Newbie - looking at this car next week - BOUGHT ONE!

[peet]

Hi Westy folk!

I'm Peet total newbie to Westfields after 15 years restoring and rebuilding numerous Vw camper vans (2 years full time) I have decided I was fed up in the slow lane uphills and emptying chemical toilets so I'm going for proper holidays and get a fun car from now on hence me now wanting a Westy! So guess I'll be jumping forums too there's always something to find out!

I have been looking for 5/6 months on and off not rushing then 'Boom!' somethings stood out for me enough to go see and hopefully buy!

It's this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310729119835?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

(ebay item 310729119835 if link doesnt' work.)

Is it known on here?

Now my reasons for liking this one are that I want a reliable occasional use for work car, I like the aluminium body, the tax exemption and non Q plate (I was also born in 69.) and the builder is similar size to me so I should fit the narrow body. Few little things I have noticed are no wet weather gear or tonneau, that switch left of the steering wheel has to be sorted and thats it for me!

The build qulaity looks good from the pictures and the seller spoke with real passion and intelligence about the car not like some I have spoke to!

I want to use it as a nice reliable fun unusual car, maybe try a track day once or twice not too bothered on big power (I've had campers!) but I reall want it as something I can use regularly and enjoy - I hate cars being stuck in garages! It is going to be a keeper for me for the long term and I love fiddling with cars but I need a break from rebuilds/restorations and just have fun using a car for a change!!

My questions for you are - is this expensive for the age and model - if so is it worth it (as to someone out the scene it seems it.) what do I have to look out for when I see it. The builder has offered to put up on a ramp for my inspection.

What are the parts availability for the narrow bodied ones though if this is all custom ali built it's irrelevant anyway!

What questions should I ask the seller? And how can I check if the registration will cause any problems, in Vw's there have been buggys built and use the tax exempt number plate but only as they haven't been changed with the DVLA.

Your help,opinions and input will be most appreciated!

Thank You

[Terry Everall]

The rims and tyres look enormous and should be no bigger than 15" or better still 13"

Its all about build quality and what good parts are on the car. You would benefit from a Westfield "expert" member looking at it with you

[M444TTB]

How old is the car? The advert doesn't say.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

This appear to be quite an individual car, and the previous owner has very much thier own stamp on it.  There's nothing wrong with that, however when looking over it you should bare in mind that the aspects that appeal to you such as the aluminium body etc are unique to this car and can't be bought off the shelf as replacements. 

 

The beauty to me of a Westfield is there is a lot of them on the road and therefore easy availability of new and second hand parts.  With this car, I see very little other than maybe the chassis and wishbones which are Westfield, so first off identification of where parts came from will be more difficult and then to repair or upgrade (and upgradeitus happens to us all) will be much more costly compared to a car where the builder has followed a more conventional construction.  Even simple things like the weather gear and tonneau may need to be made bespoke for this car as I notice the screen an pillars are not Westfield items. 

 

If you like it, and it ticks all the boxes for you then that's great

[peet]

Thank you for the replies.

I know the wheels are 14" and will find out the tyre sizes.

I am looking at this one as a custom car rather than normal Westfield, I know the body panels will be a pain if I need to replace them - thats something I know and dont mind - worst case is replace with fibreglass.

Is it over priced for a 1700 x-flow Westy? I shall get the actual build date too.

This maybe a Marmite one.... trouble is I like Marmite.

What should I be looking for with the chassis number please?

Edited September 6, 2013 by peet

[Mark (smokey mow)]

What should I be looking for with the chassis number please?

see my post of this thread -post7

http://forum.wscc.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic/90170-incorrectly-registered-kit-cars/?p=907490

[FILFAN]

It is a bit pricey for an xflow and you could pick up a 2.0 16v car for similar money if you hold out to find one.

Make sure its registered as a Westfield and not a cortina or escort

[XTR2Turbo]

Can it really be tax exempt if registered correctly?

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Can it really be tax exempt if registered correctly?

It shows up as first registered in 2002, so I can't see how it could be?

[JeffC]

that looks more like a Caterham that a westy to me bonnet scuttle and screen does anyway certainly an oddball and if its a 2002 it must be an older  kit late registered ??

 

personally and as you asked for opinions I would spend £6500 elsewhere. 

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

that looks more like a Caterham that a westy to me bonnet scuttle and screen does anyway certainly an oddball and if its a 2002 it must be an older  kit late registered ??

 

personally and as you asked for opinions I would spend £6500 elsewhere. 

 

I agree Jeff, something not right.

[peet]

Again, thank you for the replies.

The registration side is something I will look into in a huge way.

The chap who built it works in film special effects so he built it retro as he saw fit.

I shall have a look at it forewarned and armed, inspect the paperwork with intense scrutiny and ask a 1000 questions.

I wasn't worried before about anything with it before so thank you for the advice!

Stupidly I like the look of this still so I shall have a look but I am not so blinded by that now!!

Huge thanks!

[peet]

Just had the V5 sent over.

Shows first registered 2002 year built 1969 hence tax exempt. This was down to it being virtually all components being from the Cortina and being upgraded over the years like the 4spd to 5spd box. And its shown as a Westfield not a Cortina so least I know now...

[JeffC]

other than the wheels I like the look of it and it looks tidy , just not sure what it is I am not familiar with a narrow body chassis, but looking at how the nose meets the front of the tub and the front wishbones and position of steering rack look more like a caterham than the westys ive owned, as does the chassis cockpit chassis rail ,as said ive not owned an early car but with being more like a caterham could it be an early prelit car late registered ? ? 

 

 

edited to say it was model year 1969  registered 7/1/2002 with 0 previous keepers so the owner should know what it is ?

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I agree With Jeff, looking at the Photos there's a few things which just don't quite look right for it to be a narrow, although I agree with him that it may be a pre-lit.

For it to be a narrow there should be a kick up in the transmission tunnel behind the handbrake. The top of the transmission tunnel on narrow and wide Westfield's isn't completely flat like the car in the photos, although the pre-lit was.

The diagonal chassis tubes visible in the photos beside the seat should be square but they are round tube in the photos.

The top chassis tubes on the side of the car (where you rest your arm) should be horizontal and parallel with the bottom chassis tubes. only pre-Lits sloped backward as they do.

The front damper mounts appear to be welded to to outside face of the chassis tube, where if it were a narrow or wide they should be on the underside of the top chassis tube.

You can see the kick in the tunnel, the square diagonal tubes and the horizontal armrest tubes in this picture of my old Narrow.

Likewise here you can see the position of the mounting under the chassis tube for the front damper.