The TAC program has one function in life.
It answers the question, Did this unibody leave British Pressed Steel as a
Tiger? Or put another way? Is this Unibody one of the original 7,000 odd
Tigers?
If 3 inspectors can find indisputable evidence of the assembly methodologies
that BPS used to make a Tiger then they will put a sticker on it. If they
cannot find that evidence or all 3 do not agree then the car does not get a
sticker.
They are not in the business of certifying how good of condition the car is
in.
The STOA website indicates they have put stickers on rusted out stripped
shells. As a car or restoration candidate they have 0 value but it is an
authentic Tiger.
Does a Tiger that has had the front or rear clip replaced because of a wreck
have less value than a pristine car? In my book YES! But both cars remain
tigers. Now skipping to the bottom...........
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Eiland" <deiland1@elp.rr.com>
> You said, "TAC looks for evidence that the body shell was originally
> manufactured as a Tiger, and if some of the evidence screams Alpine, then
you
> look for a reason why (i.e., a clip replacement)." Let me see if I have
this
> right. Based on this argument, if someone like Norm Miller decided he
wanted
> to fool you and took an Alpine and added enough of the right parts and
weld
> changes to convince you the car started out as a Tiger the car could be
> TACed, even though the car started out as an Alpine? Even better, as I
> understand your statement in the case of the front clip rear clip
argument, if
> the car started out as an Alpine and had the front clip from a totaled
Tiger
> added then by your argument it is a Tiger because part of the car started
life
> as a Tiger? Now reverse the clips. The rear clip of a Tiger is added to an
> Alpine. By your argument this could still be considered a Tiger and be
TACed?
This why I said that if the center core of the car has the Tiger
methodologies it would still be a Tiger. A car can get smashed up at either
end but the middle stays the same.
Your argument is why I used the term Philosophical argument. Your scenario
is hypothetical. Show me a car that has been modified as you say and lets
get it TAC'ed and find out what happens. If you find a car for sale and
your inspection shows that the front and rear clips have been welded on, who
cares if it is authentic? Run away, there are better cars to buy.
The TAC sticker does not relieve you of your responsibility of inspecting
the car and deciding if the condition of the car meets your needs and is a
fair deal.
The TAC sticker tells you that if you pay a 5 grand premium (over an Alpine
price) to get a Tiger you are not a victim of fraud.
Erich
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