A T20C Story
by Mike McAlpine
by Mike McAlpine
|
It was in the late 1970's that I went to work at my local pub on my 1958 Tiger 110 which I had recently restored. Paul, one of the pub regulars, asked me if I would like to buy his Tiger Cub. I wasn't really interested, but after he had asked me several more times I went to his house to look at it.
It had been stored in a stripped-down condition and left in his damp cellar for a considerable number of years. I took a look at the parts of the bike, had a chat with him, a price was agreed and I walked away with the Cub, every nut, bolt and parts complete with nothing missing! It was loaded into my car and I took it home, placed it into the shed and that's where it stayed for a few years, as I was busy working. |
|
Some time later I decided to get rid of it so whilst at the next Stafford Show, I called at the Tiger Cub Register stall with the engine and frame numbers to be told the machine was a T20C and quite rare if all parts were there. I was offered £500 for it and later £1000.
At that time a standard Tiger Cub was worth £1000 completely restored and I thought that was a good price, seeing it was in basket case condition. It was then that I decided to keep it and restore it myself and whilst still at the show, I went back and joined the Tiger Cub Register so I could find out more about it.
After further research, I discovered only 1773 T20Cs were built in 1957. The U.K. market was allocated 32.1% of these with 60% going to the U.S.A. and 7.9% to other countries, you can do the maths yourselves.
At that time a standard Tiger Cub was worth £1000 completely restored and I thought that was a good price, seeing it was in basket case condition. It was then that I decided to keep it and restore it myself and whilst still at the show, I went back and joined the Tiger Cub Register so I could find out more about it.
After further research, I discovered only 1773 T20Cs were built in 1957. The U.K. market was allocated 32.1% of these with 60% going to the U.S.A. and 7.9% to other countries, you can do the maths yourselves.
|
I later learned that at that time only four T20C's were know of - one at The National Motor Museum, Birmingham, one belonging to me, and two other owners who were not named.
By 1999 my Tiger Cub was fully restored and has only completed 250 miles since that time as I find it's really too small for two adults. Having said that, riding the machine solo is ace although not very fast as it has trials gearing. Whilst researching this Tiger Cub's history, I found out it was purchased by Webbs Service Dept. Ltd., on the corner of Lake Street, Great Moor, Stockport, Cheshire. Its’ Specification - Competition with Trials Tyres. It’s a funny old world, I used to work at Wilf Webbs Service Dept. Ltd. whilst saving up to get married by working evenings and weekends. I could possibly even have worked on this bike in its earlier life! I feel it's really worthwhile researching a bike’s history as you never know what you may find out, or who it could have belonged to. This little 1957 Tiger Cub 'LJA 271' is now very much treasured by us. |
