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I want to introduce my MARK 1 Tiger and what I am doing to it now since I started the restoration in October (2014). I was a graduate student in Tucson in 1971. I saw the Moonstone Tiger for sale by the 2nd owner. It was like new and the thing I remember about my first impression was how solid it rode. It also had a great sound. I paid $1,300 for it and had to finance it though Dial finance. In fact Dial is still listed on the title as a lein. I didn't race it or modify it, but I also didn't baby it for the next 2/3 years. Tucson has great dirt roads and is close to the Mexican beaches, and the Tiger saw lots of country roads.Of course it got lots of dents, etc, on the frame which now has to be repaired. One summer, my then girlfriend and 10 year old son packed it with camping and snorkeling gear and camped on the East side of Baja for 10 days. There was still enough room for my son to ride behind the seats.
After I graduated, I took the Tiger to Wisconsin where it stayed in the garage the winter of 1973/74. I drove it to Wisconsin, but It was never driven on the street after the Fall of 1973. I towed it to Albuquerque the summer of 1974 and then to Los Lunas (25 miles S of Albq) where I live. Since then, it has deteriorated terribly. I kept planning to restore it but was always busy with other things. In the late 70's, I had a 6 bolt 289 with some modifications installed, but it was never driven on the street. The mechanic broke the clutch cylinder when he tried to use it on the new bell housing with out the proper bracket. I was not aware of what was wrong at the time. So the motor was started and run for a few years and just sat with the car deteriorating.
In the early Fall of 2014, I decided to get serious about restoring the Tiger. I put it on my lift. As you can see from the pictures, it was a mess. Every body panel had a dent, the interior was totally shot and the underneath had rust, dents and built up grime. I had always wanted to restore it myself or, at least do a lot of the work myself, but I felt really overwhelmed. I had Jim Hardyman look at it. Jim has a muscle car restoration shop near my home and I had been impressed with his work. At first I was going to have him do the body work and I was going to do the mechanicals, but I soon realized that to do the car justice, It needed to be completely taken apart, put on a rotisserie and completely rebuilt. So the Tiger has been at Jim's since October. Jim has one employee, Tommy who is the metal fabricator (along with Jim) and mechanic. One of Jim's cars won "Best Paint" this spring at Super Nationals.
My goal for the restoration is not an original, correct restoration. I am not selling the car, and I am an older guy with out (unfortunately) someone to leave it to who appreciates it. So, It's just for me the way I want it. The changes I am making can be undone, and the body and interior will be stock. I've got a Dale's front end and there will be disc brakes with 5 lugs on all four corners.I plan to use knock off wire wheels. I have a 331 6 bolt roller engine with club headers. I am keeping the top loader for now but have wide ratio gears. I am changing the paint to Midnight Blue since I prefer that color over the Moonstone.
I've attached pictures of the beginning, including my hard top with Mexico Vistas decals. If you like, I'll post progress reports. Cliff
After I graduated, I took the Tiger to Wisconsin where it stayed in the garage the winter of 1973/74. I drove it to Wisconsin, but It was never driven on the street after the Fall of 1973. I towed it to Albuquerque the summer of 1974 and then to Los Lunas (25 miles S of Albq) where I live. Since then, it has deteriorated terribly. I kept planning to restore it but was always busy with other things. In the late 70's, I had a 6 bolt 289 with some modifications installed, but it was never driven on the street. The mechanic broke the clutch cylinder when he tried to use it on the new bell housing with out the proper bracket. I was not aware of what was wrong at the time. So the motor was started and run for a few years and just sat with the car deteriorating.
In the early Fall of 2014, I decided to get serious about restoring the Tiger. I put it on my lift. As you can see from the pictures, it was a mess. Every body panel had a dent, the interior was totally shot and the underneath had rust, dents and built up grime. I had always wanted to restore it myself or, at least do a lot of the work myself, but I felt really overwhelmed. I had Jim Hardyman look at it. Jim has a muscle car restoration shop near my home and I had been impressed with his work. At first I was going to have him do the body work and I was going to do the mechanicals, but I soon realized that to do the car justice, It needed to be completely taken apart, put on a rotisserie and completely rebuilt. So the Tiger has been at Jim's since October. Jim has one employee, Tommy who is the metal fabricator (along with Jim) and mechanic. One of Jim's cars won "Best Paint" this spring at Super Nationals.
My goal for the restoration is not an original, correct restoration. I am not selling the car, and I am an older guy with out (unfortunately) someone to leave it to who appreciates it. So, It's just for me the way I want it. The changes I am making can be undone, and the body and interior will be stock. I've got a Dale's front end and there will be disc brakes with 5 lugs on all four corners.I plan to use knock off wire wheels. I have a 331 6 bolt roller engine with club headers. I am keeping the top loader for now but have wide ratio gears. I am changing the paint to Midnight Blue since I prefer that color over the Moonstone.
I've attached pictures of the beginning, including my hard top with Mexico Vistas decals. If you like, I'll post progress reports. Cliff
