This is the interesting thing I came across with my bug, as it's built from 2 different beetles, a UK and a Mexican import. The chassis, doors, bonner and engine were from the UK. Shell, gearbox, suspension, interior, and front axle were off the mexi. When I checked with VOSA about it, especially with doing the volksrod project, they said it's very difficult, especially on cars like beetles where parts are easily obtained and changed.
They said that the principle which applied to my bug, and will do to this Escort too, is the Ship of Thesus principle (also known as Trigger's Broom).
My beetle is still a beetle, it may not much resemble a beetle, but you can look at it and straight away know what it is. If I had changed the body design to say, a sand rail, where it is no longer obviously a beetle, then that becomes difficult as legally, there's enough beetle to be beetle, but not enough beetle to be recognised as a beetle.
I think I just broke the record for the number of times saying beetle in a post on a non VW site
