Cat c Westfield

[si_salisbury]

Hi everyone.

hi have seen on the hunt for my first Westfield since the beginning of this year, and it’s always the same old thing you fall in love with the one outside your budget. 

Please could I have your thoughts and advise on a Westfield that was a cat c but now has been repaired. My fear is that if I would to change to a different Westfield in a few years will I be stuck with it as it’s a cat c? From the photos it looks clean and tidy.

thank in advance 

simon

 

[Kevin Pullen]

Pictures or link to advert I’m sure someone local would happily view with you

[Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO]

I hope it’s not a TVRGlen special?

[Kingster]

1 hour ago, IanK (Bagpuss) said:

I hope it’s not a TVRGlen special?

Could be... https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/westfield/other-models/2005-westfield-1-8-zetec-16v-with-dunnel-race-engine-and-much-more/8260899

Walk away!

[maurici]

It does looks tidy and the repairs looked good, but being from that place, i would go for another one.

Does it need to be wide? Does it needs to be independent? What you look for exactly? There is a few goid cars for sale right now for around that budget.

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

51 minutes ago, Chris King - Webmaster and Joint North East AO said:

Could be... https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/westfield/other-models/2005-westfield-1-8-zetec-16v-with-dunnel-race-engine-and-much-more/8260899

Walk away!

I agree, fixing chassis is certainly possible but you really need a specialist to do it. Afraid that seller isn't recognised as one. So it would be buyer beware. 

[SXRORY]

If you were saving loads of money I'd be up for it but 8.5k gets you a decent straight one. That needs paint so put another 600 on it roughly and your in the realms of real decent cars

[si_salisbury]

4 hours ago, IanK (Bagpuss) said:

I hope it’s not a TVRGlen special?

Nope it’s not TVRGlen. It from toy box. I did meet Andrew at the kit car show and I did pop into them a bit back as I was passing that way and he does seem to be a good guy. I understand that your pay a little more than you would private as he like any business has bills to pay.https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/westfield/other-models/factory-built-duratec-2-0l-seiw-fw-body-work/8261383#/home

thanks

[Marcus Barlow - Show and Events Co-ordinator]

1 minute ago, si_salisbury said:

like any business has bills to pay

profit margin to hit I think you mean

[Jim G]

I thought that car was sold? I had it in my garage for about two days.. 

[Thrustyjust]

Think I would rather have a wanted in the classifieds and a little patience . It may pay dividends over a damaged repairable which 'maybe' OK, but will always carry that tag of 'maybe its OK ' and Cat C . If you did wish to look at the potential Glen car, then you would need a trained eye to inspect it before any money changes hands. This is to protect you from potential harm of a chassis failure. I am sure his inspection is not probably top notch before being signed off for the road again. 

I would probably only buy that car  and not at that price with a view to buying a new chassis and start again. It doesnt take long to panel a chassis and swop it all over to me. It would involve an inspection also with a chassis replacement and with proof of a new chassis from the factory , 'might' mean no IVA . But most would walk away and just get a straight loved and known history car.

[DamperMan]

The car is not necessarily the issue.   A good repair by a good fabricator should be fine.    Naturally any repair needs a good looking at .      The bigger problem is when you want to sell the car.   Regardless of how much you spend on the car, what’s been done, it will still be stuck with the CAT C and people will not want to buy it.  Non of the above folk would buy it and pleanty of others would not either or have there minds changed by reading a simular thread.   It’s not like a tin top where putting a new wing and bumper hides the tructturall integrity of the main structural damage.   You can see most the chassis and as it’s just box section parts can be chopped out and replaced.   Mines got a CAT marker it was a cheep Westfield.  It was a typical wheel strike bending the front end.  That was 1999 and it was crudely repaired and has been on the road ever since.   I bought it knowing and made a proper strong repair.  .    I’ve had upgraditus spent much to much it will never be worth anything as a car.  

[si_salisbury]

18 minutes ago, Jim G said:

I thought that car was sold? I had it in my garage for about two days.. 

I’m not sure if it sold, but from what I can see he leaves adds on the site but the details change to “call Andrew “. I don’t like to call him if it’s a hot one to stay away from, I rather get info from you guys and if it is sold I can be aware if something comes up next time.

[Thrustyjust]

Similar money and nearly new

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/westfield/other-models/westfield-fw-se-2-0-factory-built-1600-miles/8633985

 

[maurici]

However...  the cat marker only means that the insurance has been involved, isnt it? and been written off with some "not so major" damage.

However, is still a kit car, with a tubular chasis that isnt straight even from factory.

Im pretty sure a huge percent of the cars in the club have had some sort of damage on track... with tubes replaced/straightened, with no insurance involved, no record of it other than the popular knowledge, and they wouldnt lose any value?

Mines had and just from memory i can think in almost every ss competitor and many trackdayers. Mention appart to almost every chasis has been re-welded due cracks, and most of them without putting them in a Jig (and they should) without being a major issue.

I see the point in a very knewbee owner not knowing this cars well in being affraid of buying one, but being a fully adjustable, even dodgy repairs drive fairly straight and you will never know it. 

No. I wouldnt buy anything from glen... but in any other circumstance, a fast laser alignement will tell you if the weels are roughly where they should and if the chasis is half straight.

I still remember how bent the old chasis of roz and steve was, you could see it with naked eyes, and the car was still super competitive.

Then steve decided to smash it so now is very straight

my point... that I got a bit lost. If the car drives straight and visually there is nothing bent were wishbones ans suspensions are mounting, I wouldnt be worry at all for any repair the car could have had.

 

*as a note... as someone said to me before, I use the car as a tool. It doesnt needs to have clean records, nor tons of folders of history, heritage, matching numbers... it doesnt even needs to look nice as long as is fast and reliable and is mechanically sound.

However I still can understand the point of people wanting an imaculate toy with known procedence and unolested original parts regardless of if is technically relevant or not. But then, they probably wouldnt be asking for a known CAT car...