I'm with Theo here.
Let me offer this, having just been there. I still have trim and chrome to
go, and some of the trim is not cheap, especially for a Mark 2:
There were around 7,000 Tigers built, and Norm suspects there are a bit less
than 4,000 left. He may be a bit high or a bit low, but my bet is he's
close.
Of those 4,000 there are maybe a couple hundred truly rust-free cars, and
most if not all of them are not for sale at any price. The rest of them are
returning to nature (all steel eventually will turn to rust unless
extraordinary measures are taken to prevent it). So, in varying degrees,
these Tigers have rust. Some more than others.
The issue with rust isn't what you see, it's what you uncover trying to
replace the obvious. I had about $3,000 invested in replacement panels. Some
were from a company in Oklahoma which, to be blunt, didn't fit, some were
from a vendor in Canada which largely did fit, some were from across the
pond. The replacement cost for the areas that were uncovered replacing the
parts I provided exceeded $12,000. That wasn't the total rebuild cost, just
the cost of eliminating the hidden rust. The rebuild of the body including
paint was quite a bit more.
That cost doesn't include mechanical repairs or replacement units like brake
parts or rebuilding the engine. Those, if done right will add another $5 to
$10K to the cost of the car.Then there's the soft parts, upholstery, etc..
I didn't do this to make a profit, and I suspect most of the guys who
rebuild a car don't do it for the money - if hey did they'd sell the service
and label it "restoration", as in "bring wheelbarrows full of money and it
probably won't be enough." I'll have literally thousands of hours invested
in my Tiger when it's finished.
To the guy who spent $80K to buy a Tiger that has been completed: GOOD FOR
YOU! I hope you enjoy the car. We can carp all day about the cost, but the
truth is to have it done right, especially if there was significant rust or
other damage can - and probably will - cost more than $80K.
For a marque with less than 4000 survivors $80K is a remarkably cheap price
for a good car, in my opinion.
Tom
'67 Mark 2 being resurrected.
On Sun, Feb 6, 2011 at 8:03 PM, Thomas Witt <atwittsend@verizon.net> wrote:
> It could have been an inebriated individual blowing his kids college
> fund..., OR it could have been a loving wife fulfilling her terminal ill
> husband's dream. The bottom line is we don't know. It's their money, (and
> they may have to answer to somebody) but don't have to answer to us.
>
> Tom _______________________________________________
>
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