Why doesn't the Melos have an opening boot

[James Doulton]

I was looking at the pictures of the various Meloses and although some people have mounted the spare wheel on their boot, nobody has made an opening boot. Is the shape wrong for it? Why should all of the others sports Duttons have one but not the Melos? To my eye, the rear looks very similar to a classis British sports car shape and they all have opening boots. I would think that a couple of hinges on the bottom edge would look really nice with a T shaped twist handle at the top. I suppose that might mean changing the number plate to be an inline one, mounted on the bumper.  It seems such an obvious thing to do, but if nobody has done it then there must be a good reason...

[Paul Thomas]

It could be done if thats wat you want, My personal feeling is you may end up with a wet boot if ou dont do the job properly

[1midz0wwbl268]

Theres no reason why someone couldnt do it, after all, the boot area isnt structural, you wouldnt need to change the numberplate, if you hinged it from the top,  you might have to do a lot of re working adding in a lip and strengtheners to the rear section but it would give you an usefull storage area, i think a member did fit an opening boot lid to their melos.  

I would guess the answer is because its a lot of work, im going to have my rear seat back hinged so that gives entry to the boot from inside the car, that is a much simpler  option,  i will have to block in the bits either side of the   fuel tank opening to give a flat floor ,  if you then added side pieces to these and lockable tops  you could lock valuables out of sight underneath it 

[Dave Adams]

There are some Melos's out there with opening boots, they are owner modified. Some imagination would be required to produce a good result but its not impossible and fibre glass is easy to work with.

[2zj07kqme7mke]

mine has the boot fitted will take sum pics and post on here the problem is it is full of petrol tank 

[1midz0wwbl268]

What tank you got then Keith, i have an escort van tank and that sits almost flush with the floor and if i had an opening boot would give a very useful storage area 

[2zj07kqme7mke]

on the last melos i had it was fitted with a ford tank flush to chassis but this one fills up the boot just about 

[James Doulton]

Yes, mine is the same as your new one, Keith. My tank takes up about half of the boot space because it sits on top of the valley, not in it. Maybe that is the standard Escort saloon tank. I have a feeling that the saloon ones were larger capacity than the van ones - I used to drive an Escort van for deliveries for a local DIY shop as a Saturday job, many years ago.

[2zj07kqme7mke]

it was long and thin and filled the boot space up to about half way the one in this fills the boot up to the top

[2zj07kqme7mke]

just posted sum pics of tank in situ