Hi! I'm New Here.

[martin172]

Hi, my name is Martin and I live near Nottingham.

I've always been a sportscar enthusiast, but have never actually got around to having one, and have always been a fan of Tigers.

I've realised that if I don't get one soon, I may never get one at all, so here I am, hoping that you guys can help.

My knowledge of Tigers isn't that good really, apart from what I've read in a Sunbeam workshop manual someone once gave me, so, if you don't mind, I have a few questions to ask.

What are Tigers like to live with?
Are they very proned to rust and breakdowns?
Is it possible to use one as a daily drive?

I notice that for their capacity, they don't seem to produce a large amount of power, so what is their "real world" performance and how thirsty are they?

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

[Mal]

Hi Martin, and welcolme.

What are Tigers like to live with?
Are they very proned to rust and breakdowns?
Is it possible to use one as a daily drive?

I notice that for their capacity, they don't seem to produce a large amount of power, so what is their "real world" performance and how thirsty are they?

Whats a Tiger like to live with.
If you treat it right, it won't bite your head off. Probably take a large bite out of your wallet though.

Are they very proned to rust and breakdowns?
Yes. Overheating seems to be the biggest problem with them, so you have to make sure the cooling system is in perfect condition. There is plenty of discussion on this topic on this forum.

Is it possible to use one as a daily drive?
Not really. Security of the car is a concern. They are also appreciating classics and should be looked after and kept dry as much as possible.

I notice that for their capacity, they don't seem to produce a large amount of power, so what is their "real world" performance and how thirsty are they?
They are not that powerfull by todays standards, but 40+ years ago they were. Plus with that cubic capacity the potential is there. Some work on the heads, a modern day cam, headers 4 barrel carb. Or a larger cubic inch windsor.

[martin172]

Thanks for the reply and advice mal. Very much apreciated mate.

I'll be honest and say that I've realised that the majority of the questions I asked are academic as, throughout the day, I have convinced myself, and more importantly, my girlfriend, that I realy need one of these in my life.
A few years ago, she bought a Suzuki Cappuccino and set the precedent for having impractical sportscars in the household.
At the time I wasn't impressed. I now realise it was an epiphany lol.

I know that in the bigger scheme of things, I can't be fussy about the car I get, but are there any variants in the mk1s ( I would need to sell a few organs to afford a mk2 lol)?

Where exactly is the best place (apart from the forum classifieds) to search for cars that are currently for sale, and is there a member service to help Tiger virgins like myself view cars?

Thanks guys.

[gtsmrt]

Hi Martin,

Our Tiger's do have a few draw backs from time to time as Mal pointed out, but overall they are very reliable. As with all cars if you treat them right they are an enjoyable experience, but neglect them and they will cause you headaches. You are at least taking the right steps in talking to the owners of these great cars. No matter where you go, the majority of the members are very welcoming and have years of experience with these cars (so joining a club is a must). The next step is finding a Tiger for yourself (another bonus of being a club member).
Good luck and keep in touch.

Regards, Robin.

[bigbob]

The Tiger is a practical car with good size interior & decent boot. Having a large understrssed engine & bomb proof running gear means they will keep going with high milages. My ex-police car had covered 140,000+ miles before engine needed attention. Most cars are now modified to some degree, generally giving more power & improved cooling [electric fan, uprated radiator] Like any car of the 60's they are prone to rust, but most have been restored to some degree by now. Try to contact Dean McGee ,in Mansfield, who has a modified Tiger & carries out restorations & servicing for other members.

[V Mad]

In my opinion the Tiger is a very reliable car. The engine and transmission are very strong and as far as I know have no design flaws or weaknesses. The front suspension cross member can get fatigue cracks so should be checked from time to time. Also any rot in the rear suspension spring front hanger can be difficult to repair as can sills (like most classics though). It can be used as an every day car, but compared to modern cars is quite basic in comfort; needs to be garaged really and a hard top is a nice extra for the winter.

I also have a Triumph Stag; a really great car, and comfort levels vary high for such an old car; but the engine has design flaws which need specialist knowledge and experience to repair/maintain.

[martin172]

Thanks for the replies guys.
It's all very interesting and informative and reassures me that a Tiger is a car I can easily live with and enjoy.

I suppose another question I should ask is, how much will I have to pay for the right car?

I have noticed that "concours quality" cars fetch a serious amount of cash and mk2s carry a premium too.

What I suppose I would like is a tidy, rust free and mechanically sound MK1.
It doesn't need to be perfect, just tidy.
How much would be the going rate for a car like that?

Thanks very much guys, martin.

[gtsmrt]

Thanks for the replies guys.
It's all very interesting and informative and reassures me that a Tiger is a car I can easily live with and enjoy.

I suppose another question I should ask is, how much will I have to pay for the right car?

I have noticed that "concours quality" cars fetch a serious amount of cash and mk2s carry a premium too.

What I suppose I would like is a tidy, rust free and mechanically sound MK1.
It doesn't need to be perfect, just tidy.
How much would be the going rate for a car like that?

Thanks very much guys, martin.

Hi Martin,

If you have a look at the auction result in the thread 'why so cheap' (recent post) it probably shows a good indicator of their current price for a Tiger in good condition. As you stated, a concourse or Mk II Tiger will fetch a high price. The cheaper you go the more you will have to outlay getting it to a reasonable standard. It really depends upon your back pocket.

Regards, Robin.

[michael-king]

Martin,

Ona Tiger the main thing to look for is good body work. The mechanicals ona Tiger are quite cheap really, especially if you are using slightly morre modern spec parts.

Ther are 2 other things to consider.. how orignal do you want it? Missing parts can be expensive to source:
orignal wooden steering wheels
aircleaners
radiator shrouds
some badges

then the other thing to watch out.. and one that requires a little knowledge, or the assiatnce of people in the club is to make sure you get what you pay for IE: a real tiger.

The auction thread showed there were 2 cars, one an original ex USA tiger.. the other what we call an "alger". these are alpines that have had the tiger driveline and some tiger specific parts welded in (trans tunnel, fender braces etc)

Now.. there is nothing wrong with an alger if its being sold as such and not assuming a Tiger VIN and JAL number.

Then there are cars that had the Tiger VIN and JAL applied to them when it was converted. IF it is sold to you as such it is less problematic, but IF it is sold to you as a real Tiger or IF the acr is sold on as a real Tiger then there is a serious issue of fraud.

Once you find a car you like, get it checked by someone who knows the cars well, and preferably has no vested interest. If you are looking at a car from the States buy a car that has benn TAC'd, this is an authetification process and helps you know what you are getting.

[martin172]

Hi Michael and thanks for the help and info.

You raise some interesting points that I will have to think about like the originality issue.

Many thanks mate.

[Mal]

Michael brings up a good point on the body work. It would pay to have it looked at by a panel man who specializes in body restoration. They see things we miss. I am having my tigers body redone now. I will post some pic's up soon.

[Tomaselli]

Hi, my name is Martin and I live near Nottingham.

Welcome aboard Martin, try to make contact with "Ash" he's on the forum also and he lives in your area and may be able to help you to inspect a car if you do find one to your budget. I know Ash has had and restored a Tiger before and knows his stuff so will have an invaluable knowledge of what to look out for in a Tiger.

[garyv8tiger]

hi ash whoops ,sorry martin .i have a restored mk2 .75k and its yours ,one family owned until me .ps i,ll throw a book of norman in with it ,that will tell you all you need to know

[martin172]

Hi, my name is Martin and I live near Nottingham.

Welcome aboard Martin, try to make contact with "Ash" he's on the forum also and he lives in your area and may be able to help you to inspect a car if you do find one to your budget. I know Ash has had and restored a Tiger before and knows his stuff so will have an invaluable knowledge of what to look out for in a Tiger.

Hi Tomaselli and thanks for the advice.
I've already had a chat with ash who's given me a few tips and advice.
He struck me as a really nice fella.

This is a very friendly and helpful forum that you guys have got here.

Oh, and thanks for the advice mal....looking forward to seeing those photos.

[Ash]

Hi, my name is Martin and I live near Nottingham.

Welcome aboard Martin, try to make contact with "Ash" he's on the forum also and he lives in your area and may be able to help you to inspect a car if you do find one to your budget. I know Ash has had and restored a Tiger before and knows his stuff so will have an invaluable knowledge of what to look out for in a Tiger.

Thanks for those kind words of confidence Tony. I will try to live up to your endorsement

I did speak with Martin who wants to see some cars and is sorting something out with Dean I think?

Cheers