New MK2 Escort Shells

[Johnny Boy]

Yes I get what you are saying.

My thoughts are , with a bit more thought and quality control , they could have been restoration shells also.

If you can make a bad copy, why not make a good one.

[katana]

Do you realise what vehicle press tools cost to make, LOADS £££, so if a pattern is 'pretty good' they are generally classed as good enough. Even back in the day, pattern parts were only used to get a car back on the road, with Ford panels only for A1 fit & appearance. Now that isn't an option so we are left with poor fit stuff!

[Johnny Boy]

45 minutes ago, katana said:

Do you realise what vehicle press tools cost to make, LOADS £££, so if a pattern is 'pretty good' they are generally classed as good enough. Even back in the day, pattern parts were only used to get a car back on the road, with Ford panels only for A1 fit & appearance. Now that isn't an option so we are left with poor fit stuff!

Yes I do know its expensive.

My point was if you are going to do it , do it right, not poorly.

Right and poor cost the same.

[YellowTaxi]

Its funny but when I first heard about the new shells I was very exited. People imediately started mocking the quality most hadnt even seen them and the negative comments had no real detail as to why they where so poor.

In life, as a commissioning engineer for Industrial plant I have come across this mindset so many times. It seems people just like to have a negative outlook, often with no actual reference.

With that in mind I was keen to see the shells for myself. Its worth noting they where first discussed in 2015 just as 'new replacement shells', no mention of rallying. 

I think the rally thing came in because the quality was just too poor for a road car.

 

I went to see one with a completely open mind, hoping they would be better than the rumours suggested.

I agree with Johny, with a bit more QC they could have been much better.

Something else I dont think anybody has mentioned, surely a rally car has to be stronger than a road car. If the quality of the fit etc is anything to go by I dont think I would be happy chucking one into a muddy hairpin with trees everywhere at 70 MPH. Now I know rally cars are seem welded etc but initial construction and integrity bust still be important.

Anyway, you never know the one I saw could have been a really poor one.

I for one look forwards to the day a good quality, reasonably priced, new shell is available and wouldnt care where it was made.

We live in hope.

[The Transplanter]

If the Higgins shells were targeted at the Rally scene, then why wouldnt they had just had them made for that use with 4 link, forest arches, seam welded, gusseted, caged etc etc???

IMO  it makes me think they thought they were going to earn the big bucks from the restorers, but when realised the quality wasnt as good as maybe they hoped, they then come up with the "for rally use" story!

[katana]

Maybe because not all Rally regulations allow those modifications - easier to have a shell that replicates what Ford produced, rather than having some seam welded with no 4 link etc!