Description:

• A reliable and fast TIGA BUICK

• ​Entered in Sebring 12 Hours & Daytona 24 Hours

• Competitively priced

• Victory at Le Mans Classic in Group C2

• Eligible for Daytona Classic, Sebring Classic, Gulf Historic, Group C Racing & Le Mans Classic

Tim Schenken and Howden Ganley, two former Formula 1 drivers, founded the Tiga brand in the 1970s, the name coming from the combination of the initials of their first and last names (Tim Ganley). Their joint venture assembled over 400 C2 category sports prototype chassis until it ceased operations in 1989.

Tiga cars were entered in major competitions such as the World Sports Car Championship, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as the InterSeries in Europe and IMSA Lights in the United States. The duo thus made a major contribution to the development of sports-protos in the category below Group C1 during the 1980s.

The GT286 chassis #321 offered for sale today boasts a strong American record, with several participations in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Daytona.

A GT in name only, but an authentic racing prototype

In 1984, Tiga launched the GC284, known in the USA as the GT284 because it was IMSA GT-eligible. It was built around an aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis covered by a carbon fibre/kevlar body. This car was used as a basis, and evolved over the years, with modifications mainly to the bodywork, and also adjustments to certain mechanical elements. The GC284 was closely related to the GC289, which was distinguished by the position of its front-mounted (rather than longitudinal) radiators.

A GC284 could evolve over the years, until the GC289, the ultimate iteration

Tiga's GC286 (known as the GT286 for the US market, like the model offered for sale here) was thus the fruit of the development of the GC285 and GC284 models designed by Ganley. 

The GC284 made its debut in 1984 and enjoyed great success in the hands of Gordon Spice's team, winning at Spa-Francorchamps, Imola and Sandown Park that season. Spice won the C2 class at Le Mans in 1985 with Ray Bellm in a Tiga GC285, and then the C2 World Championship in the same year. The 1986 Tiga models benefited from this experience, and brought something new to the table. 

The 1986 Tiga models were the first to feature ground effects in IMSA Lights. With progressive modifications from 1986 to 1989, they were the driving force behind the championship. One of their advantages was the ease with which they could be updated from one year to the next and adapted to race in a choice of C2 or IMSA Light categories. Engines as diverse as the Mazda 13B, Cosworth DFZ, Chevrolet V8, Buick V6, Ford BDT and Porsche blocks were used. There were even Volvo and Ferrari blocks!

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An American track record between Daytona and Sebring for #321

Chassis GT286 was bought by Charles Morgan and entered by his Morgan Performance team in 1986. Winner of its class at the Watkins Glen 500 (one of the 4 GT286 victories that year), it subsequently changed owners several times.

In 1986, the Tiga was an integral part of the C2 and Light field, in the World Championship and in the United States respectively. Up against the Alba, Argo, Harrier and Royale, they were the benchmark.

The car offered for sale here achieved just one success, but can boast of having been at the start of endurance classics such as Daytona and Sebring on several occasions. 

02/02/1986 - 24 Hours of Daytona - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan / Logan Blackburn / David Simpson - Result : 37th - retirement (gearbox)

02/03/1986 - Miami Grand Prix Camel Lights - Morgan Performance - Logan Blackburn - Result : 4th - withdrawal (reason unknown)

22/03/1986 - 12 Hours of Sebring - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan / Logan Blackburn - Result : 24th - retirement (Engine) - Grid : 14th

27/04/1986 - 6 Hours of Riverside - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan / Logan Blackburn - Result : 25th - Grid : 21st

04/05/1986 - Laguna Seca 300 Kilometers - Morgan Performance - Logan Blackburn - Result : 9th - Grid : 12th

18/05/1986 - Charlotte 500 Kilometers - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan / Logan Blackburn - Result : 14th - retirement - Grid : 14th

26/05/1986 - Lime Rock 150 Tours - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan / Logan Blackburn - Result : 24th - retirement - Grid : 16th  

08/06/1986 - Mid-Ohio 500 Kilometers - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan - Result : 22nd - retirement - Grid : 13th

06/07/1986 - Watkins Glen 500 Miles - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan / Logan Blackburn - Result : 10th,Winner in Lights - Grid : 24th

24/08/1986 - Road America 500 Miles - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan / Logan Blackburn - Result : 48th - retirement (Engine) - Grid : 27th

21/09/1986 - Watkins Glen 500 Kilometres - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan - Result : 27th - retirement - Grid : 21st

05/10/1986 - Columbus 500 Kilometres - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan / Logan Blackburn - Result : 20th - withdrawal - Grid : 31st

26/10/1986 - Daytona 3 Hours Final - Morgan Performance - Charles Morgan - Result : 39th - retirement - Grid : 38th

21/03/1987 - 12 Hours of Sebring - Ares Sports - Steve Phillips/Ron Canizares/Howard Katz - Result : 73rd - withdrawal (Electricity) - Grid : 27th

12/04/1987 - Road Atlanta 500 Kilometers - Ares Sports - Ron Canizares / Bill Wolff - Result : 10th - Grid : 19th

26/04/1987 - Riverside 500 Kilometers - Ares Sports - Ron Canizares / Bill Koll - Result : 19th - retirement - Grid : 21st

03/05/1987 - Laguna Seca 300 Kilometres - Ares Sports - Ron Canizares - Result : 15th - Grid : 23rd

24/05/1987 - Lime Rock 150 Laps - Ares Sports - Ron Canizares / Bill Wolff - Result : 17th - Grid : 18th

05/07/1987 - Watkins Glen 500 Kilometres - Ares - Ron Canizares / Bill Wolff - Result : 19th - retirement - Grid : 18th

16/08/1987 - Road America 500 Miles - Ares Sports - Ron Canizares / Bill Wolff - Result : 48th - withdrawal (oil leak) - Grid : 30th

06/09/1987 - 3 h San Antonio - Ares Sports - Ron Canizares / Bill Wolff - Result : 15th - retirement - Grid : 16th

04/10/1987 - Columbus 300 Kilometers - Ares Sports - Ron Canizares / Bill Wolff - Result : 18th - Grid : 29th

31/01/1988 - 24 Hours of Daytona - Brown Racing - Ron Nelson / Bobby Brown / Billy Hagen / Sterling Marlin - Result : 54th - retirement (Engine) - Grid : 72nd

19/03/1988 - 12 Hours of Sebring - Bobby Brown Racing - Bobby Brown / Billy Hagan / Ron Nelson - Result : 52nd - withdrawal (Accident) - Grid : 42nd

10/04/1988 - Road Atlanta 500 Kilometers - Brown Racing - Bobby Brown / Ron Nelson - Result : 22nd - Grid : 29th

17/07/1988 - Road America 500 Kilometres - Brown Racing - Dennis Vitolo - Result : 47th - retirement - Grid : 53rd

02/10/1988 - Columbus 300 Kilometres - Brown Racing - Bobby Brown / Dennis Vitolo - Result : 30th - retirement - Grid : 33rd

A winning return to historic racing: victory at the 2023 Le Mans Classic in the Group C2 category

This TIGA GT286 has been fully restored and entered in the prestigious Group C races by Peter Auto and at Le Mans Classic, where it made quite a name for itself!

At Spa Classic, it finished 3rd in its class and above all at Le Mans Classic, it won the Group C2 class and finished third in the Sprint race on Sunday. It proved to be both reliable and competitive. Its 6-cylinder BUICK engine offers a good reserve of torque and power, and the reputation of the Tiga chassis is well established. Ascott Collection is therefore offering an IMSA Light for sale at a very competitive price, which will enable you to challenge for victory in the Group C2. 

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