heads I have looked at are worse than mine. If you see heads that the chambers are oval; no good straight away. They have machined past the round bit that should be there.........and that makes them work harder than designed. I know you can shim etc, but I never got around to it. But mine has definitely earned it's keep. It cost me $2,700 in 2000; it owes me nothing. :-)