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TheSearcherMan said:
I want to make the FI look like the PI, except for the fuel rail and a few hoses. I intend to call the Fatherland tomorow or Saturday and maybe place the order for the PI throttle bodies and just about everything except the MU and the Pump. This is somewhat risky, cause I only want to do it one way. I am just not interested in dealing with 6 butterflies. The reason to make it look stock is strickly for resale value. I just haven't seen modified cars bring top dollar, however, some may be.
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I'm confused at just how you think these modifications will retain a re-sale value equal, or close to, an unmodified car. Yours will still be modified. To somebody wanting an original example, the perception of your modifications will be of added complexity, not increased value. Like any type of modifications. It will be worth it to the right buyer, just like any modified car. But not the average buyer looking for an original example. Especially since your chassis number won't match an original PI car. You can get good money for a modified car. If your willing to wait for the right buyer and not get upset when people don't come pounding down your door or want to offer you less because of your modifications.

My philosophy has always been to modify a car for my own enjoyment. Not for re-sale value. I try to limit my modifications to those that are reversible if need be. I also hold onto the original pieces to further facilitate the return to normal.
 
Good point. The website were the guy in New Zealand added PI to his car is what I am basing some of this on. Not originally a PI car, when he sold it, I have read he got almost 30k for it. I have watched ebay for years, the cars with the smog and everything totally stock bring more, although I have not been watching the last say 6 months. As far as trying to make the FI look like PI, lets just say its my personal feeling, it would add value, only one way to find out. Also, you mite want to read the article on the Sunbeam Tiger restoration in this months Classic Motorsports. Apparently a few years ago, everyone was modifying Tigers, now that the price has gone up, that has virtually stopped, next to last paragraph in article. Lets face it, the purists seem to have the cash. People these days mite be able to get say 7500 to buy a 6. Now, putting together 27500, thats a different deal, and that is actually lower than the #1 car value in NADA a few months ago. I know one guy now who is stockpiling TR8 smog equipment, thinking it will payoff down the road.
 
Did he sell it in New Zealand or Australia where PI is more common? Could explain the higher price. PI isn't known well enough here in the states and scares off a large selection of potential buyers. Which is why that TR5 had problems reaching the equivalent levels that they do where PI is more common.

I agree with the idea of modifying a PI set up with FI for the aesthetic reason. I plan on doing the same thing. I already have the manifolds, plenum and remote air-filter housing.

I can only assume that the Tiger reference is tied to the TR8 stuff. Since Tigers are much rarer than TR6's. I have kept all the emissions equipment that I have removed from my TR8 and do not plan on selling them. My main reason for keeping them is in case Colorado develops a new emissions program that doesn't grandfather in cars that were previously exempt.

I have my Triumphs for enjoyment, not as investments. The easiest way to justify any expense on them is to assign a value to driving them. Like, every time you go for a drive, deduct $20 from your cost of ownership. It certainly doesn't hurt my feelings when the values of my Triumphs go up. It also doesn't bother me when the values drop.

There are other things keeping the value of TR8's down. First would be the general unloved nature of the wedge. Second would be the relative ease of making a TR7 into a good TR8 clone. When TR7 values rise for being TR7's, there will be fewer being turned into TR7-V8's and then the true TR8's should see a greater rise in value.
 
I am not attacking your cars, or your modifying them. My situation is most likely different than yours, as I want to retire ASAP, but still awhile away. I think the point the Tiger article reinforces is orginal cars bring more when you sell them, thats all, not that they are better. Where did you get the PI parts? Also, I am not sure where the car was sold.
 
Not to worry Searcher, I wasn't feeling attacked. I was just curious about your reasoning on why the modifications that you plan are more value adding/maintaining.

No arguing that original cars bring more. The market has shown that across all types of cars.

I got my PI set up from a 6-pack lister who gave up on a FI conversion about 6 years ago. It has been sitting in a box on my shelf ever since. Life sort of got in the way of proceeding on it. Though I have a least taken the parts off the shelf lately and have begun to gather some intel on setting it up.

The idea of assigning an enjoyment value works with these cars no matter if you've modified it or brought it back to concours standards. There really is no other way to justify the cost rationally. Even if most Triumph owners, myself included, are anything but rational. :wink:
 
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