ST170 rear skirt replacement

sunset06 · 03-07-2011, 05:52 PM

Had a bozo run into the back of my now not so immaculate 2003 ST170. Given that it cracked the rear skirt in a few places, the smash repairer has quoted on supplying a new one (along with all the more normal parts). However, both they and I were told by Ford that there is none of the rear skirts (bumper lower extensions) available in Australia.

A serious amount of web search later, and I'm none the wiser. Anyone know:
- if the skirt was made in Australia (or where) ?
- was it a Venture Industries (Ford plastics plant) item ?
- as the whole body kit the same (ie could I get parts from eg uk, europe or us ?)
- know of somewhere else to try to find the part ?
- whether the SSV http://ssv.com.au/product.php?1356 replicas are made of the same material (theirs is Fibreglass) ?
- whether the SSV fit OK ?
- whether the SSV have held up OK (if you have had one for a while) ?
Cheers, Sunset.

Russ · 03-07-2011, 11:09 PM

Perhaps you could try Fibresports, they may be able to help you - http://www.fordforums.com.au/forumdisplay.php?f=307

Russ

photn · 04-07-2011, 05:02 AM

I have SSV front bar. Its great especially for the price.

1. Yes made specifically for australia in australia by ford,
2. No idea,
3. No not available from the UK as they never saw the kit.
4. Ford done have any left at all
5. Theirs is made from Fibreglass as you said,
6. the SSV one is a direct replica of the ford one and fits fine,
7. as far as i can tell the build quality is pretty good.

sunset06 · 04-07-2011, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

Perhaps you could try Fibresports, they may be able to help you

OK, thanks Russ, in my travels on FF, I hadn't seen them mentioned. Anyone like to give an opinion on their rear skirt for ST170 ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by photn

I have SSV front bar. Its great especially for the price.

5. Theirs is made from Fibreglass as you said,
7. as far as i can tell the build quality is pretty good.

Anyone else: was the original Ford item/kit fibreglass ?

Quality: have you had it a while ? no obvious trouble with it, like cracks etc ?
How has that front bar (spoiler ?) handled the obligatory kerb contact ?

I'll leave a request open for a genuine ford article rear skirt, in the off chance someone is hoarding one, since I'd prefer to keep the Foci genuine if possible.

sunset06 · 04-07-2011, 09:06 AM

Anybody know how many st170 were sold ? How rare are they ?

spedwards · 04-07-2011, 10:44 AM

I think it was in the range of 200 - 250 in Australia, many more over in the UK and US (bagged as the SVT)

Fast Eddie · 04-07-2011, 02:50 PM

Sunset,

Here's another site.

www.carmate.com.au

melbzetec · 04-07-2011, 03:15 PM

Standard one is not fibreglass. Not sure what it's made of, but is far more flexible than fibreglass

The same bodykit can be found on other Focus' of the time (eg mine). So you could keep your eye out for wreckers for any Focus with the factory body kit.etc as it was not exclusive to ST170 (but the colour was)

Is there no way of getting a professional repair on it? that would solve a lot of problems in terms of keeping it genuine.

sunset06 · 04-07-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melbzetec

Is there no way of getting a professional repair on it? that would solve a lot of problems in terms of keeping it genuine.

I'm guessing the original would be ABS plastic, then.

My repairer has said that the thickness of the front spoiler eg 4mm they could plastic weld and may actually last a long time, but parts of the rear skirt are only about 1mm thick (and where it is split), and while they could do the same, one sneeze and it would split open again

If you know of someone more 'professional' than smash repair places, let me know ?

photn · 05-07-2011, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunset06

OK, thanks Russ, in my travels on FF, I hadn't seen them mentioned. Anyone like to give an opinion on their rear skirt for ST170 ?

Anyone else: was the original Ford item/kit fibreglass ?

Quality: have you had it a while ? no obvious trouble with it, like cracks etc ?
How has that front bar (spoiler ?) handled the obligatory kerb contact ?

I'll leave a request open for a genuine ford article rear skirt, in the off chance someone is hoarding one, since I'd prefer to keep the Foci genuine if possible.

Ive had my front spoiler for about 1.5 years now. Needs a bit of a touch up, but it looks fine and no issues. ABS plastic is 100x better if you can get it.