Interesting discussion, and I understand why owners of genuine Tigers
want their cars to be recognised as such. However, in a reverse sort of
process, when does a Tiger cease to become a Tiger, if ever? At what
point will an authenticity inspector say "This is NOT a Tiger".
Case in point. The Tiger I purchased last year was advertised as a
genuine Tiger, seemed to me then and seems to me now to be the genuine
article, and I have been able so far to verify its registration back as
far as 1968. Everything I have checked that I know is different in
Tigers is correct...or put it another way, I have found nothing
associated with the body of the car to suggest it is NOT the real thing.
However, being a Canadian (mostly) car, the underside is in very poor
condition, and various bits and pieces of metal have been welded in and
around the frame and cross member by PO's to ensure some structural
rigidity. Should I undertake a full restoration, most of that metal is
going to have to come out and be replaced, either with newly fabricated
sections, or probably much more economically, with replacement pieces
from a suitable donor Alpine, appropriately modified. Maybe some other
sections of the car need to be replaced as well. At what point do I
cross the line from it being a car which can honestly be advertised as a
real Tiger, to one which the inspectors would say...that isn't a real
Tiger. Just what original parts constitute the Tiger persona
(animalia?)?
This may well not be a problem for folks in the southern states whose
cars have never, heaven forbid, seen salt, but for northern cars, I
believe it can be a real concern. And most probably, most Algers being
passed off as Tigers use parts taken from northern, rusted out, Tigers.
I would think that it is also one heck of a lot cheaper transferring all
your good Tiger bits into a nice Alpine body than to try to restore a
northern Tiger.
Any comment?
John Slade
Manotick, ON
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