Vehicle Description
This 1966 Mark IA is a very late production car, certified by the
Tiger Association. It was delivered new to a Covina, CA, resident,
then sold in the summer of 1970. It was concluded from accompanying
registration and transfer documents that the second owners, who
lived in West Covina, enjoyed the car sparingly for the next decade
until it was put into storage in 1980. There the car sat until
liberation from its hibernation in the summer of 2012.
Recommissioned, serviced and tuned, the car ran fairly well, all
things considered, but was in tatty condition with a shredded
soft-top and interior. Devoid of any rust whatsoever, it was a
prime candidate for restoration. The car was duly dismantled, and
the body taken to a concours award-winning shop for a full
makeover. The body was dipped and taken to bare metal and fitted to
a rotisserie for a restoration as comprehensive below the car as it
was above. Doors, hood and trunk lid were installed with expert
precision of panel fit and equal gaps to the laser-straight body.
The expertly applied paint finish in metallic blue shows great
depth of shine and luster. All brightwork was refurbished and
rechromed to a high standard, and the car rides on brand-new
Panasport rims with Graphite Gray painted centers. The interior has
been refinished in quality leather on the original seats, door
panels and dash cover. A lush tan was used on the seats and doors,
while a blue matching the exterior paint was used for the dash. The
carpet also matches the exterior in color as well as quality, along
with the cloth soft-top. The dash panel was remade by a Rolls-Royce
specialist in fine walnut, and a Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel
completes the interior package. Mechanically, the car enjoyed a
full nut-and-bolt restoration by a local shop. The Ford V8 engine
was health-checked, refinished and installed in the car. A recent
compression check results were six cylinders at 150 psi, two at 155
psi. The original, refurbished Toploader 4-speed manual
transmission and new clutch were fitted, and the rear end was
rebuilt to complete the restored powertrain. All ancillaries were
rebuilt, restored or replaced and a brand-new Holley 4-barrel
carburetor sits atop. Brakes and steering were overhauled and all
suspension parts, with innumerable other parts, were powder-coated
by local experts. A new wiring harness was installed, gauges were
rebuilt and restored, and all ancillary systems work as they
should. The result: the car drives as well as the looks would
imply. Taut and responsive, the car has great power with smooth
delivery, and includes approximately $106,000 in restoration
receipts.
