Mystery chassis can you help identify?

[Jitterbug]

Hi all, I have agreed in principle to purchase a 7 style kit car project. The seller inherited the project from a friend and does not know anything about it or who made it. What I can piece together from the pictures is it's made of square box section welded together like a Westfield, bit it has aluminium side panels like a locost would and grp nose and wings. The running gear has been salvaged from a crashed Caterham according to the seller but it does not appear to be a Caterham chassis at all. 

There are a couple of features I have tried but failed to identify. The first being the fact that it has a dash board panel included which has not been cut for dials so this must have come with the kit from new. The second is the rear wheel arch where the aluminium is riveted in a distinctive v shape around the rear suspension with an obvious hanging point. Finally the top harness mounts are welded to the triangulated central tunnel sections. This is very distinctive and I cannot find any other chassis that shows this welding or seat belt anchorage in this fashion. 

Image links below 

https://ibb.co/da8AoQ
https://ibb.co/h3eaoQ
https://ibb.co/ektqNk
https://ibb.co/dEn6v5
https://ibb.co/b8wia5
https://ibb.co/caY72k
https://ibb.co/iVumv5
https://ibb.co/jdXpF5

[DamperMan]

It has a de-deon rear axle, but I don't recognise it as being like a caterham one. I believe these are straight not curved.   

[GaryD1971]

Hi, welcome to the club! Looking at your pictures I would say Locost initially, but the builder may have deviated from the books plans in some areas behind the seats. That is the beauty of the Locost, and many builders did add their own touches to set their cars apart from others. Having said that, without seeing it in person, it is difficult to give a definitive answer to what make it is. Either way, it looks a nice little project which could look very nice when completed.

[GaryD1971]

Closer inspection does show the same pedal box as I have on my 1996 Westie kit though. Is there a chassis number stamped anywhere on it? 

[Jitterbug]

Hi Gary, thanks for the welcome and the replies. No chassis number stated, I have not viewed the project in person yet as I was trying to identify what it was exactly beforehand. It's an interesting mix, the finish is too poor to be a westfield, also it's aluminium bodied which would suggest a pre lit car that this doesn't resemble. Did Westfield ever use de dion in production models? The age is unknown which doesn't help. Anything home made gives me an uneasy feeling when it comes to chassis's.  The suspension components and stalks appear to be Sierra but it's got a k series engine which I would presume would have required different brackets to a cross flow or zetec engine.  The mystery continues.... on a second note it's up for £1600, what do you think it's worth? Thanks 

[GaryD1971]

I paid 1900 GBP for an unfinished 1996 Westfield kit last year. It was not very well presented and needed a full strip down to the chassis and rebuilding. I chose to change the engine from cvh to zetec, which has cost more than I thought it would, but it came with all the fibreglass body parts which were in good nick. Nice seats were included as well as a type 9 gearbox, nice wheels, screen and supports, wiring loom etc. I would say that makes the chassis you are looking at a bit expensive, especially when you could buy a (whispering this quietly!) Tiger starter kit for 2000 GBP brand new. I don't know what a Westfield starter kit costs, but I imagine the quality would be superb and probably worth the extra over the tiger kit. 

I'm not sure if the pre lit came with the de-dion rear tube, I'm sure someone on the forum will come along soon with a bit more knowledge than me, and may be able to shed a bit more light on this than I'm able to! 

Pricewise for the kit you are looking at, It's worth whatever you want to pay for it really. I would not be put off by a home made chassis, just take a good tape measure and ensure it is square from corner to corner and have a good look at the weld quality. If it looks like a chocolate aero bar, walk away. Look underneath, look at the suspension mounting points welding, check where chassis joins are made, etc. Look along the length of the car from front to back and check it's not twisted along its length. Take as much time as you need to check it over and if you are happy, try an offer. Go in low and be prepared to walk away if he won't budge. there will be others out there. 

As I said before, it does look like it could be a nice car when finished, but it wouldn't be a weekends work! And if it does turn out to be a pre lit, snatch his arm off! 

[Thrustyjust]

Pre-lits came with an escort live axle which you took to the factory as a casing and they welded the trailing arms on, while you loaded the kit in your van. Not sure any Westfield came the a de dion rear end. I suspect this was transferred from the Caterham and the chassis moulded around it.

[Kingster]

Looks like a very early MK. They used de Dion axles and were based on the "book" chassis. 

[Jitterbug]

Thanks everyone. I have arranged to see it, so will update and if I buy it will make a build thread once I figure out what it's supposed to be... 

[Jitterbug]

Hi all, I bought it and now it's been stripped for sale. Still no idea who made it, it looks professional but no makers mark or stamp anywhere... I emailed MK and they said it's not theirs. Has a de dion rear end and was using sierra running gear. 

[Kingster]

No idea but looks like a decent one. 

[GaryD1971]

I'm still going with a Locost. The rear panel fitting, seatbelt upstands, and mods to fit the de-dion rear axle all point to a locost chassis and look like they are straight out of the book. Also, the ally side panels with the holes cut for the suspension parts looks exactly as mine did all those years ago! 

As Chris said above, looks like a good one. 

[SootySport]

I've no idea what it is.    One things for sure, it's going to keep you very busy for a year re building it,  good luck and don't forget to keep us posted.

[Martyn Vann - Warwickshire AO]

42 minutes ago, GaryD1971 said:

I'm still going with a Locost. The rear panel fitting, seatbelt upstands, and mods to fit the de-dion rear axle all point to a locost chassis and look like they are straight out of the book. Also, the ally side panels with the holes cut for the suspension parts looks exactly as mine did all those years ago! 

As Chris said above, looks like a good one. 

I looked at the same areas and drew the same conclusion so would tend to agree with GaryD's comments!

[Jitterbug]

Thanks All, the chassis is up for sale on ebay and listed as a locost, currently selling for a staggering £102, which no doubt will end up being about £50 after ebay and paypal fees are taken off. The engine and gearbox are making their way into my 87 prelit rebuild. Check out my build diary 'Back from the dead 1987 pre lit' in the builds section of the forum.

Appreciate the responses.