Overview
The decision to strip all components off of your TIGER for a full restoration is one of the first things that you will have to consider. Remember the advice that I gave you that it is easier to remove that it is to reassemble. Do not take a car apart unless you are sure that you will be leaving it in that location for the duration of the project and that you will have enough time to put into the project to finish it.
One method of keeping a project under control is to restore each component as it is removed rather than removing with the intention of restoring later. I built my MGTC this way. It was ever so gratifying to go to the shelf for a component to put on the restored chassis and to find a fresh part, painted and wrapped and labeled and ready to assemble. A second method is to remove things in the largest components possible and to restore each component as you go. Full disassembly, restoration and reassemble is a huge undertaking that many people fail to complete. I advise you to vow one thing before you start - completely give up television and you will find enough time to do the work.
If you intend to pay to have your car restored do not tear the car apart yourself and expect the restorer to put it together for you. If you do, it may cost you financially. If you wish to do some of the work yourself to save money collaborate with an experienced professional to guide you through the process.
Your TIGER’s body and the accompanying paint, is the most important part of your car. I have seen cars that were dogs win at shows even though they would hardly start and run. Car show judges seldom consider if the show cars will go, stop and steer. It matters to you but it does not matter to them. The finished body will be judged by all those that see it on three points in order of importance:
- 1. Paint
- 2. Straight panels
- 3. Fit of components.
All three things must be correct if you are to have a quality restoration. If you are doing a budget restoration skimp on the paint rather than on points 2 and 3. If you have doors, trunk and bonnet that fit well and all the panels are straight a new paint job is not expensive. The best, of course, is to do it right the first time.
Paint
Colour is all-important. You have to decide on the color and YOU have to live with it. Whatever you do, don’t change your mind after you start. I have seen several restorations were the owner made a color decision, had the engine bay painted and then decided to change to a different color. It is a sure way to be removed from your money.
The safest bet is to go with the original paint colour. Even if the original colour is barf green (the same colour as the pea soup that almost killed you with food poisoning) go with it. You can not go wrong and some of the best cars I have seen were painted original, but not popular, colors and they were a hit with all that judged them.
Paint alone can cost from $400 el cheapo (sanded with a garden hose) to many, many thousands of dollars. The objective of your restoration will determine how much you will spend for paint. $10,000 spent on paint on a race car will not result in faster lap times and $400 paint will most likely not get you into the winners circle in a car show.
Get lots of advice and help in choosing a painter. Remember that 90% of good paint is in the surface preparation and that you can learn to do this part with little training and with only a modest investment in equipment if you wish. Preparation is hours and hours of work and you can do this part rather than pay body shop rates but take a course or get some help from someone who has been successful.
Straight Panels
"Straight panels" means metal that follows the original curves that Rootes designed into your TIGER. A straight panel will reflect a straight line as a straight line and not as a wavy line. There is only one way to achieve this and that is skill, time and dollars. These components are the only way to insure success in having a top quality paint job. The best advice that I can give you is to buy a car that you KNOW is as good as possible to start with. Do not depend on your eye if you are not very experienced. Get a good body man to look at the car before you buy it. Do not let emotion rule here. Every wave and/or rust hole will have to be fixed with dollars squared.
Painting, collision repair and panel work are skills that are seldom found in one person and often not even in one shop. A "panel beater" may not be able or willing to paint your car but can still produce exceptional quality body work. Almost all shops will use some filler (Bondo) to achieve straight panels. This is not necessarily a bad thing if the thickness is kept down to an absolute minimum. Talk to lots of people in your Club and see what others have done. Talk to body men, compare costs and quality and shop – shop – shop.
**
