How to Choose a Tiger

M

Mark0

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Hello, I'm new to this forum and was looking for some advice. I have a 2003 BMW Z8 Alpina that I really enjoy driving. The Z8 owners have a very useful forum, such as this to share ideas, information and enthusiasm for their cars. One benefit of the Z8 forum is the wealth of information on the inspection, purchase and care of the Z8.

I've loved the Tiger since high school (70's) and was mulling over filling the extra space in my garage with one. I would appreciate any hints, tips or go to individuals in the selection process.

Thanks in advance.
 
Buy the best body you can find, if its had a restoration make sure the body was repaired correctly ( proper panel profiles and fit).

Decide if you want a stock car, mostly stock with some peiod mods or a high Hp upgraded suspension car driveline car ( that said... All of that is cheaper than sorting a rusty car)

Make sure its actually a Tiger and not a rebody.

That said.. If you dont care about it heritage... An alger would be good bang for your buck...but given you own an alpina z8, figure you probably want an actual Tiger and likely one with a few upgrades.
 
Some Other Thoughts

Michael covered the main bases. If you want a real Tiger and not an Alpine with a fraudulent Tiger title, be sure the car has been TAC inspected and comes with a certification. You can find out more on this program in other threads here.

Be sure to check out the underside of any car you are considering. There are cars out there with great looking bodies and paint jobs, but when one looks underneath, one sees a lot of rust on the floorboards and the structural members. Check where the exhaust pipes go through the frame. Sometimes owners cut the frame to make the holes larger for bigger diameter exhaust pipes, thereby weakening the frame. There are other areas in the car that are subject to cracking, such as the front cross member shock attachments and the attachment points for weld-on traction bars.

A lot of Tigers have been modified to improve drivability or performance. If you prefer stock vehicles, see if there is a long-term Tiger owner close to where you live to go with you to check out a candidate vehicle.

Good luck in your search for a nice Tiger.
 
Communication with Owners

There are many owners on this site who can offer qualified advice on cars you may choose. The Tiger community is solid with darned good track record and registry of known survivors. Let us know your location and any cars you may be staring at. Advice & opinions will fall from the heavens. . . . . . .
 
Go to Tiger land

Your location says United States and if you narrow it down there are local events were you could get closer to the cars and their owners. If you went to one Dave AKA Holycat was at with his car you'd get a up close and personal history lesson. A lot of Tiger owners are like him and are good ambassadors. Not so many in certain parts as like many other things they land in better neighborhoods unless there's a barn find still out there.



There is a Tiger 101 thread here which has good information plus the other clubs.



I had a guy call me about a car I know of that is for sale. He got the don't buy a car you can't fix yourself as many guys who don't know Tigers will treat them like any other car then wonder why things don't fit and create more problems. He also got the a Tiger wrongly put together is a great DiY project but a poor investment at 60 to 95 dollars an hour to put right and it will eat you alive, NOT body shop time as most shops refuse non production work.
 
Thanks much every one for the primer. I am located in Sarasota Florida for starters. This region has some 20 Z'8's in close proximity to me and there is a go to BMW dealer in Fort Myers that cares for many of the vehicles. As the Alpina was modified, they know the ins and outs of some of the rewiring Alpina did which wasn't diagramed and such. I enjoy as original of a vehicle as possible which is easier with the Z8 as BMW promised to maintain factory parts for some 50 years and they are still available!

I will start reading the tiger 101 thread and keep my eye out for group events so I may come and pick other owners brains. In the last few months I have reviewed threads and watched restoration videos where they pieced together Tigers that were poorly modified or restored to get an idea of common problem areas...especially those those that cut the frame to accommodate exhaust!

If the group sees or knows of a more pristine vehicle please let me know! I have been calling my cousin who has a near original model in his garage since we were in high school in 1977! hasn't done anything with it yet won't let it go!
 
extra space in my garage...?

Must be nice!!!:)

BTW, You may want to state your intentions (degree of $tock/Mod) to get pointed tips.
 
Roster

If you decide to join the roster will point nearly all the locals in Fla.

Great looking car the Z8 . I think there is a owner David H. who may be close that has several Tigers and one in the for sale section.

Z8 is a great car I'm sure she won't be jealous....
 
What price range are you thinking of? This could help others point you to Tigers for sale. I heard of a very nice and very original MKII for sale from a long time owner recently.
And you just missed a HUGE gathering of Tigers at the Hilton Head Classic show this last weekend. Over 25 cars there the two days of the show thanks to Bill Bulpitt! Including the one of one Harrington Tiger (probably not for sale.....)
If seriously looking for a Tiger, join CAT and TE/AE to keep in the loop and to get educated too.
Eric
 
Prospective new owner

Welcome Mark, there are lots of good people here with great advice. Feel free to ask any and all questions, always best to be prepared and well schooled. Looking forward to helping along with the other great people here. Best of luck to you and your new fun car!
Brian
 
Nice Tigers for sale

I was going to recommend David Hambrick as well, until I saw it already above. Totally stand up guy who loves buying and selling the nicest Tigers on the east coast. In nothwest Fl , but well worth the drive.
 
Tiger 101

For example a recent BaT car now. Or look at a recent Craigslist LA in Los Alamitos new today that was recently TACed

BaT cars tossed on by a car dealer or anyone for that matter or Craigslist or eBay. As I recall one of the STOA mission statements is to help members find good cars, which happens to be the underlying motivation to comment here and elsewhere.


Search the cars VIN number on the WWW This is one of the reasons our former webmaster and admins here chose to add the requirement of cars for sale to help provide history on the critters.

For example, B382000621 Tiger

Leave off the LRXFE designation for all hits, then leave out the B and add other combinations as many original California cars have had the year first sold scabbed in front of the VIN by dealers. I wrote a Tiger Tails piece that may be up some day on California Dealer screw ups, maybe we will see it next year. On CAT is a user name Leepear thread about auction house asking for the LRXFE to be added to pink slip prior to admission.

In this case you find TEAE postings on the car as well as cross posting sites for the car in previous sales. If there was Tiger email list posting they often show up. You almost always get the Rootes1 pages showing an * unclaimed till someone reports the numbers to that site. Note that these are mostly unsubstantiated reports other than reported by owner ID elements.



Happy hunting .
 
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