At 01:47 PM 11/24/02 -0600, Stephen Waybright wrote:
>However well intentioned, I personally believe TAC causes more division
>within the Tiger community than it's worth, and that in itself hurts the
>value and collector appreciation of our cars far more than the very limited
>cases of Alger fraud that occur. For evidence, refer to the amount of list
>traffic this has generated.
>
I agree, completely. TAC is foolish and idiotic. It is so
self-contradictory as to be impossible of implementation.
Let wiser heads prevail!
This is, in the end, a grey universe. We really should accept ambiguities,
rather than attempt artificial divisions. This is not an area of great
interest to me, but I understand that the "official" list of Tiger body
serial numbers is being held in confidence? If so, that is the most
contraproductive thing I can imagine, and fie on those who would be so
foolish!
The whole issue is a whoof! without a reason. Accuracy depends on the
item, not on some certification from self-certified folks with grand egos
and little knowledge.
I bought my Alpine in '72. I traced the title and had the three previous
owners appear before me. Under a full moon, I made them swear that my car
was not a converted Tiger, and they did so swear. I did not accept their
word alone, of course. I contacted six Rootes workers in the UK (well,
four; two had immigrated, one to Canada and another to New Zealand, but,
damn!, I ran them down. Fortunately, all had maintained a register of
every body that they had ever worked upon.) And all swore that my car had
begun life as an Alpine.
What more could I wish? But this TAC stuff is now engendering an AAC
movement and, alas!, my paperwork is in disarray!
I am in great fear that, should I decide to sell my car, that I now must
list it as something other than what it really is, an Alpine V. Should I
list it as a Tiger? Hell, no! My car has the proper number of cylinders!
Should I list it as a Humber? Alas, no, one of the major errors of the
First Baron Rootes was in not acknowledging the Alpines as Humbers ...
Give me a break. A car is a car. And, of course, caveat emptor. And,
pray, I hope Tiger owners will swallow their greed.
Marc
msmall@infi.net FAX: +276/343-7315
Cha robh b`s fir gun ghr`s fir!
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