What's this shell?

[StephenP]

Just wondering if anyone knows what this shell is from? I was guessing a kit car? (although I could be wrong!)

It's been in the same place in Lincolnshire for years and I've always been curious what it might be?

[jeff666]

Might be a Clan of some sort.

[darrenw]

The side scoop makes me think of the Bonito, but the side window looks wrong. Hmm

[StephenP]

Zoomed in a bit and tweaked the contrast....

[Frankthered]

I reckon it's an Excalibur.

Very, very similar to the Bonito (and Seraph) but is Cortina based.

[jeff666]

Frankthered said:

I reckon it's an Excalibur.

Very, very similar to the Bonito (and Seraph) but is Cortina based.

Quarter window looks spot on, I think we have a winner.

[StephenP]

Excalibur looks to be spot on, thanks!

Found this via a 2004 Pistonheads post :
https://www.kentkitcarclub.com/EnH.php#excalibur

The photo of the chassis looks very similar to the orange one in my photo too.

That page suggests they are quite rare. No idea why that one is where it is!

[Equus]

Frankthered said:

I reckon it's an Excalibur.

Very, very similar to the Bonito (and Seraph) but is Cortina based.

My memory is not what it was, but my recollection is that both Seraph and Excalibur supplied Cortina variants based on this bodyshell (it was only Fibrefab Bonito who did it exclusively as VW Beetle based), so it could be either?

IIRC, it passed from Fibrefab Bonito (VW based) >> Seraph (VW + Cortina variants) >> Excalibur (Cortina only)
.
It's certainly one of them, though!

[Frankthered]

Equus said:

Frankthered said:

I reckon it's an Excalibur.

Very, very similar to the Bonito (and Seraph) but is Cortina based.

My memory is not what it was, but my recollection is that both Seraph and Excalibur supplied Cortina variants based on this bodyshell (it was only Fibrefab Bonito who did it exclusively as VW Beetle based), so it could be either?

IIRC, it passed from Fibrefab Bonito (VW based) >> Seraph (VW + Cortina variants) >> Excalibur (Cortina only)
.
It's certainly one of them, though!

I think I have heard that about the Seraph too, Equus, but I don't have memories of the Seraph when it was around. (I must not have been paying attention.)

I recall the Bonito being around most kits seemed to be Beetle based and I remember the Excalibur being around when lots of kits were Corina based but missed the bit in between!

I also remember unhappy grumblings the manufacturers of each and threats of court cases because of the lack of diversity in the designs.

It seems that rear quarterlight is one of the differences between the Excalibur and the other two though.