Thoughts on '66 Tiger

[good2go]

I am soliciting some input from members who have owned a Sunbeam Tiger or others, especially CalMetal and Mr. Mustang regarding a car I recently looked at.

It is a 1966 Sunbeam Tiger. I feel it is not an Alpine based on serial numbers and certain feattures built into the car.

It has what I believe to be a Boss 302 in place of the 260. It starts and runs well but clutch slips after about 10 minutes of driving.

Body has been modified with fender flares and a fake hood scoop.
It has the hardtop, bows for the soft-top, and an early roll bar. (not installed).

The only rust I could find is in the trunk next to the battery box.

All glass is in and the windows roll up. It has the wood steering wheel and the steering column telescopes. Seats need recovering along with carpets, rubber, and all the detail items. All gauges are in the wood dash.

No visible body rust or rust in the sills or wheel wells. Paint job looks like it was brushed on. All parts appear to be there.

Wheels are steel and too small for the flared fenders. Spare is mounted on an original Crager SS chromed mag.

The present owner has had it for 28 years in his garage as a project car and rarely touched it.

Stainless and badges are in a box.

Due to mody modifications and replaced engine I dont think a full restroration would be worthwile. My thought is to upgrade it with rear disks, nice interior, wide wheels and do a nice driver, fun run type car.

I know value is relative but what would be a reasonable value for it be with a thought to build it into a "street rod" type car.

This is not a "found in a barn" story.

Thanks for any advice or input.

Dave

[mrmustang]

Might I suggest the following two urls:

http://www.engravers.com/tiger/


http://www.engravers.com/tiger/advice/eval.html


Evaluating a Tiger site unseen is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you might bite in to...Now, with that said, should it be a real Tiger(feel free to post or email me the serial number, as I do have a copy of "The Book of Norman"), and a rust free (or 99% rust free) one at that, and you can get it for a really good price(keeping in mind new clutch, new brakes, new fuel and brake lines, new rims, tires, exhaust system, various suspension items), I would say not more than $5,000 tops(less if it is really ratty)..........


If you have the means, and the motivation, you can and will be able to restore the car to it's former glory in one way, shape, or form.......


Bill S.

[G.R.]

Don't know a lot about them but FWIW, at last years Seattle Roadster show there was one on display for sale asking price$30k, I assume it was original, looked like it just came off the showroom floor. The motor was badged as a 289 though

[Cal Metal]

I agree with Bill. You need to look at the body and the substructure very carefully. The condition sounds a little suspect so I doubt there will be any "nice" surprises when looking underneath. It should have a Toploader that has a 25" total length (this was unique to the Tiger). If it doesn't, it could be a modified Alpine. Use Bill for the serial id.

Tigers yet to command great $$$--even really nice examples. This could be an expensive resto if you have to remove scoops, body flares, etc. Go easy. Personally, if you are really in the market for a Tiger, I would pay up for a good, no excuses, car and be done with it.

[cobrajeff]

I have had a couple Sunbeam Tigers - they can be a lot of fun.

I seriously doubt it has a real BOSS 302 in it - the stock 260 or 289 with "Windsor" style heads is a tight squeeze - the wider "Cleveland" style heads of the BOSS 302 would require metal surgery. Easy to tell from the valve covers - conventional 302's use "Windsor" style heads (same as 260/289) with 6 bolts to retain the valve covers. The "Cleveland" style heads of the BOSS 302 have 8 bolts to retain the covers.

I have recently not seen many Tigers that would run under their own power for sale for less than $5k - a decent one will run you 3 times that. So, IMHO, if it is a REAL Tiger (not an Alpine conversion), and it is solid, it might be worth a little more than $5k. The brushed-on paint is not a good sign, but, if the bodywork is fair, it might be fun to play with. You can even drop the upper control arm mountings (similar to '65 Shelby) for improved handling (I have a template somewwhere).

Check it carefully for rust, and Good Luck!

regards,

Jeff

[good2go]

Thanks for the input. I dont think it is my kind of a deal. I would probably buy a restored car if I really wanted one. Would go for a Mustang Fastback first. Thanks Calmetal and MrMustang.

Cabra Jeff- It has 8 bolts on the valve covers and screw in freeze plugs and a small Holley carb. I thing the originals had an Autolite carb.


Attached is a pix.

Dave

[good2go]

Heres the engine.

[Edley Rondinone]

A close-up of the front left upper part of the engine would help identifying things....8 bolts on the valve cover is Cleveland-style, tho....screw-in freeze plugs sound like a Boss 302...chrome valve cover throws me off...didnt Alpines have a bigger rear fin than the Tigers?...I am just speculating and ASSuming!!!

[good2go]

Edley

Its the real deal according to the numbers, Oct 1965 build date sold 1966. Not my cup of tea. It was just something I looked at since it came my way. The owner wants too much and has had it for 28 years and is attached to it.

Thanks to all.

Dave

[Excaliber]

Intersesting that it does seem to have a REAL Boss 302. You don't come across those everyday! I wonder what that motor is worth? By the way, so what was the fellow asking for the car? It would make a cool "hot rod".

Ernie

[mrmustang]

Looking at the valve cover bolt configuration, you can plainly see that this is not a BOSS 302 motor........


Bill S.

[cobrajeff]

Like Bill says, from the (Windsor style) valve covers you can tell it is definately not a BOSS 302 engine. However, the screw-in freeze plugs were used on BOSS 302 engines, so it MAY have a BOSS 302 BLOCK. That would get you 4-bolt mains - who knows what else - maybe the BOSS 302 rods, which, with a 289 crank would make this essentially a HiPo 289 (BOSS 302 rods are dimensionally the same as 289 rods).

The flares and scoop (which looks like a cheap bolt-on) are not nearly as awful as I had imagined. The tires on Tigers (being 13" normally) always look too small.

Looks like a decent little car (hardtop is a plus), but, you would know best what works for you.

regards,

Jeff

[Cal Metal]

The Sunbeam Tiger. Correct me Bill if I am wrong but weren't they made in England with a Ford drivetrain, imported through Chrysler of Canada, a subsidary of Chrysler Corp NA, for distribution in the lower 48 states?

[Tom-In-Ohio]

I know of two TVR Griffiths (Series 400) for sale. One happens to be in California.

Let me know if you're interested, and I'll give you the contact info.


Tom