Summary

Rotisserie-restored, three-owner Southern California car powered by a Ford V8 engine paired to a Toploader 4-speed manual transmission. This was a multi-year restoration and a labor of love. Verified by STOA.

Details

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.