New MK2 Escort Shells

[Johnny Boy]

I'm interested in any news / feedback on the "New" MK2 Escort shells.

I haven't heard much about them recently. There was a lot of talk about the poor quality at first, but not much info to be had now they have been about for a while.

Anyone got any feedback ?

[katana]

I think asking that question on a 'purist / classic enthusiast site isn't going to get much response! They are really aimed at the rally teams for building new cars from solid metal - ask about on sites dedicated to 'old skool' rallying and you may get more replies! Which in a way is a good thing as it keeps 'real cars' out of ditches, hitting trees and stone walls and be left for the restoration brigade to salvage and / or rebuild.

[Xp197777]

Well we had one to build a rally car for someone and was very disappointed with fit and finish ,we spent weeks putting right panel gaps and getting it right for paint frankly it could have been an original one in need of work the amount of effort that was needed

[RWL81P]

ive heard a few stories about the higgins chinese shells being ropey. think theyre about 10 grand.  those magnum ones from mst look the bollox but then they are hand made on jigs made to fit a proper shell, and theyre double the price. 

[Johnny Boy]

6 minutes ago, RWL81P said:

ive heard a few stories about the higgins chinese shells being ropey. think theyre about 10 grand.  those magnum ones from mst look the bollox but then they are hand made on jigs made to fit a proper shell, and theyre double the price. 

It was the Higgins shells that I was thinking about, just there was a lot of talk about them when they first started selling them, but its all gone a bit quiet now.

Lots of negative comments. I just wondered if they had addressed some of the quality issues reported.

[Johnny Boy]

4 hours ago, Xp197777 said:

Well we had one to build a rally car for someone and was very disappointed with fit and finish ,we spent weeks putting right panel gaps and getting it right for paint frankly it could have been an original one in need of work the amount of effort that was needed

 

Oh dear

[Vista Estate]

2 hours ago, RWL81P said:

ive heard a few stories about the higgins chinese shells being ropey. think theyre about 10 grand.  those magnum ones from mst look the bollox but then they are hand made on jigs made to fit a proper shell, and theyre double the price. 

The fit of the doors on the magnum one displayed at the NEC was really bad. The old 7lb screwdriver would be needed.

[Rally Pack 2000]

7 hours ago, Xp197777 said:

Well we had one to build a rally car for someone and was very disappointed with fit and finish ,we spent weeks putting right panel gaps and getting it right for paint frankly it could have been an original one in need of work the amount of effort that was needed

That sounds very frustrating and you would think it would all come together quickly with all new panels but I think its still a good thing in that you saved an original car from being destroyed on the rally circuit. So it was well worth it in more ways than one and why Im in favour of these non original shells.

[Vista Estate]

Agreed James, but I'm not happy with them being used to resurrect a pile of dust with its v5 that was bought strictly for display purposes 😉 

[Miniliteman]

1 hour ago, Vista Estate said:

Agreed James, but I'm not happy with them being used to resurrect a pile of dust with its v5 that was bought strictly for display purposes 😉 

Back in the day Ford themselves reshelled cars that were beyond repair, at one point there were 3 "STW201R" cars in existence one RHD and two LHD!

[katana]

But those at least were genuine, Ford original products.

[kevs mk2 rs2000]

14 hours ago, RWL81P said:

ive heard a few stories about the higgins chinese shells being ropey. think theyre about 10 grand.  those magnum ones from mst look the bollox but then they are hand made on jigs made to fit a proper shell, and theyre double the price. 

the shells are 8,500 from ireland mate

[kevs mk2 rs2000]

On 24/11/2023 at 09:20, Johnny Boy said:

I'm interested in any news / feedback on the "New" MK2 Escort shells.

I haven't heard much about them recently. There was a lot of talk about the poor quality at first, but not much info to be had now they have been about for a while.

Anyone got any feedback ?

the wings are a bad fit and need removed and the gaps to door sorted , also the a pillar bottom where it meets the scuttle is about 18mm too low  that needs removed and a new made section welded in ,, on another note  magnum doors are indeed not thiers they are the chineese ones , with a mark up of double the price nearly ,

[Dave Knight]

I saw these last week, back on.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274982005192?hash=item40063469c8:g:yA0AAOSwRnVfTSqn&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8Ff5KG2%2Bv%2B8ioNvdg8I9EZ4fiOiEtdKIc%2BmU63m9QElY1aKdAzKhSXHJHcWxyGa5sHBCLh0TNdLk906kT%2Bmpwf1cbnbyz9qmMdVOsg85aJvQ6q0xgz5Z7pJlPImzDAgnUOOBCcsz0gbBklhkk8B%2FmoyAm1gzdS5UDP7THxzwED8FfUhqtn9bY3fj2GL1LiD47Z6trIaLhA4KYNftG2zz%2B7w%2BGIcVtPBnwxa1CAZmufEqh5%2Bia%2FY4G60NlI1s%2BUldabNT6vDeqHN6KhHGOoxUWNQj9tQhW68i3%2BKLLRSBP4O3icbEgig%2F6F%2FOIH0R8r2TZA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9amoueAYw

[Johnny Boy]

1 hour ago, kevs mk2 rs2000 said:

on another note  magnum doors are indeed not thiers they are the chineese ones , with a mark up of double the price nearly ,

 

That's interesting to know.

[Johnny Boy]

1 hour ago, Dave Knight said:

I saw these last week, back on.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274982005192?hash=item40063469c8:g:yA0AAOSwRnVfTSqn&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8Ff5KG2%2Bv%2B8ioNvdg8I9EZ4fiOiEtdKIc%2BmU63m9QElY1aKdAzKhSXHJHcWxyGa5sHBCLh0TNdLk906kT%2Bmpwf1cbnbyz9qmMdVOsg85aJvQ6q0xgz5Z7pJlPImzDAgnUOOBCcsz0gbBklhkk8B%2FmoyAm1gzdS5UDP7THxzwED8FfUhqtn9bY3fj2GL1LiD47Z6trIaLhA4KYNftG2zz%2B7w%2BGIcVtPBnwxa1CAZmufEqh5%2Bia%2FY4G60NlI1s%2BUldabNT6vDeqHN6KhHGOoxUWNQj9tQhW68i3%2BKLLRSBP4O3icbEgig%2F6F%2FOIH0R8r2TZA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9amoueAYw

 

If you had a average rusty one, it would make financial sense to reshell into a new shell, but only if the issues had been sorted out.

[Rally Pack 2000]

5 hours ago, Vista Estate said:

Agreed James, but I'm not happy with them being used to resurrect a pile of dust with its v5 that was bought strictly for display purposes 😉 

I didnt think they could be used in that way. I was lead to believe any complete cars created using these shells were considered modern vehicles? But your rules are very complex to an outsider.

[kevs mk2 rs2000]

1 hour ago, Johnny Boy said:

 

That's interesting to know.

have a look at the hinges on magnum doors there cast exactly  like chineese  doors the welding on hinges is exactly the same too mate

[eeb43]

3 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

 

If you had a average rusty one, it would make financial sense to reshell into a new shell, but only if the issues had been sorted out.

cant legally use the id from the rusty 1

[Johnny Boy]

37 minutes ago, eeb43 said:

cant legally use the id from the rusty 1

Unless things have changed , you can.

Back in the day Ford themselves sold shells. If you had an bad accident, the car was reshelled, and still kept its ID

[katana]

3 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

Unless things have changed , you can.

Back in the day Ford themselves sold shells. If you had an bad accident, the car was reshelled, and still kept its ID

7 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

I didnt think they could be used in that way. I was lead to believe any complete cars created using these shells were considered modern vehicles? But your rules are very complex to an outsider.

They did back in the day but the DVLA weren't so hot on reshells / identity transfer back then - now its a different matter. They ain't dim and know the no FORD shells are available so the reg. cannot be transfered.

If you use one of the full shells and use ALL new or refurbished to 'as new' quality then as MST have done, the completed vehicle can be registered as new with a new age plate.

Its a hugely grey area with conflicting and often opposing opinions from DLVA licencing about what is and isn't legit!

[eeb43]

16 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

Unless things have changed , you can.

Back in the day Ford themselves sold shells. If you had an bad accident, the car was reshelled, and still kept its ID

you can use a new ford manufactured or ford licenced shell yes but not a new shell not anything to do with ford!

[mk2esccy]

Are the Higgins front wings for the mk2 escort any good or should I go with magnum.... the wings I have on mine are really badly pressed with a few issues

[Johnny Boy]

9 hours ago, eeb43 said:

you can use a new ford manufactured or ford licenced shell yes but not a new shell not anything to do with ford!

OK, thanks 😊 

[RWL81P]

1 hour ago, mk2esccy said:

Are the Higgins front wings for the mk2 escort any good or should I go with magnum.... the wings I have on mine are really badly pressed with a few issues

my mate used magnum ones on his escort. but magnum did 2. cheaper ones and then dear ones that are supposed to be a lot better quality. he used the cheaper ones