One of the much-touted features of MDF is versatility. But even manufacturer Willamette Europe was slightly taken aback when a kit car producer plumped for Medite Exterior as the bodywork material for a series of its self-assembly road vehicles.
White Rose of Gillingham was initially drawn to this particular MDF brand by its inherent resistance to the elements. The choice was sealed by the smooth surfaces and easy cutting and moulding – all essential considerations for the kit car market where the construction, fixing and finishing is all seen as being part of the fun by the enthusiast constructor.
White Rose saw other benefits in the material. Medite Exterior can accept all types of coating and is impact-resistant – and if panels are damaged, the simple solution is a trip to the local timber yard for a replacement.
White Rose’s first Medite Exterior-clad model was the Husky ‘jeep’. The vehicle looks like a tough off-roader. It is based on a steel chassis and incorporates a four or five speed manual transmission, with key components, including rack and pinion steering, brakes, engine and suspension, from Ford.
There are now more than 100 Huskys being driven on the roads of the UK and Continental Europe. One example was taken to the Interzum show and displayed on the Medite stand, attracting enthusiastic interest from visitors.
And, White Rose insists, while the Husky is a kit, it is a serious vehicle. It is, says the company, responsive and highly manoeuvrable. It boasts a better turning lock than a London taxi and can be parked in a space only 1.5 times its 11ft 1in length. Equipped with mud and slush tyres, it is also very much at home off-road.
The car’s body is made from individual Medite Exterior panels of varying thicknesses and dimensions. Using battens these are screwed and glued together. Curves for the horizontal front wing edges and vertical rear corners are achieved using rivetted sheets of aluminium. To fix everything in place, a new system was devised using industrial fasteners.
Later White Rose also used Medite Exterior for a sports car kit and a range of high-sided period-style promotional and delivery vehicles. The material proved particularly suited to the latter as its smooth surfaces were ideal for intricate painting and all kinds of signage.
The vehicles found a ready market as local delivery vans, hotel courtesy buses, hire vehicles, and mobile advertising ‘hoardings’ for use in country parks, city centres, theme parks, showgrounds and seaside towns.
And Medite Exterior was not only used for the side panels. Thanks to its ability to withstand almost anything the elements can throw at it, it also formed the doors, roofs and running boards.
