TAC - Tiger/Alpine re-shelling discussion thread.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:27 pm

To me an Alger is an Alpine conversion done for the personal pleasure of the owner and still retaining its Alpine identity. Other than a v8 of some sort the car would probably not bare close resemblance to an original Tiger and there are many of them in the States.

I dont think its helpful to label a rebodied Tiger in the same way as without the availibility of new body shells there is sometimes only one option availible to rescue a Tiger with terminal rust?

Some cars are just beyond saving so should we let them die?

I think we are far to precious with our views towards these cars because if an important multi-million pounds Ferrari can crash on the race track no one bats an eye if the remains get rebuilt with a new body. Its not considered a fake and the spirit of the car lives on with its value in tact.

meadowhog · Post by **meadowhog** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 5:19 pm

Ash, your another one for saving Tigers.

This is the last time I explain for me what I see as the TAC limitation. Lets take Mals carand I can explain with a picture. (sorry Mal Im not trying to imply your cars not authentic.)

In this picture all proof that the car is a Tiger has been destroyed. (Assuming the floor was detached at the rear as alot have been). Everything that is specifically Tiger has been removed repaired and replaced (by as specialist). If all of the Tiger specific parts are restored using these methods it would fail a TAC even though it is definately a Tiger. This is what Robin is saying.

I and others are saying a car that needed restoration to a larger degree using these methods must have a car that would be recognised as a Tiger even if the Alpine parts are replaced with Errrrrr Alpine parts.

Robert Diehl · Post by **Robert Diehl** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:38 pm

Red Race Tiger wrote:No what i think will eventually happen is a totally seperate means other than the TAC, a system that could allow flexibility.

The Tiger de-rived directly form the Alpine, like it or not but unfortunately that is a fact.

We cannot prevent re-bodied car's so instead of being Ostrich's open our eyes and make provision for them one way or another.

As iv'e already said the rest of the world may be quite happty to follow the U S lead TAC , as a British car i'd like to think we have our own mind's and can consider other option's open to us.

British car…Tiger skeleton…true ”flexibility”?????

Bob

meadowhog · Post by **meadowhog** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:45 pm

Sorry Bob SI / SII chasis differs too much to count.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:29 pm

If Mal's original car fails TAC inspection after the great care and attention (not to mention the huge cost) that have been lavished upon it then TAC is worthless IMHO and I am glad we have not adopted it in the UK.

meadowhog · Post by **meadowhog** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:39 pm

Hi Ash,
Dont get carried away, theres enough there on the rest of the car to pass a TAC but nothing in the photo would.

Red Race Tiger · Post by **Red Race Tiger** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:33 pm

Robert Diehl?

I have absolutey no idea who you are, but you do seem to have access to some really nice historical archive material and you do also seem to be "Gunning" for me somewhat so what exactly is troubling you?

There' no need for personal jibbing so please send me a PM and i'm sure i can put your mind at rest....

Mal · Post by **Mal** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:27 am

In this picture all proof that the car is a Tiger has been destroyed. (Assuming the floor was detached at the rear as alot have been). Everything that is specifically Tiger has been removed repaired and replaced (by as specialist). If all of the Tiger specific parts are restored using these methods it would fail a TAC even though it is definately a Tiger. This is what Robin is saying.

I and others are saying a car that needed restoration to a larger degree using these methods must have a car that would be recognised as a Tiger even if the Alpine parts are replaced with Errrrrr Alpine parts.

Simon, It does still have the spare wheel mount and battery clamp tags there. The sadles have been removed by us to clean up the boot properly but the clips for the jack etc were missing. Which I need to find along with a jack etc. Am I missing something else

.

My panel man has smoothed and filled areas in the engine bay where Jenson basicly just cut through and left. He looked at me and said he just couldn't leave them like that. I do have lots of pic's though.

gtsmrt · Post by **gtsmrt** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:40 am

Go back and read Michael's post and also maybe read the criteria for TAC on the STOA site. Quite a lot of modification/repairs can be done and still have enough to pass an inspection. As for Mal's Tiger, there is absolutely no disputing what it is... an authentic Tiger!!

martin172 · Post by **martin172** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:08 pm

It was mentioned earlier about Heritage shells that are used to reshell MGs.

I believe that these are legal because they are not heavily modified from original and haven't been registered previously.

My question though is this.

If a similar shell was available for Tigers, would there still be a stigma attached to them which reshelled MGs and other marques don't seem to have?
Bear in mind that they would have to go through the same process of having panels pressed on Alpine tooling and them modded with a gas axe to create Tiger panels and have all the Tiger additional bits welded on.

Bobbybutton · Post by **Bobbybutton** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:47 pm

Martin

you make an interesting point

in fact if you were buying an MG (perish the thought though I know you do on occasion) would you not see it as a benefit if it had re-shelled using a Heritage item?

Would there be any question in your own mind as whether this was a *real* MG?

I suspect not

Just an MG that had been re-shelled

I think your point is that if the supply of body parts and shells was not in such short supply for the Tiger or Alpine we wouldn't have this hang up..?

So my point is this

Why not have a simple system which calls this out if it has happened leaving the buyer to assess the quality of the car with full history to hand and not have this *Alger* hang up which abounds...

This would simply be classed as a TIGER with the appropriate suffix next to it...

Red Race Tiger · Post by **Red Race Tiger** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:48 pm

Hang on Bobby O'l boy,

That's nothing short of what i proposed....i'm not having you stealing my thunder.....

Especially as i'm the one getting ribbed for it all

Bobbybutton · Post by **Bobbybutton** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:47 pm

Your suggestion

My suffixes

Red Race Tiger · Post by **Red Race Tiger** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:16 pm

My idea was simple catagories 1 2 or 3

You have to go one better and have your suffixes

Charming....

That'll teach me for being simple

Red Race Tiger · Post by **Red Race Tiger** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:17 pm

My idea was simple catagories 1 2 or 3

You have to go one better and have your suffixes

Charming....

That'll teach me for being simple