BUYERS GUIDE
Section II: Hunting Tigers
There are many online and offline classified resources. In this section, we will try to point you in the right direction to finding the part or car of your dreams.
- Word of Mouth -- Tiger Mailing List
If you have not subscribed to the Tiger Mailing List, then do it now. I would highly recommend posing questions to the list about available cars in your region.. and if you find a car it is a good place to locate someone who either knows about the car or can help you determine the value. Chances are that you will find a some regional cars and possibly event a knowlegeable contact in your area to help you with your search.
- Hemmings Motor News
Hemmings is the bible of the collector car community. It contains listings for cars, parts and service and is a good place to find a dozen cars for sale.
- Tiger & Alpine Club Web Sites -- SERVICE DIRECTORY
Visit the TigersUnited.com service directory to find a list of Tiger clubs with links. Most of these clubs have pages devoted to Tiger Classifieds. If you don't see anything you are looking for there, email the club and see if they know of any cars for sale.
- Car For Sale Sites -- (ie. AutoTrader etc..)
Traditional new and used car classifieds could find you a real jewel or lemon. If you find a car that is not know to the Tiger community, find a TAC inspector or knowlegeable Tiger owner to help you with the inspection process.
- Auction Sites -- ( ie. eBay etc..)
I am not a big fan of buying cars through eBay. I have sold a car through eBay and bought thousands of dollars worth of items. If you cannot visit the car in person, it is a very risky purchase to bid on an unknown eBay vehicle. On the other hand, if you are on the Tiger Mailing List listed above.. send out a mass email and you will get a lot of feedback from the group about a particular car. I would recommend buying parts and not cars through online auctions.
Section III: What's It Worth?
Well, you found a car but is it a good deal. This is a very tricky question especially when it comes to collector cars. It really is not a question of what it is worth.. it is "what is it worth to you". Most Tiger owners did not buy their cars as an investment. They may of told their wives and friends this but the truth is it a big toy or hobby.
So.. you didn't like that answer.. well here are some resources available that show avearage market values. These values are gathered from auctions, expert opinions and a leap of faith.
- Sportscar Market Magazine
Now in its 16th year, Sports Car Market magazine is filled with information you can't get anywhere else: profiles of desirable Porsches, Ferraris, Corvettes, Jaguars, and more; which muscle cars are skyrocketing and why; how to choose an Affordable Classic; and what to look for, and how much to pay, when buying a used classic. Take a look at their list of professional appraisers.
- Barrett Jackson Auction Results
Go to the results section of this site to find a list of the Tigers auctioned off and sold. It is amazing how good this information is, although maybe a wee bit discouraging for the seller. There is a wide variety of cars sold in varying conditions. Nice pictures too.
- Manheim Gold
The Gold Book was established in 1968 and is the oldest continuously published authority on collector car values. Gold Book's database of collector car auction results and verified private transactions is the largest in the world. Its editors and auction reporters attend or monitor over 100 collector car auctions and private-owner sales venues in the U.S. and Western Europe each year. The Gold Book staff are members of numerous collector car clubs that monitor trends in the car-collecting hobby.
This information should put your mind in the right "neighborhood" when looking at a Tiger.
OK, I DID MY RESEARCH AND FOUND MY CAR, WHAT NEXT?
Section IV: A Tiger By The Tail
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