The Restoration of PRRROWL
TIGER # B382000221
An Article by John Crawley
February, 2001
Page 4
Car Clubs & Driving Cars
I went to a few of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club meetings this summer and was most impressed that almost everyone showed up driving a bike. Their club is doing wonderfully well, even thought their meetings were a pain to sit through.
As soon as we forget to drive our cars our clubs will start to fail. This doesn't mean that if one does not have a driving car they should stay away from meetings but just the opposite. If your car is "down" go out and see all of the others driving their cars. Catch a ride with someone to an event and you will be surprised at the enthusiasm generated to get your car back on the road. This is a critical step in the restoration of your TIGER as many cars change hands after the would-be restorer looses the will to continue the project.
As for those with running TIGERs— drive them to events, offer others a ride and if you are really in a gracious mood let them have shot at driving your car. When my car was in the restoration process one of our Club members casually said to me: Well you drive will you? This was an offer that I appreciated more than he will ever know. At the point when I felt the lowest about working on the TIGER he came through with just the tonic that helped me on my way. My enthusiasm soared. I know that he worried every second that I was driving his car but he did it anyway just to give me a lift. I have tried to repay this kindness by offering anyone who has a TIGER in the works a chance to drive my car and I encourage all of you to do likewise.
Benchmark Cars
A while back Bob H. told me that his TIGER II had been sold in the United States. It was sad to see this TIGER not get a Canadian home. His car is surely one of the best Mk. II TIGERs anywhere in the world. It was one of only 64 mark IIs were sold in Canada in 1967. (See Norm Millers site for all production data.) Bob's Mk II was untouched stock, original with original paint and had only 35,000 miles on the clock. It is surly destined to become a benchmark car in the US. Bob tells me thought that his TIGER’s new owner is one who appreciates what he has and that it has gone to a good home.
Benchmark cars are vehicles that are so original they are used as a standard against which all other similar cars are judged. The restoration of a car such as this is something that should be done with great care. As an example, if the carpet is worn the restorer should advertise to find the best original carpet available and not just stick in a repro from a modern supplier. The repro may be good but it is never quite the same as what came from the factory. Benchmark cars have a special place in automotive history. They show all those that follow what the factory actually produced as a restoration never can. If you are fortunate enough to acquire a car such as this exercise great care in deciding what should be done to it. Your TIGER may be far more valuable just the way it is than it would be as a restored car.
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