I lost my SII Alpine in a fire a couple of months ago. There aren't many Sunbeams in my area but I heard of a Tiger for sale nearby. I'm going to look at it early next week. Any advice on what to look for would be appreciated. I know the usual Alpine body things to look for but wonder if the cat has any differences. Mechanicals, I can handle if I can find parts. Are any made of unicorn dung?
Here's what I know. I met the owner about 10 years ago, haven't seen him since. At that time he'd owned it for about 30 years. Hadn't driven in it in a few years, between moving and mice getting at it, it wasn't a runner. He spent the last 10 years restoring it. A friend who (among other things) appraises classics for insurance companies was asked to look at it. He is our local guru in British cars. He says it's a good restoration, and worth about twice what the guy is hoping for.
The bad news is that it was originally sold in South Africa and came to Canada around 1970. Therefore, it's RHD. It's also badged as an "Alpine 260" but that's not an issue to me. I want a driver and am not sure I can adapt to RHD on 2-lane roads. Can I? My friends and I do summer runs into Montana and the Dakota's, is it legal to take to the US? Does RHD lower the value if I decide I can't drive it and want to sell it?
Looking at my previous Alpines, I always thought it might be an easy conversion to LHD. Is it, or at least for the V8 version?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Al
Here's what I know. I met the owner about 10 years ago, haven't seen him since. At that time he'd owned it for about 30 years. Hadn't driven in it in a few years, between moving and mice getting at it, it wasn't a runner. He spent the last 10 years restoring it. A friend who (among other things) appraises classics for insurance companies was asked to look at it. He is our local guru in British cars. He says it's a good restoration, and worth about twice what the guy is hoping for.
The bad news is that it was originally sold in South Africa and came to Canada around 1970. Therefore, it's RHD. It's also badged as an "Alpine 260" but that's not an issue to me. I want a driver and am not sure I can adapt to RHD on 2-lane roads. Can I? My friends and I do summer runs into Montana and the Dakota's, is it legal to take to the US? Does RHD lower the value if I decide I can't drive it and want to sell it?
Looking at my previous Alpines, I always thought it might be an easy conversion to LHD. Is it, or at least for the V8 version?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Al