MK1 RS1600 Service shell Rebuild

[Mex 1t]

keep up the good work cc

will be nice to see another one saved from the scrapyard in the sky

[graham John]

nice resto going on CC, good to see another one saved,

cheeRS

[paul spence]

nice work CC, ,as always

[Mexicomark]

.

Bit of History on car ,,,,,, Built in 1974 from a AVO supplied RS1600 service shell , number 312 . Supplied with factory Big wings and rear turret conversion. Also on closer inspection shell is seam welded but only on chassis rails and not on wing tops etc.

Could this be a works shell ?? ,am not up to speed ! all my time in past has been on factory cars and concours.... know a famous works car on service shell 314.. I personaly think first owner has gone into ford to buy a service shell and has been offered this , maybee same price or a few quid more , well it was 1974 . plus avo was closing its doors, end of a era .... Loads of strange fitments on shell like twin steering colum outlet holes on lower bulkhead , any help from you guys out there,,,,,, and there is some very clued up people on this bb would be a massive help

Charlie after reading the above about the shell, I'd say it was supplied by AVO as a service shell rather than boreham as a works shell.
This is just my opinion based on my past experiences with service shells.
It was possible to buy an arched or unarched service shell from ford. I have the part numbers somewhere for both.
The fitting of turrets, seam welding etc... were all done on site at AVO pretty much on a daily basis. By 1974 all the shells were basically RS2000 shells then built to suit the customers / dealers requirements. I have had a couple of the late shells & both had all the relevent pressings in the bulkhead for left or right hand drive use.
Excellent work by the way.....

[Aaron P.]

......savage job....will look animal when done ....keep the pics coming

[willid1]

Charlie after reading the above about the shell, I'd say it was supplied by AVO as a service shell rather than boreham as a works shell.
This is just my opinion based on my past experiences with service shells.
It was possible to buy an arched or unarched service shell from ford. I have the part numbers somewhere for both.
The fitting of turrets, seam welding etc... were all done on site at AVO pretty much on a daily basis. By 1974 all the shells were basically RS2000 shells then built to suit the customers / dealers requirements. I have had a couple of the late shells & both had all the relevent pressings in the bulkhead for left or right hand drive use.
Excellent work by the way.....

My Twin Cam had a Type 49 service shell in the early 1970's and it has exactly the same turrets as this RS1600.

David

[Charlie Chisholm]

is that expressed panels bulkhead ?

what a hole, not many go that mad LOL

Yes mate expresed bulkhead , also expressed lower bulkhead to go in

[76mex]

nice job charlie do you want a job in my bodyshop may be then ill be able to get on with my restos

[Charlie Chisholm]

Charlie after reading the above about the shell, I'd say it was supplied by AVO as a service shell rather than boreham as a works shell.
This is just my opinion based on my past experiences with service shells.
It was possible to buy an arched or unarched service shell from ford. I have the part numbers somewhere for both.
The fitting of turrets, seam welding etc... were all done on site at AVO pretty much on a daily basis. By 1974 all the shells were basically RS2000 shells then built to suit the customers / dealers requirements. I have had a couple of the late shells & both had all the relevent pressings in the bulkhead for left or right hand drive use.
Excellent work by the way.....

Thanks Mark appreciated

Thought it should have had a special build plate , or was that only production cars ?

Have you ever come across a avo shell with 2 holes in lower bulkhead for steering col ? i have marked this in a pic above. Scratching my head with this one ?

[Charlie Chisholm]

nice job charlie do you want a job in my bodyshop may be then ill be able to get on with my restos

When do you want me to start

Get them done Lee, your a top man with spray gun and welder

It was you all those years ago talked me into painting YFX

[paul spence]

CC you must be cracking on with the mk1 this week .
popped into the shop to see you!!!!

[76mex]

cheers cc i will get there one day but i dont know which one to do first ill have to stop lookin on ebay for a start and stop buying more work

[Charlie Chisholm]

CC you must be cracking on with the mk1 this week .
popped into the shop to see you!!!!

Been really really bad this week mate

[Charlie Chisholm]

Offered new bulkhead up and got to say it was a bastard to fit , as all re manufactured panels are . Once in place i temp secured it with self tappers , due to lower bulkhead being changed next.

The self tappers act as alignment pins as well, as i know front end will move when lower bulkhead is removed



First pic is of upper bulkhead in place prior to been secured and marked



second pic showing bulkhead secured in place with self tappers which will be my alignment holes !

[Charlie Chisholm]

Once upper bulkhead is secured in place lower bulkhead could then be replaced .

It was touch and go weather to replace the whole item but after much weighing up and coffee drinking as decision was made by Dave (Owner) to replace full panal. To be honest it would be rude not to as it was such a nice panal, yes lots of holes and markings to fettle but its all do able if you get my drift.

A few pics showing lower bulkhead before i got the grinder out








The new Lower Bulkhead .............. Very nice







Off now to get me grinder out , wish me luck

Post next update after avo weekend as away with YFX , See a lot of you's off here on sunday , shame i will miss brook medow camping tho, have my kids sat PM .

Will be my last show with YFX as i am to busy with other projects and to be honest done everything i ever set out and more with her . And this before results of sundays masterclass lol