Bill, I'm flattered, but I'm not, at this point, a Tiger expert. I am
fortunate enough to have easy access to both an Alpine shell and my Tiger,
which allows me to make comparisons on these two particular examples, but
that doesn't necessarily translate to being able to spot a converted Alpine
(the one that's being built locally is not an attempted Tiger clone, and
there's no effort being made to hide its Alpine origins).
Consider that there were three distinct and several more sub-flavors of
Tiger made, based on two (or more) Alpine bodyshell variations. The TAC
inspectors, particularly, have a depth of background in these matters that
few of us will ever approach, and there are other Tiger owners (some of whom
lurk on this list) who have seen enough Tigers and Alpines in different
states of repair and restoration that they know where the obvious and
not-so-obvious changes are.
Now if I can convince my wife that she needs a mk1 Tiger, then I could
expand my knowledge a bit... I'm always willing to learn.
Theo Smit
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Parfitt, Bill @ PDX [SMTP:BParfitt@GlacierNW.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 7:03 AM
> To: 'DJoh797014@aol.com'; Parfitt, Bill @ PDX
> Cc: tigers@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: Tiger authentication
>
> Dave,
>
> Stay on the box all you want! But now you're getting into the
> politics. I was at SUNI also, as was every other major Tiger organization.
> I
> don't have a clue as to why some kind of program has not been instituted
> beyond the West Coast. I do know that people who truly know the cars
> jealously guard their secrets. When I sat next to someone who TAC's cars
> and I started asking questions about the process I got nowhere. It was
> like
> one of these " I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you"
> routines. All I know is that 1) these cars have a simple ID system 2) they
> are easily modified to fool the unsuspecting and 3) many buyers do not
> have
> the knowledge of Theo, Steve, and perhaps yourself to identify a true
> Tiger
> on their own. I know, I am one of them. I also have Norman"s book which
> is
> replete with horror stories about phonies. I am, in fact, a transplanted
> Easterner (pennsylvania) who first drove a new Tiger (am I dating myself?)
> when in college and have waited many years to get one of my very own and I
> find the TAC system as ONE way for someone like myself not to get stiffed.
> NOW, who is on the soapbox. Bill
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DJoh797014@aol.com [mailto:DJoh797014@aol.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 1:38 PM
> To: BParfitt@GlacierNW.com
> Cc: tigers@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Tiger authentication
>
>
> Even though I have problems with only TAC'd Tigers
> being considered 'real' Tigers, I had mine TAC'd at
> SUNI. Tom Hall did the dirty deed, and the cost and
> trouble was painless.
>
> The problem is that most West Coast Tiger groups
> seem to have a blind eye as to Tigers east of the
> Continental Divide. TAC'ing a Tiger in the East takes
> some effort but it can be done.
>
> Most people seem to forget that Sunbeams were also
> sold and raced in the East. Ask Lew Spencer where
> he drove. LAT options are the rage in the West. But
> what about the LIT options?
>
> Time for me to get off my soap box. It's lonely here.
>
> Dave Johnson
>
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