Bruce,
I have an article somewhere sent me years ago by a friend on the wrong
coast. Came from a non-Tiger car club newsletter. Description of the
purchase and restoration of ####, pride and joy of the author, who penned
this piece no doubt without anticipation of the current state of
particularity. Early on, he recounts the lamentable discovery of extensive
work by ferrous termites.
"Fortunately, +++++++ had an extra body..."
is a direct quote as to how this situation was addressed. +++++++ was and
is a 'well known and reputable Tiger guru'. In a personal conversation in
the late 80's, another w.n.a.r.t.g. told me unabashedly that this was THE
decade-old solution for true rustbucket Tigers and that the level of
sophistication in replicating 'factory methodology' was far superior now
that it was becoming an issue.
It's ten years and more after that point. Maybe raised consciouness has
changed things, but I wouldn't bet on it if I were going to spend
significant money on a car. The thing that never comes up in the endless
recycling of the TAC debate is the obvious that courtesy prevents broaching.
Courtesy has no place when someone new to the community asks for help.
The simple fact is that the basic 'frame' structure of the cars (the
rockers, the X-frame, even the lateral box behind the front floor pans) were
well-built, but for reasons particular to each one, vulnerable to the
aggresive rusting that salt water encourages. The left coast people can
afford to be patrician about authenticity because salt is in most places not
an issue. The right coast as a whole has dragged it's feet for years
because, though there are obviously plenty of genuine cars, who wants to
point a finger at a fellow enthusiast who wasn't quite so lucky and decided
to take his perfectly good Tiger parts and follow tradition.
This is what gets lost in the list strife. TAC is NOT a witch hunt.
The whole point is to NOT discredit cars. But for someone like yourself who
seems to care that what he buys is a Jensen line Tiger, a TAC sticker is a
lot of piece of mind. If this car is not TAC'd, I reiterate the advice I
believe I (and others) have given you before. Get someone knowledgeable to
check the car out. Pittsburgh is a big town, bound to be someone in the
metropolitan area who can help.
Call Norm Miller @ Rootes Group Depot. (650-364-1965) for some
possible leads. Tiger Tom (don't have his #, query the list) is in
Pa....ask him. I'd wish you good luck, but that's the last thing you want
to hear from anyone! Do your homework.
Chris Hill
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Childers <bruce_childers@yahoo.com>
To: tigers@autox.team.net <tigers@autox.team.net>
Cc: bruce_childers@yahoo.com <bruce_childers@yahoo.com>
Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2000 8:43 AM
Subject: Pittsburgh Tigers & mismatched #'s
>I am just a phone call away from acquiring a Tiger....are there any
>owners in the environs of Pittsburgh? My application to TE/AE sits
>on my desk, awaiting a stamp for the envelope.
>
>On another note....the car I am considering has mismatched #s for
>the rear axle & tranny. I don't really care about this, but should
>I care? Will it ever matter? The car doesn't currenly have a TAC,
>although it was restored by a reputable and well known Tiger guru,
>so I assume everything is peachy-keen. Just being pedantic.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Bruce
>
>Do You Yahoo!?
>
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