In one episode of CNBC’s “Jay Leno’s Garage,” on Wednesday, Steve Hoffman described that the legend is what led him to purchase a rusty 1966 Sunbeam Tiger MK 1A Roadster in the desert outside Pasadena for $3,000.
Initially, there was the historic interest. James Bond drove a sunbeam in “Dr. No,” and a MK 1 featured in the Alfred Hitchcock movie “To Catch a Thief.”
The Tiger was developed for speed. The initial manufacturer Carroll Shelby understood that vehicles that won races were vehicles that sold, that is why, in 1963, he dropped a Ford V8 engine into the British Alpine.
“For this reason the expression: Win on Sunday, sell on Monday,” states Leno.
This car is likewise the last MK 1A constructed, and that’s factoid fascinating to world-renowned auto enthusiast Donald Osborne. That increases the car’s worth although, Osborne agrees, the first MK 2 would have a larger bump.
Still, Hoffman stands to make a significant amount of profit: Osborne describes it’s now worth $112,000.
The two other primary important things to keep in mind when evaluating a vehicle, states Osborne, are preservation and provenance. Hoffman has actually inspected both of those boxes.
Hoffman reports that he put $50,000 into repairs after he bought it from the previous owner, though his spouse thinks that number is probably $30,000. Regardless, Osborne is appreciating. As he examines the panel fit, the interior, the instruments on the control panel and whether the seats are done in the appropriate vinyl, he says everything looks outstanding.
However, he mentions, the carpet on the transmission tunnel is really different than the carpet on the mat. That small reduces the worth. And Osborne states that he ‘d choose a less modern and more rounded-shoulder tire on this type of vehicle.
“I thought we had it all,” said Hoffman.
Still, Hoffman finds out, he can make a massive $59,000 in profit if he sells the vehicle for its evaluated worth.
“It shows you what you can do with a little determination and not a ton of cash,” said Leno. “I like cars that average guys can work on in there garage, which’s exactly what this is.”
