Escort Mk2 rear light lenses wanted

[Xp197777]

Does anyone have a genuine butler pair of new nos Escort mk2 rear light lenses for sale

[Xp197777]

Soughted now thanks

[Rally Pack 2000]

Be very careful when sourcing actual new Bulters ones. There were Chinese copies circulating for a while that copied the Butlers name on them to pretend they were original but they were absolute rubbish. I often would see them being advertised as "Butlers" by sellers by they most definitely were not! Not only was colour tinting thin in places there was a moulding flaw with the drivers side that had a bend in so it wouldn't seal with the rubber and many tried to tighten them to make them seal and the lens would snap in two. Most (but not all) could be spotted from originals in that they had no reflector inserted in the red brake light section. It was left open so that the light for the brakes shone through that part as well. Later ones were given the reflector but still never bothered to fix the bent flaw in the casting! As with most Chinese plastic they would go cloudy with UV damage in a matter of months. The market was so flooded with these at one point I had to make the decision to buy quality aftermarket ones as it was so risky to buy anything with the Butlers name on them. Since then many after market versions have come onto the market so it it may pay to ask members which brands have a good fit and finish.

[Xp197777]

Thanks James I had heard that before but I’ve managed to source a Ford boxed pair

[katana]

1 hour ago, Xp197777 said:

Thanks James I had heard that before but I’ve managed to source a Ford boxed pair

Were those the one's on Turbosport that were complete with rear bodies - £60 the pair? The guy was either nuts or a philanthropist - either way they were cheap!

[Xp197777]

No unfortunately not paid a bit more than that 

[Rally Pack 2000]

6 hours ago, Xp197777 said:

Thanks James I had heard that before but I’ve managed to source a Ford boxed pair

Ohhhhhh very very nice! Original Ford ones are best both Butlers ant Altissimo. I also found the Gecar ones made in Italy pretty good as well.

[Rally Pack 2000]

25 minutes ago, Xp197777 said:

No unfortunately not paid a bit more than that 

I bet you did! Only one meal a day this week I suspect.

[Xp197777]

Spot on 

[caprimk1v4]

Got a few brand new pair's of BUTLERS one's in the Ford boxes, would swap for a Genuine pair of Ford Altissimo ones (Brand new boxed like mine).

[Rally Pack 2000]

12 hours ago, caprimk1v4 said:

Got a few brand new pair's of BUTLERS one's in the Ford boxes, would swap for a Genuine pair of Ford Altissimo ones (Brand new boxed like mine).

That sounds like an interesting swap, is there a circumstance where the Altissimo ones are needed over the Butlers ones?

[katana]

Can't be sure but believe the Butlers were provided for Mk2, UK cars, early to mid run with all RS models being fitted with the Altissimo ones. Later cars across the range migrated to Altissimo and Butlers rarely seen on late delivered cars - to my knowledge.

[Xp197777]

20 hours ago, caprimk1v4 said:

Got a few brand new pair's of BUTLERS one's in the Ford boxes, would swap for a Genuine pair of Ford Altissimo ones (Brand new boxed like mine).

Would you be willing to sell a boxed pair

[Rally Pack 2000]

8 hours ago, katana said:

Can't be sure but believe the Butlers were provided for Mk2, UK cars, early to mid run with all RS models being fitted with the Altissimo ones. Later cars across the range migrated to Altissimo and Butlers rarely seen on late delivered cars - to my knowledge.

All our cars were Butlers here but when you went to buy replacements as spare parts they supplied Altissimo ones. I have a set of them in boxes where as the car originally came with Butlers so I haven't used them yet. Thats what made me wonder if Altissimo ones may have been issued on cars there in Europe and caught my eye with the swap offer.

[caprimk1v4]

Hi,

 

I need a pair for a 1976 Escort MK2 Mexico that has a pair of BUTLERS on the back, when it should have come into the UK from Saarlouis with a pair of ALTISSIMO len's.

 

I also have some GECAR one's and they are 99% as good as the Ford one's, prob made by the same sub contract company that makes the O.E ones fitted to cars, the same as there are Lucas made square headlights made for the Ghia models, that have the Ford oval in the center but missing the letters FORD in the oval, they just grind out the FORD on the master mould, I have 3 new pairs of BUTLERS rear len's made the same way, says BUTLERS on the len's BUT the mould that the plastic was injected into has the FORD & oval shape over stamped with 3 X's (xxx), but you can still see the oval and a small part of the letter"F").

I have some SKF Pinto cam belt tensioners, that have the Ford oval & FORD in the oval, BUT have been kissed ever so slightly with a small die grinder type tool to disfigure the FORD logo, so Genuine items made by sub contractors and made on the same line, if it has the FORD logo etc on it, it is at least twice the price of the same item with the logo scratched off, got quite a lot of stuff like that, things like Kent Crossflow thermostat covers & water pumps & oil pumps, but I have never seen a disfigured "FORD" Altissimo rear lens, only BUTLERS.  

[Xp197777]

So are the butlers boxed and would you be willing to part with a pair

[Rally Pack 2000]

22 hours ago, caprimk1v4 said:

I need a pair for a 1976 Escort MK2 Mexico that has a pair of BUTLERS on the back, when it should have come into the UK from Saarlouis with a pair of ALTISSIMO len's.

I also have some GECAR one's and they are 99% as good as the Ford one's, prob made by the same sub contract company that makes the O.E ones fitted to cars, the same as there are Lucas made square headlights made for the Ghia models, that have the Ford oval in the center but missing the letters FORD in the oval, they just grind out the FORD on the master mould, I have 3 new pairs of BUTLERS rear len's made the same way, says BUTLERS on the len's BUT the mould that the plastic was injected into has the FORD & oval shape over stamped with 3 X's (xxx), but you can still see the oval and a small part of the letter"F").

I always wondered is their may be an association between Gecar and Altissimo as they seem very similar in tint and construction. At the time they were the best aftermarket ones I could get although there are many more now so not sure what the ones from those panel guys are like these days. I bought a spare set of Gecar ones but they sent me two lefts and just the other day when I took the car out I noticed the right one on the car has a crack in it. Wouldn't you know it? I have three good lefts and one cracked right! LOL That even occurred after the last doris on her mobile phone rammed me up the back in a shopping car park where neither of them broke. So I am naturally scared to use the new Altiissimo's until it becomes a static display and will have to find another right Gecar to get me a drive around set again.

[katana]

If its was me - as the Gecar are aftermarket anyway, i'd be tempted to get busy with the glue to secure the crack - least it keeps you mobile. . . . . . . . looks ain't everything!

[DT36]

I have an Altissimo on one side and a Gecar on the other. Until reading this thread, I would not have known they were different. 

Every day I learn something here 😁

[caprimk1v4]

Once I get a brand new pair of as new Altissimo lens in boxes, I will then sort out my new stock and sell them off (keeping a pair for each of my own cars), until then I will not be selling any off.

[Bully]

Hi guys , where can we get new rubbers for rear lenses ? Cheers 

[Rally Pack 2000]

14 hours ago, katana said:

If its was me - as the Gecar are aftermarket anyway, i'd be tempted to get busy with the glue to secure the crack - least it keeps you mobile. . . . . . . . looks ain't everything!

Yes I was just going to hold out till I can get another right Gecar one. I have nothing to change it out with short of buying another pair so it has to stay as it is for now. You never know a right hand Gecar one may show up one day!

[Miniliteman]

4 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Yes I was just going to hold out till I can get another right Gecar one. I have nothing to change it out with short of buying another pair so it has to stay as it is for now. You never know a right hand Gecar one may show up one day!

Well maybe "one day" has come early 😀 ; think I have a right hand Gecar lense in storage. Will have a look.

[Miniliteman]

Have a set of Gecar lenses unfortunately the right side one has a bit missing ... see photo.

If it is any good to you, you can have it for postage.

 

[Miniliteman]

On 31/05/2021 at 00:12, Bully said:

Hi guys , where can we get new rubbers for rear lenses ? Cheers 

https://www.escortrs.co.uk/mk2e/rearclusterseals.html