[Tigers] MkII VINs

[Ron Fraser]

Tod

                Very interesting that Norm has changed his position.

 

I have received no engine information to confirm the existence of 289 engine blocks in the Mk 1A production build.

Yes it is very possible that Rootes did this but I would like to see the evidence before I change my position.

 

Ron Fraser

 

From: Tod Brown [mailto:todbrown at roadrunner.com] 
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2016 10:00 AM
To: Ron Fraser <rfraser at bluefrog.com>; tigers at Autox.Team.Net
Subject: Re: [Tigers] MkII VINs

 

Hi Ron:

Interesting. I had a conversation with Norm just recently and he said just the opposite, that there were a few cars that were built by Jensen at the end of the MkIA run with all of the changes that were incorporated on the MkII's just to make sure it would all go together. Those cars carried the MkIA badging. I made a mistake in my description in my previous email about the specific changes. I referred to a Watts linkage rear setup. That was incorrect. I meant to say Panhard rod, as that was the change incorporated into the MkII's, as you know.

I suggested to Norm that it would be a good idea for him to publish what he knows about the MkII changeover process, but have not heard anything back from him. As you may know, as the editor of Rootes Review, I ran an ad for the MkII prototype, B382100002 LRXFE in the June issue past. When I got the info about the car and the request to run the ad, I was somewhat skeptical since a lot of the MkII trim was missing, so I contacted Norm. It was the result of our resultant conversation that he mentioned the MkIA's with the 289s. I was surprised when he mentioned them because, like you, I had always believed it to be a myth. However, the oracle has spoken. If Norm is reading this, I would urge him to weigh in to settle this.

Cheers,

Tod

On 7/16/2016 8:39 AM, Ron Fraser wrote:

Tod

                I don’t believe any Mk 1A originally came with a 289 engine.  I see no evidence of anything but the B19KC 260 engine group for the last production Mk 1A.  Norm Miller calls the 289 engine in Mk 1As a myth.  It would be nice to have real evidence to confirm either position.

 

My Original Tiger Engine Study does not contain specific information for the engines in the last dozen or so Mk 1As produced.  Owners lets change that.

 

I will gladly accept and examine engine information for any original Tiger engine.  I have a worksheet that is easy to fill out – just ask for one.

 

Ron Fraser

 

From: Tigers [mailto:tigers-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Tod Brown via Tigers
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2016 7:28 PM
To: tigers at autox.team.net <mailto:tigers at autox.team.net> 
Subject: Re: [Tigers] MkII VINs

 

Actually, there were two MkII's assembled by Rootes before production was turned 
over to Jensen. They carry serial numbers B382100001 and B382100002 but no JAL
numbers. The Jensen run began with B382100100 and ended with ...633. See the
note in the SS Catalog:

MARK II PRODUCTION NUMBERS VARY. CARS WITH

SERIAL # B382100001 

AND #B382100002 EXIST WITH NO JAL #’S (JENSEN ALPINE LTD. BODY #) 

WHICH INDICATES THE CARS WERE COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED BY ROOTES, 

NEVER GOING TO THE JENSEN PLANT AND MUST HAVE BEEN A PRE-

PRODUCTION PILOT CARS. THE NEXT MK II IS B382100

100 WHICH CARRIES 

A JAL NUMBER, THE FIRST OF THE MK II SERIES.

There were also six (IIRC) MkIA's fitted with the MkII mechanicals (289 block, wide-
ratio trans, modified Watts linkage, etc.) but were badged as MkIA's at the end of
the MkIA run at Jensen. 

Tod Brown
B382002384LRXFE
TAC 864 

 

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