New Mk2 escort Shells

[Resto dan]

something must of gone badly wrong when they pressed the pair of wings I bought of the same supplier of these shells. Terrible fit! Radius to scuttle was shockingly out. Top of was also curved and not flat. Inner rail was 35mm longer on one wing than the other, bonnet bump stop cutouts might as well not be there as no use to anyone and when I started bodywork prep there was patches of rust under the coating they had put on! I had to get a second opinion on it as I thought I was going mad!
I've messaged seller on eBay of the poor fit etc but had nothing back in reply. Won't be buying anything else.

[Erikmex]

Same happened with someone i know who bought a roof panel, the angle of the c pillar wasnt even right, like about 10deg out!

[katana]

When we were at the training centre at Daventry all of the guys on the course were very interested in the obsolete presses for the Mk2 Escort and we were reliably informed that Ford destroy all pressing equipment for models that were no longer current.

I am 100% certain that there are no original presses of any obsolete models.

No they didnt, the presses for these shells were made by stripping an old escort shells and making copies of the tooling, i was in direct dialogue with them in China a few years ago.

The 2nd quote doesn't make sense - you dispute first hand comment then virtually agree with it and state that new press dies were made via copying potentially old distorted panels!
I believe the 'new' Higgins shell tooling has been created from a collection of brand new OEM Ford panels collected by a German Enthusiast - enough to create a complete body. With laser 3D scanning and CNC machining technology - not available in the 70/80's, the dies could be dead accurate but all subject to spending the time and money to produce

[Erikmex]

The 2nd quote doesn't make sense - you dispute first hand comment then virtually agree with it and state that new press dies were made via copying potentially old distorted panels!
I believe the 'new' Higgins shell tooling has been created from a collection of brand new OEM Ford panels collected by a German Enthusiast - enough to create a complete body. With laser 3D scanning and CNC machining technology - not available in the 70/80's, the dies could be dead accurate but all subject to spending the time and money to produce

I think youre confusing yourself, i replied to this post :

''The Chinese bought every press from Dagenham few years ago so these may be part original presses as I know they bought loads pressed over the years from ford''.

Anyway, the tooling for the Higgins car was made from a beige 2door Mk2 complete shell, i saw it sitting there and was in dailogue with the MD of the company in China as i was considering investing in the tooling for Mk1's.