After all the bantering around I've seen on the list (and after having to =20=
=20
put my chair out with a fire extinguisher from the flames) I'm going to =20
retract my earlier request for information to keep the peace, but first I =20=
=20
want to thank those of you who did take the time to help out. Here's =20
what I've concluded thus far:
- The Book of Norman is THE place to start.
- Join STOA; the newsletter and membership are other good resources.
- There are a few things that people would share regarding possible items=20=
=20
to check. I have filed those away for reference.
- In my opinion, TAC inspections are fine but I have no way to =20
objectively gauge the validity of the certification. TACed cars seem to =20
be geographically limited to the California area. Why has the program =20
not been expanded nationally? Is it the same issue with a few folks =20
withholding information and not wanting to share or are owners in the =20
rest of the nation not buying into the program for some reason?
- The impression I am getting is that the TAC criteria are being kept =20
"secret" in an effort to foil "Tiger counterfeits". A noble cause, and =20
it may help for a very short time, but the same lack of information is =20
*severely* hampering those who really do want to do a first class job on =20
restoring their cars. Attention to detail is one element of a truly =20
great restoration - unless the details are not available.
I'm not willing to enter the fray about TAC inspections; the above are =20
only observations. I've dealt with many cars and many clubs over the =20
years (Mustang, Shelby, big Fords, Corvette) and the same issues always =20
arise of how do you prevent fake cars (cars built with the intent to =20
defraud) from being passed off as originals. The hard truth is that you =20
don't. The best prevention is education of the honest folks. That makes =20=
=20
it much harder (and much more expensive) for someone to fake a Tiger (or =20
other classic) and successfully pass it of as an original. If a person =20
has "X" amount of money, would they rather pay "X" amount for a real =20
Tiger or "X" amount building a fraudulent car to pass off as an original?
=20
For What It's Worth,
Erich Arndt
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