The Restoration of PRRROWL
TIGER # B382000221
An Article by John Crawley
March, 2001
Page 16
Chrome Bumpers
Bumpers are the showpiece of a TIGER. A great paint job will look terrible if not set off with good chrome. Bumpers are, I believe, not available except as spares from an other car. As with any spares this means that to acquire them some other Sunbeam will be without. This can only go on for a limited time and there will be no more cars. Save every bumper and every over-rider. A good shop can save even the most horribly bent and twisted bumper.
TIP: You can repair holes in bumpers, such as those drilled for fog lights by brazing a washer (or slug) to the back of the bumper under the hole, before chroming is done. Grind off the chrome around the area and then fill the hole by flowing brass over the washer from the front. Grind off and smooth down to the original contour. This repair is not expensive to have a bumper shop perform so do not try it unless you feel confident in trying this type of work.
TIP: TIGER bumpers were mass-produced by press. This process often leaves rough edges that are very sharp. Grind these edges smooth if you are going to have the bumpers plated anyway. I did not do this on my car as I thought:: "That is original and I should not change it." The sharp edges thought have since caused cuts to my hands several times. My car is not an original car. It is not a benchmark car. It is a restored car and as such would look better and been safer if the edges had been smoothed. The choice is yours for your car.
Adjusting Bumpers
A real weak spot on the Tiger is the that the front bumpers bolt to a thin piece of metal that has a captive bolt spot welded to the back. This spot weld is inaccessible and is usually attached on the bottom edge only. If you are doing body work or paint on the front frame horns it is worth cutting the captive nuts out and replacing the front end of the horn with a stronger piece of metal complete with a captive nut welded in place.
TIP: If you adjust the bumper brackets to get rid of the Tiger "frown' or "smile" by bending them do so off the car. The reinstall and check the alignment. If you depend on the captive nut to hold while you bend the bracket you risk breaking it away from the thin frame material.
Note that another reason for the "frown', other than a bent bracket, is the mis-installation of the brackets, as there are "lefts" and "rights" for both front and rear. Try swapping sides, first.
Rear View Side Mirrors
If you have been looking for a period looking mirror that gives the maximum of adjustment for pulling small trailers etc. with your TIGER consider the mirrors from an early '70s LADA. These came with a swivel knuckle in the center, back of the mirror head as well as a swivel at the base end that attaches to the door. The mirrors are chrome will fit either door. The mirror head is square and thin and fits the line of the TIGER quite well. These will of course not get past the show judge but then he probably never towed a tent trailer with his TIGER either.
Editor's Note: If you are using the Talbot Jr. style bullet mirrors, and are having a difficult time locating them so they can acually see the traffic in the other lanes, it has been your editor's experience that the solution lies in "notching" the inner round hole of the outer chrome shell holding the mirror (Or getting the much larger Talbot Sr. design.) The center bolt is contacted by this hole at the extremes of adjustment. A judicious use of a round file to make an elongated slot in this hole will allow the mirror to swing further out as the holding bolt goes inside the slot. It is difficult to find a good place to mount these, and still see the road. Curved mirrors give a wider field of view, with a smaller image. You can get used to this size issue on EITHER side of the car, with a little practice. If you see ANYTHING in the mirror, it is too close to change lanes!! I ususally prefer to keep a little of the car's body in the field of view to orient the location. Be careful that you do not have a left side rear blind spot. Mounting these mirror styles on the front fender makes location difficult, as it is always a compromise. The ideal postion is just above wheel center, but then it looks like a domestic Japanese car. Near the windshield makes it difficult to see around the windshield, but the "notching" technique may work.
On the doors gives rise to a passenger side problem in visual interference with the "wind wing". A rather low mounting (on the upper door curve) and careful placement does work with notching. Don't drill holes until you are satisfied.
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