TAC OR NOT?

[echo1]

Hi All,

My only New Years resolution, is to get my Alpine 260 back in shape, after being garaged for 35 years (I've had a donar Alpine for 32 years).

Been out of the Tiger loop forever. My question is this. Is it really necessary to have my machine TAC'd. I got it from my nephew, who got it from the fella who brought it over from the UK (with some help from Rich Mcleod I think). I've been on the registry, originally with George Fallehey, since forever. I aquried this ride in the pre-clone war years, and never hope to HAVE to sell it. From my perspective, having it authenticated is a non issue.

This is my 3rd Tiger since 1970.

What say ye? PAX

 

[Duke Mk1a]

Nothing but positives about getting a Tiger TACed. "Oh no, this Tiger has been authenticated. I don't like that." Said no one ever.

 

[0neoffive]

Valid & Pointed

From a one-owner viewpoint, I personally don't feel the need to validate our family toy. BUT, a future custodian would/should feel more comfortable with a known heritage. Keep in mind that old #78 has been treated hard & abused; rusted, smashed & repaired many times over, it would only be fair to the next owner to get it blessed. But I ain't leavin' soon, so only when it's convenient . . . . . .2-pennys

 

[Erich]

TAC provides peace of mind for a buyer. In your case its not necessary.

I don't see a downside to having a TAC certificate, but its your call.

 

[echo1]

Well, my only vague concern, is that my rig needs extensive body panel replacement. It had taken a bad hit on the left door jam/pillar when I got it, the lower fenders front and rear, and rockers are rusted shards filled with bondo. All that is going to be replaced. I suppose I should have it done before I start cutting on it. The only time it will change hands, is when my wife and I swap whos driving.

Thanks, PAX

 

[dstephns]

re: TAC or no?

I think there are two main reasons for a TAC'd Tiger. One that has been alluded to here is piece of mind for you and the next owner. The other reason for me would be just keeping track of all the "real" Tigers that are left. As time goes on and especially if they continue to appreciate there could be more temptation to clone them which will make it harder for potential new owners to continue the marque properly and I believe we all would want Tigers to continue to be seen.
Dave

 

[P. Scofield]

I don't think my car needs to be TACed for my peace of mind as I know it's real. But after restoration, someone down the road might want the peace of mind. Pictures of the restoration should help that.
But no matter how much I would love to have the Authentication just done and over forever, unless they have a TAC session down the street at the local smog hut, it will never be done on my watch.

P

 

[michael-king]

Paul,

I'm sure you will attend one if the big sunbeam events with the new toy once its up and running ... Often tac sessions are arranged there, so your chance for a convenient time will come.

As to the more general question, it does no harm for the car to get the approval, it helps any future owner know what they are looking at.. And as mentioned helps us all to know how many real cars are left out there.

 

[TAH_Tiger]

TAC provides peace of mind for a buyer. In your case its not necessary.

I don't see a downside to having a TAC certificate, but its your call.

What no one has considered is that as our toys become more valuable, there is going to be some insurance company that may decide not to pay a large claim if they question the authenticity of your Tiger.

 

[0neoffive]

AHA !!

What no one has considered is that as our toys become more valuable, there is going to be some insurance company that may decide not to pay a large claim if they question the authenticity of your Tiger.

Valid Point, and it all comes down to money

 

[Warren]

State specific

You give insurance companies too much credit for being a ____s.

They pick and underwrite before the risk is bound most always.

The peace of mind if your heirs have to sell is cheap insurance against the niggling buyers they may face.

Sorry for sounding like a insurance agent, old habits are hard to break.

You are in deep STOA territory so contacting them is the way to go.

 

[echo1]

You give insurance companies too much credit for being a ____s.
They pick and underwrite before the risk is bound most always.
The peace of mind if your heirs have to sell is cheap insurance against the niggling buyers they may face.
Sorry for sounding like a insurance agent, old habits are hard to break.
You are in deep STOA territory so contacting them is the way to go.

Don't even get me going on the insurance pirates.

Heirs...far as my boys go, they've been raised to be horse trading motorheads, and the price will be the price, whether it's wheels or wings.

And yes indeed with STOA. In '70 I was a hippy kid in Irvington with my first Tiger, when the club was in it's infancy, and was a member when I had my second Tiger in '77. I went to my first meeting in March of '12. I need to get back in the loop.

I've been getting my shop in order for the projects at hand. I guess I'll be needing a trailer next. PAX

 

[racetig]

My experience with TAC

Hi All,

My only New Years resolution, is to get my Alpine 260 back in shape, after being garaged for 35 years (I've had a donar Alpine for 32 years).

Been out of the Tiger loop forever. My question is this. Is it really necessary to have my machine TAC'd. I got it from my nephew, who got it from the fella who brought it over from the UK (with some help from Rich Mcleod I think). I've been on the registry, originally with George Fallehey, since forever. I aquried this ride in the pre-clone war years, and never hope to HAVE to sell it. From my perspective, having it authenticated is a non issue.

This is my 3rd Tiger since 1970.

What say ye? PAX

I have had the personal displeasure as a Senior TAC to tell three different people that the car they paid big money for was NOT able to be authenticated (nice way of saying oops...) Had they taken the time to ask that it be looked at, it would have saved them some $$$$. As an original owner TAC maybe no big deal... For a prospective buyer I feel it is a must... Would you buy a Shelby 350 at auction without the Marti report..? My .02...

 

[dstephns]

I have had the personal displeasure as a Senior TAC to tell three different people that the car they paid big money for was NOT able to be authenticated (nice way of saying oops...) Had they taken the time to ask that it be looked at, it would have saved them some $$$$. As an original owner TAC maybe no big deal... For a prospective buyer I feel it is a must... Would you buy a Shelby 350 at auction without the Marti report..? My .02...

This is so very True! Earlier this last Summer I almost bought a car that Norman Miller said "was not one to invest in". The only thing I can say in my defense was that I had just enough knowledge to question a couple of things and post a couple of pics to this forum. The general consensus being to walk away. Without the help of Norm and this forum I would be out 50K+ thinking that I had a nice Tiger. I agree that for someone who is an original owner or bought the car used back in the day a TAC may not be that important, but for a person with limited knowledge of the marque (like me) it is a big help if wanting a real one. I am learning though! LOL!
Dave

 

[Doug C]

This is so very True! Earlier this last Summer I almost bought a car that Norman Miller said "was not one to invest in". The only thing I can say in my defense was that I had just enough knowledge to question a couple of things and post a couple of pics to this forum. The general consensus being to walk away. Without the help of Norm and this forum I would be out 50K+ thinking that I had a nice Tiger. I agree that for someone who is an original owner or bought the car used back in the day a TAC may not be that important, but for a person with limited knowledge of the marque (like me) it is a big help if wanting a real one. I am learning though! LOL!
Dave

Can't agree more, one would not be too bright if they did not take advantage of the advice of those who live and die everyday with these cars.

 

[spmdr]

The future?

Just wondering, how does a car get removed from the TAC list?

...ALL VINs were "real" Tigers at some point...most likely IN THE BEGINNING...

Things change!

 

[cobrakidz]

Would you buy a Shelby 350 at auction without the Marti report..? My .02...

You can only get a Marti report for 1967 and newer cars, so the 65/66 cars you have to rely on SAAC and their notes.
Back on track, out of my 6 Tigers I have had 3 TACed, the first car was way before they ever thought of that, the last 2 had a good paper trail so I just never got around to it. I may try at TU this summer, but not on my "must do" list as of right now. In the long run they are a good thing.

 

[Bob Knight]

Tiger TAC

Having been a long term owner of multiple Tigers, I felt that I knew enough about Tigers that I bought my current Tiger "unTAC'd", since it was a two owner car with paperwork back to day one, and I was pretty darn sure it was a real Tiger. HOWEVER, I feel a LOT better now that it passed TAC with flying colors and has the little sticker under the dash. It removes any lingering self doubt as to whether I know as much as I think I do... And, of course, the horrible feeling I would have if I discovered I'd paid three times too much for an Alger. Now, if I were ever to sell it (which I don't intend to) the buyer wouldn't have to depend on my questionable judgment about whether it was real or not, and heads off the question even being raised.
The previous poster's comment about a theoretical scenario where an insurer would say after a loss of a questionable vehicle "that wasn't a real Tiger, and therefore we're only going to give you 30% of what you thought it was worth" is also a valid concern. Believe me, an insurance company would do that in a second if they thought they had the slightest chance of being successful in making a smaller payout. A positive TAC would make that a much less likely possibility.
Bob K.
B9471705

 

[mwood]

If you have a real Tiger, I can't imagine any possible downside to getting your car TAC'ed.

I know, when the program started, we (I was one of the first inspectors trained) had some initial pushback in the US, because there were a few well known folks building cars that couldn't be certificated. Those days are gone...in the US

 

[Warren]

Bet ya, Big post about insurance and TAC comment

We can call 5 insurers and ask them if they even know what a TAC is and they will say sure it's a Tic Tac breath mint, or they have no idea what so ever what it means in the first place. The big problem is Sunbeam Tigers have no secondary VIN there are no motor number to speak of. TAC stickers are just vinyl and 2 rivets and a razor blade away from another identity.

It is not up to the CSR the agent or even Flo, underwriters rate the risk sometimes using appraisals, or comparable sales and charge a premium based on exposure for a certain "agreed" dollar amount.

Most every company would not risk a bad faith lawsuit in Calif over a total comp or collision loss, they are a drop in the bucket compared to BI and PD claims. Sure they do stupid stuff like prorate tires convertible tops and the like cause they can and it's in the fine print. Nobody ever reads it just like any other fine print.

As a agent I saw them shell out dough on a couple Chevy's I wrote never asking one question if they were a real SS396 or w/e

I believe in the TAC program 100% was really glad when I bought my second Tiger TAC#82 I could focus on looking for less then perfect repairs and quality of mods and original parts remaining. I would never bother to get a TAC with insurance paying off in my mind.

We have a member that had a Alger that was represented as a Tiger totaled and paid off to policy limits.

All that said I am no longer agent for one of the big 3 and these are general statements that you should ask your carrier directly or an active agent with errors and omissions insurance. I'm retired but maybe also retarded for putting up with it for so long.