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Showing content with the highest reputation since 10/07/25 in all areas
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20 points
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19 points
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Hi all, new member and owner here! After much deliberating and procrastination, I have finally decided to stop all that nonsense and take the plunge into Westfield ownership... with both feet, at the deep end. Someone had to...! I'm now the proud owner of a very pretty Seight in Westfield Racing Green, which comes with some interesting legacy and may well be known to a few members. The 4.6 rover V8 EFI topped with supercharger runs hot and raucous, despite methanol cooling on boost. Delightfully terrifying. The build is superb and the previous owner had it meticulously prepared after 10 years of ownership and personalisation. A couple of small gremlins sorted already and she's back on the road. I will have one or two small things to change in the near term and I may have to swap out the original sports seats for something more accommodating of my 6'4" frame, but for now it's time to enjoy. More to come.17 points
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Just to let everyone know, the new Club website is now live; as we were all painfully aware, the old one was terribly out of date, and also represented a different, older approach to the structure of such things, that didn't really take into account social media, and the spread of different on-line areas we now cover. The aim, apart from making sure everything was current, and would be easier to keep current, was to simplify everything dramatically, and rather than having multiple links to navigate around the site itself, it would serve as a hub, where you could find out about what we do, and then jump off into our other sites, such as the forum, from there.12 points
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Not to be out done by @Stuart Davis AO - Devon Cornwall & Somerset I had my own early start this morning. Up at 2am to catch the sunrise at Glencoe. The Bridge of Orchy and Rannoch Moor were particularly stunning, though I don't think the pictures actually do it justice. Home via Castle Stalker, of Monty Python fame. 6hrs round trip and 270mls.12 points
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Nice ride from Kent to the New Forest and back today (the scenic route). Mostly A roads except for the last stretch. Spent a few hours buzzing around the Forrest roads in the sun. The traffic was hardly mooooving at times…. Stopped off for breaky in Brockenhurst and called in at Caffeine and Machine on the way home. 413 miles and a sun tan 👍🏼12 points
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11 points
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To cut a long story short, my wife has been banging on about having a Caterham for a few years now. They have never appealed to me, just didn't like them. Some seemed to look like Commer vans, with wheels that sit too far inboard and I just never saw one that changed my mind. Roll forward to a couple of weeks ago when we were out on a tulip rally around Shropshire (organised by Tern Hill Hall) and there was a couple driving a red Westfield. The more I saw it, the more I liked it. Even looked good with the hood up when it started to properly rain and as a result I less begrudgingly agreed to go and have a look at some cars in the flesh with her, so a trip to Toybox was arranged. We both came away with an idea that we could actually get along with a Westfield, but had also developed some ideas as to what boxes it should tick. An email from Natalie at Toybox last night with a few pretty poor photo's of a car they'd just got in was a proper bingo. Correct shape, good colour, engine I know my way around(ish) and some tasty extras meant that we decided to go for it. So the upshot is we've placed a deposit on a car we've not seen in real life, know very little about and can't wait to get hold of! The only issue that we're hoping Andrew can address is the lack of a hood, as that's an essential for us because we like to get around and sometimes rain can't be avoided. Last year we drove to Gibraltar in our 2CV, we've done the Dordogne and Laon Classique in that too. We've also done the Italian lakes in our '72 Spitfire along with many trips to Classic Le Mans. I appreciate that the luggage capacity of the Westfield will be somewhat less than the Citroen or the Triumph, but I'm sure we can do a few French weekends if we share pants. Looking forward to becoming part of the Westfield community and currently absorbing knowledge as fast as I can. Cheers!10 points
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@LoneWolf visits the UK (Macclesfield) for work periodically and has attended more Cheshire Area Xmas curries than some local members! He was keen to obtain the WSCC Torch given to members who attended the 2025 Malvern show. As we were visiting Italy this summer on our Peaky Schnitzel Pizza Processing Tour, I offered to collect one from @Marcus Barlow - Show and Events Co-ordinator and deliver to Italy for him. He was planning to take the train up the Dolomites and ride with us for a day. However this didn't happen. He arrived in the UK for a week on Saturday, so I through together an Impromptu Peaky Blat and invited a few local members along to join us. This is as much as I planned and would make up the rest depending on traffic/weather etc. The Peaky game of 'hide and seek' started just before 9am for me. @andyjs and his friend Scott with a 1.6L Sigma powered Caterham got into the Peaks before me and I'd got to collect @LoneWolf from his Hotel first. We drove towards the Cat & Fiddle from Bosley Crossroads and had a good run up. We found Andy and Scott somewhere between Pott Shrigley and Kettleshulme and had a few rounds of all cars turning round and repeatedly passing each other before all 3 cars we pointing in the same direction. After a quick stop and chat, we decided Scott could lead and he took us on a fabulous run round the Peaks. Some new to me roads and some very familiar but amazingly very light traffic considering the great weather. The cars needed a drink in Buxton. Scott uses the same approach as me to Winnat's pass- Crawl at circa 10 miles and hour on the approach and then hopefully have a clear run up. We did! Not so good when we discover Scott's battery is dead (known issue) and he's having to use a USB power bank to jump start it. His idle speed has recently been adjusted leading to it cutting out (any advice @Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman I recall you having a similar issue for a while?) All the cars we'd left behind at the start of Winnat's, now sailed past as Scott jumped his car back into life. and again neat to Quackers! We stopped for a drink and some lunch at the Grouse and Claret in Rowsley A 'light' snack for Alessandro @LoneWolf Scott and Andy had to leave at this point. So I treated Alessandro to a trip through Asbo Tunnel on our way back to Macclesfield. 160 great miles covered on a bone dry day!9 points
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7 points
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Honestly, I was 50:50 about buying, but seeing in the flesh I found the engine an inspired work of art, which convinced me that the craziness was worth it. That, and my 13 yo son behind me saying “do it, do it, do it”!!!!7 points
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While I can claim no credit for the build, I am now the proud owner of a 1995 Westfield SEiW with a long and storied history here in the US. From an early appearance in Road & Track in 1996, through its current configuration at the hands of its previous owner (JohnCh), this little red beauty has seen a lot of changes, and I'm in awe of all of them. The only thing I changed was adding the WA State Collector Car plates (due to its 30+ year age) to keep from having to re-license it every year. While I might make subtle changes over time, I'm having waaaay too much fun to even consider it currently.6 points
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6 points
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Glad people seem to like it 👍 (it was me 🤣) If anyone spots any bugs with it please DM me with details.5 points
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3 points
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I had a lot of great adventures in that car, covering over 14k miles on tours. I'm glad to see it's gone to a good home and is only about an hour away. Here are a few shots from some of my favorite trips in the car. USA2005 Monterey car week 2012. This kid was a huge fan of the cars -- that's a big deal given the lack of se7en awareness in the US -- but he had never seen one in the flesh. That smile is the result of taking him for a spirited drive. This is on the way to Mount Rainier as part of a 3-day loop in 2017. I'm looking forward to hearing about your own adventures! Cheers, John3 points
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It's important that everything we do and show, reflects the ethos and make up of the Club, that includes our friends in MK's, GBS Zeros, Tigers, MNR's et al.3 points
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3 points
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Yip, not been without one since 2009, trusty steeds that never let you down. However someone seems to have replaced the springs on mine with marshmallows and fitted a steering wheel from a bus, since I last used it. 🤔3 points
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Wife's raging though.... we're going to a 60th party and BBQ this afternoon and I'm going to fall asleep 🤣3 points
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3 points
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agreed!!! However they were good enough to pass the inspection!! Onwards!!3 points
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As Captain said, prepare and give them your expectations and sound rational. I too have been through the pain with a tin top and did just that, list of cars with similar mileages, specs and ages. they could not really argue too much once the evidence was provided. it may be quite easy with a factory spec Mondeo but as it's potentially difficult to find an exact match for a Westi you may have to provide some higher and lower spec cars and justify where yours sits. You may even be able to talk to people like toy box on the likely price they'd be selling a car of that spec for. good luck3 points
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It's just behind the scenes notation for different generations of Westfield. The very first body design was what became the Pre Lit, this was a copy to a greater extent of the Caterham Seven. After a legal case saw Westfield being forced to make the body style unique to Westfield, they released what we now know of as Kit Bodywork. It wouldn't really be known as this at the time though, it was just the body style offered. Around 2000, give or take a year or two, (like much around Westfields, exact timelines are tricky, as there can be overlaps) the bodywork received a subtle re-style this is what we know as the ZK bodywork. In everyday use, it was still just the bodywork, for the first few years, but the ZK suffix was important to be aware of, as the nose, bonnet and scuttle were different to the previous Kit bodywork and couldn't be mixed from an aesthetic point of view. In the early mid 2000's the FW body shape was launched, as this was to be sold along side the "traditional standard" body shape, to avoid confusion, it became much more common to refer to the two as FW and ZK styles. There have been some sub variations to the body over the years, and chassis developments have not run neatly alongside body developments, each has been at their own pace. Plus parts are often retrofittable. So it would have been much harder for the factory to simply name them Westfield mk 1, mk 2, mk 3 and so on.2 points
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2 points
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I don't think the factory ever differentiated from a marketing POV and just changed what they supplied over time and we as owners have been left to play "spot the difference". My "kit" SEiW was sold in 1997 as a "Sport 2000". The invoice just says SEi Chassis and SEi Body+Det rear arches. The order confirmation says "SEi Wide"2 points
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For me Frank Costin will always be remembered as the "cos" in Marcos with Gem Marsh being the "Mar". A design that is still fantastic today in my opinion. I am slightly biased as I live in Westbury where Marcos production ended its days. Westbury is only 5 miles from Bradford on Avon where it all began.2 points
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The 2.0 Zetec is a good engine, I had one in my first Westfield running on twin 45's. On Jenvey ITB's the blacktop will probably be in the 170-180bhp range, more than enough to put a smile on your face!2 points
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My bonnet isn't transparent either, and nor is the engine, so to me it's no different to checking the oil level on the dip stick etc.2 points
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Thanks. As for the spec erm... We both wanted the ZK bodystyle, Widebody, low roll bar, loud colour and all those boxes are ticked. As for the engine it's a 2.0 Zetec with Jenvey throttle bodies. Other than that I know just about nothing about it2 points
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A good time of the year to sell perhaps? As you say, I doubt it's VED or Insurance based. Though we know the government will continue to increases taxes on ICE to bully us into milk floats!2 points
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Yeah, thanks guys. The non-transparent thing gets me too, but I like the ProAlloy window thing. Good for level, less good for checking flow I guess. I think I’m going to pick up the black coated box and see how it sits. Their other option is satin finish alloy, perhaps less in keeping with the raw alu bits and pieces, and I’m not about to start mirror polishing a header tank… Never thought this morning that by the evening I’d be talking about the aesthetics of an expansion vessel!!2 points
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2 points
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Thanks Ian, loved every minute of the run. Best fun I've had in a Westfield so far, waiting for mine to be completed 😆 And thanks @Marcus Barlow - Show and Events Co-ordinator for the torch, really appreciated 👍2 points
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2 points
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If the original SVA test still holds, and there’s not much to say otherwise, it looks like a wet weight of 780kg, and evenly split between axles. I do plan on getting the car onto a dyno at some point, just to know what it’s capable of, but advice appreciated and well heeded @Flying Carrot Steve, thanks. The current rubber is starting to age, particularly having been off road for a few years, so even in the heat the back’s a little twitchy. Peak power is one thing, but it’s the getting there… the constant high torque and linear delivery with the blower is something else. Anyway, you can tell I’m pleased with it. over 400 per tonne is probably right, but maybe not too much more. Going from 25 in 3rd to… err… not 25 at 6k rpm last night with the sun setting over the South Downs, in convoy with a group of porkers heading home from the FOS last night was a proper treat.2 points
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Completely agree. Although with the hot weather lately, and people sleeping with their windows open, there may be a few neighbours who might disagree with that this morning! 🤣🤫2 points
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2 points
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2 points
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Yeah, I had a convertible TT for a while about 7 years ago, the kit car lads gave me a hard time so I sold it to my brother-in-law, 6'3 and hard as nails, he doesn't get the same problem for some reason 😂2 points
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2 points
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A bargain for anyone who just happens to need some right now. Not such good news if you've just laid out £2k on some from WSC though! 😂2 points
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2 points
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Maybe you could make some in Carbon..then the carbon hungry boys on here might want to buy some to get their carbon fix!2 points
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Huh, joker eh! They served a purpose and allowed it to pass inspection!! Joke really, but now they must come off!! Yes they are just 2" CPVC waste pipe with 1/2" black pipe frame and supports. Worked really well.2 points
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2 points
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My personal experience with writing off a tin top or two is that the offer might be low. Don't be afraid to reject the offer if it doesn't match your expectations. Reject it politely and firmly, explaining in detail (include evidence of the sale price of other Westfields of similar age and equipment levels) why you think the valuation is too low in your opinion, and tell them to go back and reconsider, then contact you back.2 points
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I was fascinated to learn that Q plates have such lenient emissions regulations. Straight pipes anyone? I had previously been put off by never getting Tax or MOT exemption, but that was before I understood more about what Q plates actually were. I learnt the hard way a couple of weeks ago how vulnerable you can be in a small car. My previous weekend car was a Honda Beat. An inexperienced driver pulled out of a junction onto a main road without looking. I got the anchors on immediately, but it was still a major impact. I was lucky that the Beat is mid engined, the front was completely flattened, however the passenger compartment held up well for a 30 year old car weighing well under a tonne. The car i had before that was a classic mini with a supercharged 1380cc. It was sketchy as f*** to be honest. It only did 12mpg so I had to carry quite a bit of fuel in the cabin, what with the thimble sized fuel tank. The power overwhelmed every other aspect of the car. As you can imagine, it was equally amazing and terrible.2 points