BUYING TIPS

1 CHECK IT FOR CORROSION

The crossmember behind the front wheelarch underneath the car rots badly. The front mountings for the rear spring hangers also need to be thoroughly checked, as do the three-piece sills. Being a roadster, the floors rot, so ask the vendor to lift the front carpets so they can be thoroughly checked.

2 AMERICAN MUSCLE

The Tiger shares its 260ci engine with the Ford Fairlane and Falcon and, in this state of tune, Blue Oval’s Windsor V8 is not overly stressed. Problems are only likely to have crept in if the oil hasn’t been changed diligently every 3000 miles. The standard Ford Autolite carburettor isn’t especially well-regarded so switching to other types is quite common practice.

3 PARTS ARE OUT THERE

The Tiger is fairly conventional underneath, so you’re unlikely to struggle when looking for suspension, steering or brake parts. Even a complete retrim is possible while, speaking from experience, Chris adds that fitting a new wiring loom isn’t difficult. Sills and wheelarch repair panels are also available, but will most likely require fettling for them fit properly.

4 IS IT THE REAL DEAL?

The practise of creating a so-called ‘Alger’ (transplanting the mechanicals from a rusted Tiger into a solid Alpine) is rare, but it’s still worth doing your homework – especially if you’re buying from overseas. There are a number of clubs out there that can help you to verify that the car you’re looking at is the real deal. Tapping into this knowledge before you part with any money is highly recommended.