No-tax for plastic P100
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• Motor Panels of Coventry has designed and built a special Ford P100 pickup that could go into production next year.
The vehicle will be displayed at the Motor Show before being taken round a number of Ford dealers. If they feel that they could sell such a vehicle in sufficient numbers (around 3,000 a year), Ford will then tool-up to produce the plastic body panels. Should projected volumes be less than expected (around 500), then Ford will sub-contract the work out to a firm like Motor Panels.
The one-tonne pickup has a distinctive Cosworth Sierratype nose, and plastic lower panels. The hard rear tonneau cover is also plastic, and lockable. As the rear windows are only attached to the removable tonneau, and the seating capacity of the pickup remains unchanged, the vehicle will not attract car tax, unlike the Nissan King Cab with its rear windows. The standard pickup wheels are replaced with one size larger alloy rims, and low profile tyres.
The project stems from Ford's interest in selling American-type recreational vehicles in Europe. The company hopes that the vehicle proves popular with buyers, a it may pave the way for other similar conversions — possibU on the Transit van.
Ford will also be showing a "King Cab" type Ford P100 o. its stand at the Motor Show. Again this vehicle will not attract car tax, because of the small glass area (less than 95cm unobscured), and the seating capacity also remains unchanged.