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There are so many variables to be honest. I met a guy, who shall remain nameless, and told him anyone could build a Westfield and I would give him help and guidance. When he got it home I asked him if he had a "G" clamp. "Whats a G Clamp" was not the response I expected and I realised that this would take a bit longer as he had to learn basic skills as he went along. The car passed SVA first time and he has gone onto develop the car much further. This was built in a single garage. If you buy a full kit it is easier, as you have no looking for parts to delay you. If building say an MX5 based one you take longer as cleaning and painting the bits you remove takes time. For me the building is all part of the journey so I never set a time just did what I did and finished it when it was right. Setting targets is fine for some but why push so hard? If you don't look forward to the building buy one that is ready built and save the money and be on the road quicker. I have built three now and the quickest was probably six months the longest 12, but I have an advantage working in the parts business so I had no delays.

Me too. And outside is where it's lived all it's life too. Have had to clear snow off the car before I could work on it before now!

Bloomin'. softies - built mine outside! Rory's Dad

Having a bit of a garage sale Pinto 2.0 205 block with Kent cam shortened sump (unleaded) and engine mounts - £350 Inlet manifold and bike carbs for pinto and ITG air filter - £250 Type 9 gearbox - £250 Short prop shaft - £75 Happy to sell the engine lot for £800. Also, 4x TSW alloys 4 x 108 ET 35 with Yokohama Prada Spec 2 tyres 195 x 50 R15 - open to offers

Electronic Fuel Injection, normally.

Quinten, No problem at all. We should be starting at NMS from 1030 onwards. Matt

just had a PM reference a WSCC logo'd boiler suit for knocking around in the man cave in - sound like a good idea folks?

Sunny Essex

1.about 18 months including the wait for SVA (IVA) would have been quicker but se the next answer 2. Essentially a module kit. i did a sierra SDV kit so bought the starter kit to get the chasis/bodywork then i bought all the other bits as and when i needed them. i wasted quite a bit of time waiting for stuff but as it allowed me to do as i pleased and not follow a norm. the downside was going off the instructions meant some stuff was more difficult to understand the plus was i really know the car inside out. 3. yes always get a budget and ad half again. if i'd listened to the forum more then some would not have been so high. my experience is dont try to bodge it unless your sure research and buy the right bit fist time. you know the old saying measure twice cut once ... it apples with some stuff 4. built mine in a standard prefab concrete garage. elecy and a radio is a must. i added a beam for a chain block wich was handy. i made a trolley out of wood with casters on it which was handy to move it about till it became a rolling chassis

Hi, Damian, I went down the MX5 SDV route, taking the engine and drive train out of a donor vehicle and fitting this into a Westfield kit designed for the job. Ably helped by the wonderful chaps on this forum who answered questions almost by return e-mail. I work from home, and ended up spending almost all my time in the garage building the car with a smart phone next to me - clients had no idea I was not in a suit sitting attentively at my computer rather than in my overalls up to my neck in grease and rivets! It was great fun, nicely challenging and very satisfying to do. Timewise, I started stripping the donor car in Feb 2011, picked up the starter kit in April and the completion kit (and bodywork) arrived in May. Car first ran under it's own steam at the very end of July, IVA in early October, registration took another couple of weeks and it's been smiles all the way since then! I found the whole thing rather addictive. SWMBO was hacked off that I did it so quickly - she thought she's got rid of me for a couple of years! Additional costs can be what you want them to be, but I built the standard kit with no expensive upgrades or add-ons save for a new set of wheels and tyres rather than the donor ones. However, with donor vehicle cost, IVA (£450), tax, new wheels and tyres plus bits and bobs I got the car on the road for just over £11,200. I reckon the route I took is about the cheapest way of building a new Westfield and you can certainly buy a second hand car with pretty good spec for much less, but the satisfaction I get from knowing I built the car is part of the value of a project like this. I have a 'Built Not Bought' sticker on the back, and it's a great way to start a conversation when people ask 'did you really build this yourself?' and I'm rather pleased to say I did! I'm lucky enough to have a large detached double garage which made for a fantastic space to build the car and store everything, but many of us have built in single garages and sheds. Bodywork etc can be kept outside under a tarp if you are careful. Where there's a will etc So, not the cheapest route into Westfield ownwership, but very rewarding. Hope this helps

I'd echo Jeff's words completely. Build because you've always wanted to build a car, any other reason will tend to lead to disappointment, it's about the dearest way, (short of buying a brand new factory build) to get a Westfield, for instance. but if it's something you've always fancied doing, it's a great experience; but building it should be fun, don't make it into a chore by setting deadlines that are too hard etc. Remember the minute it's finished and on the road, you'll only start missing the build stage. I'm convinced its a big part of the reason most immediately start pulling them apart again to "upgrade". The truth is, if you're building one because that's what you've always wanted, you'll find a way. Yes, a double garage, or large shed, workshop etc would be ideal. But many, many cars get built in single garages. You just need to plan a bit more and think operations through if space is tight. And of course, a handful get built out in the fresh air As for time, that's really a tricky one. Please remember, (if you've not built a kit before), they are NOT like building a larger version of a Tamiya (or Airfix) model kit! Westfields are amongst the very best of what the industry has to offer, and it is possible to simply bolt/rivet most bits together and have a car, but many parts will benefit so much more from a bit of fettling first, to improve the fit, or give a better final finish etc. This is all part of the fun! And lastly, there are lots of jobs to do to finish a kit. Put together, it can all seem daunting. It helps tremendously to break it down into a series of mini projects, (the build manual is almost written like this anyway), that way you can mentally tick off the mini projects as you go - it really helps you to feel like you're moving forward. You may also find that some jobs particularly tricky, or frustrating. Don't be afraid to step away from those, go do one of the easy, satisfying jobs and come back to the tricky one later, or another day. Try to always down tools for the day on a competed, rewarding task, even if you've had to leave an awkward one. It will do wonders for your moral.

Hi ordered April 2007 Registered June 2008. Bought modules as we wanted to vary spec. Could buy, IMHO, better bits for same cost as Westfield charge for std bits with patients and research. Westfield bits, chassis, body, suspension, brakes and electrics. Other bits Cosworth, Quaife, BGH, Demon Tweaks, Burton Power,Racetech, Alnwick Tyres and EBay. Additional costs about what you budgeted apart from upgraditis. Built in double garage and dining room (parts store). We really wanted to build one and fun was sourcing parts. Was built as a new car 08 reg with new bits. Advantage know every bit. Since 2008 cosmetic upgrades with some tech changes to sort out weaknesses.

Ah that looks better, 2 coats of etch primer and 3 coats of 2K direct gloss

I was about 18 months and 400 hrs not sure why I'd taken so long, but I'm not experienced. I bought full kit as it just wasn't practical to do modules due to the distance from the factory. If possible I'd get your bodywork when you need it not in advance as it is more flexible. Mine was 9 months old and possibly not as easy to make fit as it could've been. While in theory the kit is complete you will buy all sorts of stuff. I was happy to buy all sorts of tools as I'll use them at work sooner or later and they'll last a lifetime. So I wouldn't disagree with John's estimate as a guide anyway. And remember you're something like £700 for IVA and registration too (and £90 a retest) I had a single garage and wished for more many times, especially once the body was on. But it was quite possible and I've seen photo's of others garages with less space than mine. Great experience all in all, but I really wanted to build not buy, and bear in mind your built car will probably be worth less than the cost. If you weren't enthusiastic about building there will be plenty of times when things don't go well and you really need that enthusiasm to get through it. It's not the easy option, but the right one for me at least.