You've Done What To A Stag?! - Bonus Episode
About this episode
At a classic car meet in West London, the hosts zero in on the Triumph Stag—especially one of the most modified, and the only one on air ride. They talk low mileage, 17-inch wheels, and a no-expense-spared interior swap to quilted leather and walnut trim, plus a V8 rumble and a four-speed ZF gearbox. The conversation widens to the “Stag Empire” community, cruises like Windsor, and how owners spend—sometimes around the £40,000 mark—to keep classics on the road.
Would you add air suspension, massive alloys and a 25 speaker sound system to a Triumph Stag? In this bonus episode, we meet members of a London car club not afraid to bend the rules (and spend the money) to create the Stags they really want. They're not British Leyland purists but the passion they have for the 70s cruiser is infectious. Come with us as we meet the drivers and their cars at Stag Empire's biggest meet-up yet.
See photos of the cars, the mods and the people behind them on our Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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Triumph Stag
"And the classic car of choice with these guys is the Triumph Stag. Well, as I look up and down it all I can see are Triumph Stags... lots of lowered, non-original wheels, lots of modifications... ...the Triumph Stag... Give me a shopping list of stuff that's on here."
The Triumph Stag is a classic British car made by Triumph. Here, people aren’t keeping it stock—they’re customizing it a lot, including the suspension and interior, which is why it’s the main focus of the episode.
The Triumph Stag is a classic British grand tourer (GT) from Triumph, best known today for its distinctive styling and its reputation among enthusiasts. In this episode, it’s the central car because the owners are heavily modifying it—changing wheels, paint/trim, and even suspension—so it stands out from a stock, period-correct example.
chrome fittings
"...an absolute rainbow of colours and not original colours as well. I mean bright metallics, more chrome fittings on some of these cars than a bathroom showroom..."
Chrome fittings are shiny chrome-finished trim pieces or hardware used to dress up the exterior or visible areas. In classic-car customization, adding chrome is a common way to create a more showy, high-contrast look compared with stock trim.
lowered
"bright metallics, more chrome fittings on some of these cars than a bathroom showroom and lots of lowered, non-original wheels, lots of modifications..."
“Lowered” means the car sits closer to the ground than it did from the factory. People usually do it for looks, and it can also change how the car feels and clears obstacles.
In car culture, “lowered” means the car’s ride height has been reduced from stock, usually by changing suspension components. It’s often done to improve appearance (a lower, more aggressive stance) and can also affect handling, though it may change ride comfort and clearance.
non-original wheels
"bright metallics, more chrome fittings on some of these cars than a bathroom showroom and lots of lowered, non-original wheels, lots of modifications that make them look very, very different."
Non-original wheels are wheels that aren’t the ones the car came with. Changing them can be mostly about style, but it can also affect how the car rides and handles.
“Non-original wheels” means aftermarket wheels that replace the factory rims. Wheel swaps can change the car’s look, tire size/fitment, and sometimes steering feel and ride quality depending on the wheel and tire setup.
air suspension
"I mean some of these cars have got air suspension for example, tricked out engine bays with loads of chrome... ...it's one of the most modified stags and it's the only one on air ride as well."
Air suspension is a suspension system that uses air instead of metal springs. It lets the car sit higher or lower, which is popular for showy “stance” looks and for customizing how the car rides.
Air suspension uses air-filled springs (instead of steel coils) to let the car raise or lower its ride height. That’s why the episode mentions lowered stances and why this Stag is described as being on air ride—owners can dial in a show-car look and adjust how the car sits.
engine bay
"I mean some of these cars have got air suspension for example, tricked out engine bays with loads of chrome and interiors that wouldn't look out of place in a Bentley or a Hot Rod."
The engine bay is the space under the hood where the engine lives. “Tricked out” just means it’s been customized and dressed up so it looks impressive when you open the hood.
The engine bay is the compartment under the hood where the engine and many related components are mounted. When the episode says “tricked out engine bays,” it means the owners have customized visible parts—often with chrome, detailing, and styling—to make the engine area part of the show.
purist
"So all in all it's not your typical line up and it's a site that would send a purist like Max into a cold sweat."
In classic cars, a “purist” is someone who wants the car to stay as close to original as possible. This episode is basically saying the Stag crowd is the opposite—more into modifying than preserving.
A “purist” in classic cars is someone who prefers keeping a car close to factory-original specification—often prioritizing period-correct parts, colors, and details. The episode contrasts purists with owners who modify their classics heavily.
17 inch wheels
"[144.5s] completely on 17 inch wheels which I don't think there's a stag around that's on 17 right right [148.4s] now and it's on air ride as well so it goes up, goes down, you know you could do the hokey-cokey"
“17 inch wheels” just means the wheel size is 17 inches across. Wheel size can affect how the car rides and how the tires handle bumps.
“17 inch wheels” refers to the wheel diameter, which affects tire sidewall height and ride feel. Compared with smaller wheels, 17-inch setups typically use shorter sidewalls, which can change comfort and steering response.
air ride
"[148.4s] now and it's on air ride as well so it goes up, goes down, you know you could do the hokey-cokey [153.1s] with it put it that way."
Air ride is a suspension setup that lets the car change its height using air. That means you can make it sit higher or lower depending on what you want.
Air ride is a suspension system that uses air springs (instead of metal coil springs) to control ride height. Because the system can raise or lower the car, it can dramatically change stance and how the car feels over bumps.
16,000 miles
"[183.4s] Well most of the stuff on here is original so like the engine which is probably [188.3s] the most important part of the car so the original engine is in there and this car itself has only [193.7s] got 16,000 miles original which is absolutely probably unheard of right"
“16,000 miles” means how far the car has been driven in total. The point here is that it’s very low for a car that’s about 50 years old.
Mileage is the total distance a vehicle has been driven, and low mileage can matter a lot on classics because it can indicate less wear. The speaker emphasizes that this car’s “16,000 miles” is unusually low for its age.
vinyl seats
"[232.9s] it was an absolute small fortune. Yeah I mean I mean normally these would have come with obviously [236.3s] vinyl seats and trimmed out to a budget but this is obviously no no expense spared is it?"
Vinyl seats are the cheaper, plastic-like upholstery material. They’re saying this car has leather instead, which is a nicer (and usually more expensive) upgrade.
Vinyl seats are upholstery made from synthetic leather-like material, commonly used on many cars to keep costs down. The speaker contrasts factory-style vinyl with the upgraded leather interior to highlight how expensive the current trim is.
walnut
"So you've got the upgrade on the [250.3s] dashboard the walnut kind of kit on there you've got a wooden steering wheel got a decent sound"
Walnut here means the wood trim inside the car. It’s used to make the dashboard and interior look more upscale.
Walnut is a type of wood used for interior trim, often chosen for its appearance and perceived luxury. In classic cars, wood dash kits and steering-wheel trim are common “period-style” upgrades that can significantly change the cabin’s look.
sound system
"[254.5s] system because these suffer from having a rubbish sound system. It's got probably one of the best"
They’re talking about the car’s stereo and speakers. The host is saying this model usually doesn’t sound great, so the upgrade matters.
A sound system in this context refers to the car’s audio setup (speakers and head unit). The speaker says these cars are known for having a “rubbish” audio system, implying an aftermarket or upgraded stereo is part of the build.
V8 rumble
"It's the noise anyone who loves stags is that v8 rumble and when you hear the noise and you put your foot down it's just music to your ears right"
“V8 rumble” is the deep, throaty sound you hear from a V8 engine. People associate it with a classic, characterful exhaust note.
“V8 rumble” refers to the deep, uneven-sounding exhaust note produced by a V8 engine firing order. It’s often described as a signature sound that becomes part of the car’s identity, especially on classic V8s like the Triumph Stag.
four-speed ZF gearbox
"I've been told this is the most modified stag here and with zack it's on an r-redge it's um 475 74 75 it's um r-redge sort of like a metallic red yeah metallic red so red color and it's got four-speed zf gearbox right"
This means the car uses a transmission with four forward gears, made by ZF. That gearbox choice affects how the car shifts and how it feels when you drive.
A “four-speed ZF gearbox” is a transmission with four forward gears made by ZF, a major supplier of drivetrains. On older cars, the limited number of gears can make the engine sound and feel more “mechanical,” and it also affects how the car cruises at different speeds.
Chevrolet Impala
"it's twist of classic car and modern like they do in America you have a Chevy Impala but it's a Chevy Impala body but they put new twist to it"
The Chevy Impala is a famous American car. The host brings it up as an example of the “classic look, modern mechanicals” kind of build.
The Chevrolet Impala is a well-known American full-size car that’s often used as an example of how people can mix classic styling with newer mechanical upgrades. Here, it’s referenced to explain the general idea of keeping an old look while updating the drivetrain/gearbox approach.
play wire wheels
"tell me about the wheels there's a play wire wheels knock off golden chrome yeah so so like a spoke wheels with gold inside and in chrome running outside"
Wire wheels are the classic-looking wheels with thin spokes. The “knock-off” type uses a special locking piece to hold the wheel in place.
“Wire wheels” are wheels built with thin metal spokes, typically used on classic cars for a period-correct look. The “knock-off” style mentioned here refers to wheels that use a separate locking mechanism to secure the wheel to the hub.
quilted leather
"really nice interior is all quilted leather and stuff yes it's been done it's a Bentley continental twist because the original stag ones are PVC another so open the door then let's have a quick look at the interior so it's quilted leather all over the dashboard"
Quilted leather is leather upholstery stitched in a padded, decorative pattern. It’s a more premium-looking interior finish than plain vinyl/PVC.
Quilted leather is upholstery where leather is stitched in a padded, patterned “quilt” design. It’s a common way to make a classic interior feel more luxurious, and here it’s contrasted with the Stag’s original PVC interior material.
PVC
"it's a Bentley continental twist because the original stag ones are PVC another so open the door then let's have a quick look at the interior"
PVC is a type of plastic used for car interior trim. They’re saying the original Triumph Stag used PVC, but this one has been upgraded to leather.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a plastic material often used for interior trim because it’s cheaper and easier to produce than leather. The host contrasts the Stag’s original PVC interior with the modified quilted leather to highlight the upgrade.
steering wheel
"a slightly unusual steering wheel tell us about that yeah one of my mates suggested do something different allow for okay so he come up with this idea do you have a chain steering wheel looks"
A steering wheel is what you hold to turn the car. In this story, they’re pointing out that the steering wheel is a custom, unusual design.
A steering wheel is the driver’s control for turning the car, but here it’s mentioned because it’s an unusual aftermarket or custom design. Steering-wheel swaps are common in classics when owners want a different look or feel.
custom car audio installation
"look at this sound system okay now look for those of you've got stags you'll know this for those you don't you can only normally in a sander stick stag fit a very small tiny rubbish speaker in the door ... you've got a subwoofer in behind the seat ... that's an Orion amp very powerful ... equalizer"
They’re talking about a custom sound system build. Instead of using the factory speaker spots, they redesign where speakers and the bass unit go, and add extra power so the audio sounds better.
This segment describes a custom car audio installation where the owner changes speaker locations, adds a subwoofer behind the seat, and uses dedicated amplification and tuning. It highlights how classic cars are often modified to fit modern audio expectations while still keeping the car’s overall look.
subwoofer
"so you've got a speaker box so it's not the box is not in the back you can see yeah you've got a subwoofer in behind the seat yeah that's Alex subwoofer"
A subwoofer is the part of a car stereo that plays the deep bass. It’s usually mounted in a special box or space so the low notes sound strong and clean.
A subwoofer is a speaker designed specifically for low-frequency “bass” sounds. In a custom car audio setup, it’s often mounted in a dedicated enclosure to control how the bass resonates inside the cabin.
amp
"with what looks like obviously a big amp yeah that's an Orion amp very powerful I'll go back to you on the back you can't see"
An amp is the power unit for the car’s sound system. It helps the speakers play louder and clearer, especially when you add bigger speakers or a subwoofer.
An amp (amplifier) boosts the audio signal so the speakers can play louder and with better control. In car audio, a powerful amp is often paired with custom wiring and speaker upgrades to handle higher output.
Ford Orion
"...hat looks like obviously a big amp yeah that's an Orion amp very powerful I'll go back to you on the back..."
The Ford Orion is a regular Ford car that was made for everyday driving. It’s the kind of vehicle people used for commuting and family errands. In a classic-car discussion, it’s usually brought up as an example of a common model from its time.
The Ford Orion is a compact family car that was produced by Ford, typically known for being practical and widely used as everyday transportation. It may come up in a classic-car podcast because it represents a specific era of mainstream, affordable motoring rather than a niche performance model. The mention in the transcript sounds like the name “Orion” was used in a visual/audio context, but the car itself is the Ford model line associated with that name.
equalizer
"you can't see I've got battery in the front and equalizer my god yes so it keeps all the way"
An equalizer is a control that lets you change the sound—like making bass stronger or reducing harsh high notes. It helps the music sound better in the car.
An equalizer lets you adjust the balance of different audio frequencies (like bass vs. treble). In a custom setup, it’s used to tune the sound to the cabin and speaker placement so it doesn’t sound muddy or harsh.
Holden Caprice
"...sticks out more than other classic cars like Ford Caprice here of course but there are good cars not knocki..."
The Holden Caprice is a large sedan made by Holden. It was designed to feel comfortable and roomy for everyday use. It’s mentioned because it’s a standout-looking classic in the big-sedan category.
The Holden Caprice is a full-size sedan from Holden, built as a comfortable, feature-focused car aimed at buyers who wanted a larger, more refined ride. It’s often discussed in classic-car circles because it stands out visually and represents a mainstream “big car” style from its production period. The podcast context suggests it’s being compared to other similar-sized classics, highlighting how it can look more distinctive.
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