3 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

Classic Car Buyer recently reported new Mk2 Ford Escort shells now available for £7000. The article said the overseas manufacturer (China?) was commissioned by a UK firm to 'reverse engineer' them from an original Ford shell and that they were cheaper than the 'hand built' Mk2 Escort shells that are made by a company in Turkey.....
BMW and BMH would not approve of this for the Mini or MGB, etc but I suppose Ford offer no alternative so are not concerned?

Will they be considered a 'real' Escort using a rather large 'pattern part? Would it be allowed road tax exemption and original VIN and number plate? Heritage shells are 'almost' genuine as they are made on the original jigs. Rally and competition cars won't worry too much about this but classic Ford owners who strive for originality may? Although many concours cars probably have pattern wings, sills, etc, so as always where do you draw the line? There are those in between who simply want a nice car and aren't fussed about originality, so one of these pattern shells at that price if good quality, will save time and money compared to restoring a rotten Mk2 Escort shell.



"COMPLETE MK2 ESCORTS SHELL AND SPARES ALSO AVAILABLE CALL FOR MORE DETAILS NOW TAKING ORDERS AND DEPOSITS"
£7000.00
http://higginscarbre...2-escort-shell/

 

[sonikk4]

There was a chap who's name i cannot remember off hand who went to the time and effort to get MK1 Mexico wings remade and this happened via a Chinese factory.

 

Now if the car matches the correct specification, welded correctly etc then why not. So many cars get trashed through rallying then what a result for those boys.

[mininuts]

I'd read somewhere that it was the rally boys appetite for destroying Escorts that prompted the manufacture of these shells. Like said, the originality won't come into it for them.

[sonikk4]

Even for the RS boys converting a new shell is not that difficult to make it a viable replacement for a rotted out car.

I wonder if this will help to stop the prices of existing MK 2's from shooting through the roof???