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Thread: Chinese Shell almost done

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    Racer Decade Plus User alancdavis's Avatar

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    Chinese Shell almost done

    Big Wing sold and gone to be a film star

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Oh yes...!
    any more pictures?

    is this the first one finished?

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Looks well gaps and body lines look ok

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Very nice, well done
    how are the gaps and swage lines?

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    I've seen one of these shell's and there awrful, don't get me wrong, if your after a rally battle wagon to bolt all your parts onto, it's ok but otherwise I'd definitely prefer an original shell with lots of welding.

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    Racer Decade Plus User dazzle's Avatar

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Quote Originally Posted by waverunner View Post
    I've seen one of these shell's and there awrful, don't get me wrong, if your after a rally battle wagon to bolt all your parts onto, it's ok but otherwise I'd definitely prefer an original shell with lots of welding.
    I appreciate everyone has their own opinions on almost everything in life and we all look at things in different ways but, if you're going to make a statement of "and there awrful" could you at least explain why you think this?
    As a forum of like minded people, it would be good to give constructive criticism/opinions, pointing out exactly what makes it bad or good!

    Just a thought
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Spanner Monkey

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    hi dazzle that car is a credit to you bud well done.btw like my father said to me as a kid "opinions are like assholes everyone has one" great work keep it up.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    A while ago I looked at a low mileage virtually rust free genuine shell that had been dipped.

    It was amazing how 'awful' it looked in its bare state without any seam sealer or paint.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    I'm sure the finished product will look the dogs danglers.... Everything needs a fettle here and their

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Quote Originally Posted by dazzle View Post
    I appreciate everyone has their own opinions on almost everything in life and we all look at things in different ways but, if you're going to make a statement of "and there awrful" could you at least explain why you think this?
    As a forum of like minded people, it would be good to give constructive criticism/opinions, pointing out exactly what makes it bad or good!

    Just a thought
    Its was just my opinion, I didn't really want to digress into slagging the shells off.

    If I started to point out all the awful panel fitments or the atrocious scuttle to A pillar abomination, or even the fact the chassis profile is far from the original, then I'm putting someones hard work down. I can understand its "horses for courses" but being involved with Escorts for my whole adult life, it was just my opinion on what I seen.

    As I explained, my opinion was there ok for rally rebuilds but I wouldn't want one to replace a nice classic, sorry if anybodies offended, it wasn't my intension but they are awful.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Quote Originally Posted by dazzle View Post
    I appreciate everyone has their own opinions on almost everything in life and we all look at things in different ways but, if you're going to make a statement of "and there awrful" could you at least explain why you think this?
    As a forum of like minded people, it would be good to give constructive criticism/opinions, pointing out exactly what makes it bad or good!

    Just a thought
    Its was just my opinion, I didn't really want to digress into slagging the shells off.

    If I started to point out all the awful panel fitments or the atrocious scuttle to A pillar abomination, or even the fact the chassis profile is far from the original, then I'm putting someones hard work down. I can understand its "horses for courses" but being involved with Escorts for my whole adult life, it was just my opinion on what I seen.

    As I explained, my opinion is, there ok for rally rebuilds but I wouldn't want one to replace a nice classic, sorry if anybodies offended, it wasn't my intension but they are awful.
    Last edited by waverunner; 30-03-2017 at 17:56.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Just seen some photo's of the Higgins shell finished at a car show over the weekend, looked lovely.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    What's the quality like

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    lets face it Escorts were family saloons ,affordable and built to a price in the 60/70,s The build quality was typical of the time, A lot of the restored cars are much better than the origonal and treated -painted to a high standard and i think there the ones that will fetch the top money.however if you want a car for yourself and don't want to restore a bucket of rust go for it and why not "awful " covers most cars made in that period.
    EVERY DAY,S A LEARNING DAY

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    thing is, someone has gone to a lot of time and effort to get these shells into production...for us enthusiasts and to just say they are 'awful' without any explanation is a bit shit imo, please say as to why they are awful and let others know why you think this.

    ok, they are not 100% perfect however they are good enough for people to use instead of trying to restore a very badly rotten car or shell and having to spend a lot more than £7k to get it anywhere near the new shells condition, even then, you will most probably use reproduced panels so is there much difference lol.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    the issue is can you transfer your id onto them without the dvla giving you problems,i know you could choose to not tell them,then the potential problem of trying to claim off insurance if you had to.we know how they like to worm out if they can.as for fit finish you can never expect ford standards but i'd be happy with one

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    Pit Crew Decade Plus User Blower's Avatar

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    Thumbs up Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    They do look great in the pics ive seen , Who believed the hype , not me

    And im sure the guys who are in the circles of Mr Higgins will say they are the bees knees

    Then theres the Doubters , those who wouldnt use 1 of these shells in a million years ... unless of course they got rear ended next week , paid out ,cash in , then tell no one that the shell is of Chinese Origin

    Im sure i myself have had a 30% stake in the Doubters stable to start with

    But Hats off to the guys who invested in this project , Pat on the back ... when are the Mk1s coming ,?

    Now that will cause a riot

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Mildly amused at comments about panel gaps and body lines on the new shell. The panel gaps on older cars - including our beloved Escort - were never that great anyway.

    Now if the new shells had improved the alignment and gap situation I'm sure there would be nay-sayers stating that they 'aren't keeping it true' and all that. Perhaps perspective is required?

    I too offer kudos to the Higgins crew for investing significantly in the project in the first place.

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    Formerly harrier mk2 Decade Plus User Fridgeman's Avatar

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    thats exactly what i said
    EVERY DAY,S A LEARNING DAY

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Will it be on a Q Plate ??????

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    True Fridgeman, I had missed your post, but glad I'm not the only one

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    Mechanic DANGERDAVE80's Avatar

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    I think that looks bloody brilliant

    I reckon it would of saved me about 4 years of weekend bodywork if i had of went straight for one of these. Id seriously consider one, be good to see it in the flesh or even a few more pictures of it

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    Formerly harrier mk2 Decade Plus User Fridgeman's Avatar

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    won't be a nice lightweight shell like the origonal rust eaten babies
    EVERY DAY,S A LEARNING DAY

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    I think it looks awesome,

    theres a few pics on eBay on complete shell in mk2 .

    looks pretty amazing .
    I would of considered one , that's for sure

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    Racer Decade Plus User alancdavis's Avatar

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done








    Big Wing sold and gone to be a film star

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done


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    Pit Crew Decade Plus User MegatronUK's Avatar

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Why not, I say. You've been able to do the same with MG's for years. New fresh metal has got to be better than something held together by hundreds of patches.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Higgins have obviously built this car to showcase their new shells and fair play to them it looks amazing!!
    It would be interesting to hear how much the over all build cost was and how the project went.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    the thing is ......................... it doesnt tell you anything really does it ? i have seen cars this nice built from rotten shells and boxes of dodgy panels.
    thats not being negative - its just a factual statement.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Building a fully rotten car from copy panels will cost a lot more than one of them shells though and would save a lot of time too.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Looks stunning! well done
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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Took a few pics of the shell at Santa Pod's Classic Ford show today.


















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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Looks top notch I'd have one if I could afford one , it's on a different plate top pics to bottom ones ?

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Quote Originally Posted by mk2-mad-ad View Post
    it's on a different plate top pics to bottom ones ?
    Yeah I noticed that. Today's plate looked to have been quickly stuck on with silicone or something.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Harris was talking to him about possibly buying the lot

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Looks good to me.

    Shaun

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    Mechanic DANGERDAVE80's Avatar

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Saw this in the flesh on Sunday and thought it looked great Id really consider one if i hadn't just spend 8 1/2 years building my one!

    The bare shell did look a bit rough in places but a little panel hammer and skim here and there and jobs a good un! There was a Mk1 for sale at 4k not far from this that was an utter rot box, id much rather spend 7k on one of these.

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Quote Originally Posted by DANGERDAVE80 View Post
    There was a Mk1 for sale at 4k not far from this that was an utter rot box, id much rather spend 7k on one of these.




    Puts it all into perspective. The shells are far from perfect but would mean several years saved on a car build. Anyone withe the skill to rebuild that MK1 would no doubt be able to bring the new shell up to standard.

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  44. #39
    Pole Position Decade Plus User morcheen's Avatar

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    so looks like reshelling the car was ok with dvla then

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    Re: Chinese Shell almost done

    Despite the mixed reviews the shells are receiving I'm still thinking about getting one. I'm just worried about resale value if I ever wanted to get rid of it. What do people think the green Mexico built from one of those shells is realistically worth?

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