Which V8 Tiger or Keeble
Discussion
For 25 years I've been trying to decide which is the best option, a Sunbeam Tiger or Gordon Keeble. Tiger is convertible which I love but the Keeble has twice the power and is refined. I now have kids so a plus2 is a bit cramped. Both my options need restoration, yes I have first option on either. Both have plus and minus points and are extremes in V8's. Small 4.2 rusty Ford V8 convertible, vs , big faster 5.5 fibreglass Chevy V8 GT.
Ive had 2 Tigers previously but had breathed on Alpines (6sec)that were faster. One month I prefer the Tiger the next the Keeble. Its the sound and the potential, not to mention the exhilaration, that exites me. After 25 years I want CLOSURE. Please help a tortured soul to rest. Tiger or Keeble?
Ive had 2 Tigers previously but had breathed on Alpines (6sec)that were faster. One month I prefer the Tiger the next the Keeble. Its the sound and the potential, not to mention the exhilaration, that exites me. After 25 years I want CLOSURE. Please help a tortured soul to rest. Tiger or Keeble?
Well its got the best bits, front wing air vents,knock on alloys and only 40k from new. The Tigers only 35k from new but needs a lot of work. Ive experienced basket case Tiger restoration but Im no teenagwr anymore. Before anyone asks, no I wont make public where they are. A long standing eccentric friend owns them.
Got to say, you can't really compare such different cars just because they both have V8s.
Don't know what your Tigers were like but they don't sound up to much if a 'breathed on' Alpine could beat them! My Tiger was one of the fastest cars I've ever driven, up to about 80 mph when the chassis turned to jelly. It did have a non-standard carb and a straight through exhaust system - you could hear it coming from miles away! It was the only car I've had which could get me to work at 7.00am when I'd set off at 7.10!
I've had several Alpines in my time and liked them all immensely - but they are soft compared with an on-song Tiger, don't care how much you've breathed on them.
Don't know what your Tigers were like but they don't sound up to much if a 'breathed on' Alpine could beat them! My Tiger was one of the fastest cars I've ever driven, up to about 80 mph when the chassis turned to jelly. It did have a non-standard carb and a straight through exhaust system - you could hear it coming from miles away! It was the only car I've had which could get me to work at 7.00am when I'd set off at 7.10!
I've had several Alpines in my time and liked them all immensely - but they are soft compared with an on-song Tiger, don't care how much you've breathed on them.
If you have the chance to own a Gordon Keeble then I would say do it. If it's a resto case then so be it - think of the final car - beautiful. If you've already had a Tiger then what's the attraction - other than they're bloody nice!
If your eccentric friend is selling both then you should tell him you'll have the keeble - and then let PHers know his no. - I am sure the Tiger will go to a decent home.
www.gordonkeeble.org.uk has pics of 66 of the 99/100 or so built - which one is it - or is it not on there?
Surely you can give that away?
PHer V10Mike owns No. 6 - heavily modified and gorgeous.
If your eccentric friend is selling both then you should tell him you'll have the keeble - and then let PHers know his no. - I am sure the Tiger will go to a decent home.
www.gordonkeeble.org.uk has pics of 66 of the 99/100 or so built - which one is it - or is it not on there?
Surely you can give that away?
PHer V10Mike owns No. 6 - heavily modified and gorgeous.
Edited by MikeyT on Friday 20th May 23:55
To be honest I would like to have both cars but I wouldn't sell my Tiger to have the Keeble instead.
My Tiger is my favourite of all my cars, it is quite simply a superb car for so many different things. It is a great cruiser for long distance European trips, yet is also outrageously fast and more than capable of surprising modern performance machinery in a straight line. It is breathed on and has been timed at Gurston Down doing 0-60 in under 4 seconds, yet looks completely standard.
I would like to add a front engined V8 GT of some sort (I already have a mid-engined V8). First choice at the moment is a good Interceptor but that is more because a Keeble would be so hard to find. An acquaintance is about to take delivery of a Keeble so if I get the chance will be interesting to see what that is like.
Tigers also seem to be being appreciated more at the moment making a restoration far more worthwhile than a few years ago.
My Tiger is my favourite of all my cars, it is quite simply a superb car for so many different things. It is a great cruiser for long distance European trips, yet is also outrageously fast and more than capable of surprising modern performance machinery in a straight line. It is breathed on and has been timed at Gurston Down doing 0-60 in under 4 seconds, yet looks completely standard.
I would like to add a front engined V8 GT of some sort (I already have a mid-engined V8). First choice at the moment is a good Interceptor but that is more because a Keeble would be so hard to find. An acquaintance is about to take delivery of a Keeble so if I get the chance will be interesting to see what that is like.
Tigers also seem to be being appreciated more at the moment making a restoration far more worthwhile than a few years ago.
Would love to have both but space time etc you know. My old Tigers wernt that fast, a 4 second car sounds like an expensive stroker. My Alpine was faster and handled but the Tiger sounded grrreeat. The Keeble is 300bhp straight out of the box, but the roof doesnt come down.
I have to admit I can imagine selling the Keeble at some point but not the Tiger. I would have to spend a lot to get the Tiger how Id want it though.
Now you see I'm swayed back to the Tiger.AAHhhhhh
I have to admit I can imagine selling the Keeble at some point but not the Tiger. I would have to spend a lot to get the Tiger how Id want it though.
Now you see I'm swayed back to the Tiger.AAHhhhhh
My 'Tiger' was actually a South African assembled car, badged an Alpine V8. I bought it when I was working in Zambia, back in 1971. It was a '65 car and I paid just 300 Kwacha for it (about £150) 'cos it had had a carburettor fire. I replaced the carb with something off a scrap Yank - too long ago to remember what. It took me a week to tease out the burnt wiring (which went right under the dash) and carefully replaced each strand. Then bingo - started first time! Can't tell you the satisfaction.
Eventually took the heads off, re-ringed it and worked on the heads a bit. Had to build my own exhaust system in our engineering workshop - sounded awesome! The car was bright red. I painted a big black racing circle, edged in white, on the bonnet to hide the burnt paint and also did the sills black with a white stripe along the top - looked fabulous! And they say there aren't any tigers in Africa?? I had one!
Eventually sold it to buy an E-type drophead. I can tell you I was honestly disappointed with the E in comparison - felt like a big Sprite to me and the initial acceleration was nothing like the brutal explosion of the Tiger.
Mind you, the Sunbeam ran out of oomph well below 100 mph and wouldn't go round corners - but that initial acceleration! It would do nearly 50 mph in first gear. Maybe it had different gearing?? Wonder what ever happened to it? Probably eaten by a lion!
Eventually took the heads off, re-ringed it and worked on the heads a bit. Had to build my own exhaust system in our engineering workshop - sounded awesome! The car was bright red. I painted a big black racing circle, edged in white, on the bonnet to hide the burnt paint and also did the sills black with a white stripe along the top - looked fabulous! And they say there aren't any tigers in Africa?? I had one!
Eventually sold it to buy an E-type drophead. I can tell you I was honestly disappointed with the E in comparison - felt like a big Sprite to me and the initial acceleration was nothing like the brutal explosion of the Tiger.
Mind you, the Sunbeam ran out of oomph well below 100 mph and wouldn't go round corners - but that initial acceleration! It would do nearly 50 mph in first gear. Maybe it had different gearing?? Wonder what ever happened to it? Probably eaten by a lion!
Edited by dave de roxby on Saturday 21st May 13:24
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