body shells

[ian 5626]

Hi

 

Just considering buying a renovated rolling chassis and all the parts except the shell.

Can you get a new shell still or not or has it got to be a replacement? And what would be the approximate cost of the options.

Also what do you feel the vehicle worth in its present state as neither i or the seller realy know ?

I am very new to this and would appreciate as much advice as possible thank you for you help.

[Lockley210]

Hi Ian welcome to the forum

I purchased a Heritage shell when they were first introduced but I was unhappy with the panel fit and general build quality, so I sent it back and had a full refund!!

I understand Heritage do not make complete shells anymore

I ended up buying another shell and repaired that instead.

Regards

Mark

[davehop]

Hi Ian

 

I was thinking about the possibility of a new shell for mine as it's got a pretty poor panel fit. I think this is due to a rather average restoration attempt by the previous (or maybe before him?) owner, probably using non-original panels. So repairing my shell would seem to be money down the drain in terms of ever getting a perfect fit. If you want to restore a shell, be sure that it's got all original, or at least OE replacement panels (However rusty) because then at least you have a good foundation to build on. A well-known specialist I was talking with explained that with aftermarket panels it's essentially pot-luck wether or not you get a good fit. This depends on when in the life-cycle of the tooling the panel was made. The later on in the life of the mould/press the more worn it is and so the less acurate to original spec. If you get one made at the beginning of the life cycle, the more likely you are to get lucky with a good reproduction. (Although this may be contradicted by Marks's experience!) Quality of repro panels also has something to do with the material that the moulds are made of. Some give more than others, so details areas like the tight curve at the top and back of the doors and the indentations in the sills often require extra work to get a good fit - none of which you want to do if it's "Brand New"!

 

None of this is down to experience (except the state of my own car ) but comes from listening to a variety of knowledgeable people. There are plenty of folks on the forum with a lot more bodywork experience than me.

 

If you stilll want to go the neew shell route Moss have heritage shells listed at around £4500 or thereabouts off the top of my head.

 

Best thing is probably to go to your local meet and see an excellent example in the flesh so you know what it should look like, and then visit the heritage factory and see for yourself.

 

Bit of a ramble...hope it makes sense

 

 

 

Dave

[stuart]

Welcome Ian

Hate to disappoint you chaps but Heritage havent made shells for quite a while as apparently they have "Lost" some of the tooling. Believe me if you have seen the state of some of the shells I have had to repair lately I would be a very happy budgie if they were still available poorly shaped or not!! Regards the value of the remains of the car depends on what the chassis is like and if all the rest apart from the shell is there as it gets expensive buying lots of small bits that may be missing. Also is it a tax free one and does it have a current V5?

Stuart.

Edited September 27, 2007 by stuart

[Richard Crawley]

Welcome Ian

Hate to disappoint you chaps but Heritage havent made shells for quite a while as apparently they have "Lost" some of the tooling. Believe me if you have seen the state of some of the shells I have had to repair lately I would be a very happy budgie if they were still available poorly shaped or not!! Regards the value of the remains of the car depends on what the chassis is like and if all the rest apart from the shell is there as it gets expensive buying lots of small bits that may be missing. Also is it a tax free one and does it have a current V5?

Stuart.

 

I also belive Heritage no longer make complete shells. My understanding is that Leyland themselves either destroyed or lost some to the original tooling in the 80’s (the inner wings, sills, valance & smaller sections) but the rest was later found & salvaged; these are presumable the ones for the outer wings, boot, door pressings & the rest of the stuff that fits OK. If Heritage has now lost some of this tooling, that really is very careless!

 

Press tools are extremely expensive to make, not just for the skilled labour involved in shaping the original formers but in terms of tooling materials to ensure the press tool can withstand the very high pressures needed to form some of those tight curves & have a long working life. To get around the lost tooling cheap, (short life & low pressure) tooling & panels produced in the 3rd world now results in ill fitting panels; but at least it's better than nothing if repair of the originals is impossible.