Tracing previous owners?.....

[MrPid]

So having looked at a few cars I have found one I like.

I have seen a few threads in the paperwork from the WSCC, I skim read them so not sure if they were directly related to the car or the engine per se.

Its a SEiW, with a red top engine, used to have a Zetec. Its on a Q plate with minilite style wheels, in Green. I think the car originated from Lichfield and last changed owners in 2011. Its  has a flat bonnet with side intake, soft cover on boot, racing style seats. Mesh grille with westfield logo on front.

It has twin 45 Webers with a custom stainless exhaust, with a claimed output of 190hp. Very clean bodywork, with a few bits that need tidying on suspension etc.

It would be nice to know if the previous owner is still about or is that a bit stalker (ish).

Hopefully picking this up on 5th May (so that means no Stoneleigh) :-( 

Current owner is not a petrol head and relied on local mechanics to maintain, service and upkeep the car - which is frustrating.

[TAFKARM]

Why is it frustrating?

Put up some pics and it may be recognised.

[MrPid]

Most Westfield owners I know are pretty hands on and wont stop talking about them.

Some pics attached....

 

 

[Gary Taylor]

That’s a lovely looking car , bet you can’t wait to pick her up 

 

 

[MrPid]

1 minute ago, Gary Taylor - Scotland AO said:

That’s a lovely looking car , bet you can’t wait to pick her up 

 

 

Thanks Gary,  yeah it is nice - the metal work on the susp is a bit tired so will be a winter strip, blast and repaint. The chrome is chipped on roll bar so thinking of changing all the shiny bits to matt black.

It runs sweet and goes like a rocket.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

3 hours ago, Archibald Meatpants said:

Why is it frustrating?

Not sure in this case, but the problem normally is that they often don’t know/have much back ground info on the car, and often a lot of the detailed info that goes with the car, either by word of mouth, by experience of working on the car, or, less often, just plain old paperwork, gets lost in the passage of time, and future owners often end up hitting a brick wall when they come to dig into the cars history, when they get to such owners.

Its not the owners fault, obviously, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with using a specialist to maintain. It’s just kinda sad when the personal history and stories around, what are essentially hobby cars, gets lost. But that’s life, I’m afraid.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

- I get, as am sure do other Committee members, AO’s etc, an awful lot of emails, calls, PM’s etc from people trying to trace the back history of cars they’ve bought, or are looking to buy.  So I know how thrilled they can be when they do find out more, and how disappointed sometimes, when it is just a dead end.

My most favourite one ever was a year or two back. A member had just bought an SEiGHT and hit dead end after dead end trying to trace the history back, but managed to find the name of the original builder and that they’d been a well known member.

We managed to work out what they’d called themselves on the forum, and although it was ten years plus since they’d been a member, even some old posts. 

I managed, back of house, to find a very old email address for them, and thought I’d give it a try, (they never normally work). So after speaking with the current owner, who agreed to me forwarding their details on, I sent the message out there...

And got a reply!! The new owner had several really long chats with the builder, on the phone and was absolutely ecstatic- I believe, if I remember right, the chap that built it, even had a file of old related info and photos he sent the new owner. I understand they kept in touch.

One of those moments that made up for all the times I’ve just had to go back to people and say sorry, no joy.

 

[TAFKARM]

47 minutes ago, Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretary said:

Not sure in this case, but the problem normally is that they often don’t know/have much back ground info on the car, and often a lot of the detailed info that goes with the car, either by word of mouth, by experience of working on the car, or, less often, just plain old paperwork, gets lost in the passage of time, and future owners often end up hitting a brick wall when they come to dig into the cars history, when they get to such owners.

Its not the owners fault, obviously, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with using a specialist to maintain. It’s just kinda sad when the personal history and stories around, what are essentially hobby cars, gets lost. But that’s life, I’m afraid.

Of course the upside is lots of receipts proving history of work

[MrPid]

I am having potential doubts about collecting the Westie this weekend.

 

There are three issues that I am struggling with on the car, as follows:

 

1. On closer inspection the rear end has been hit and the GRP has cracked and starred. I can repair this but will mean painting and it may return. Replacement tub is over £2k I believe.

2. The owner claims it has 190hp, from a C20xe, Weber 45's with Alpha ECU and custom high flow stainless, I think this is optimistic.

3. Last years MOT had a fair few failures/advisory's which means an imminent replacement of most of the suspension ball joints, bushes and wheel bearings etc (and probably shocks).

 

Owner is not budging on price, its fairly cheap tbh at £10k.

 

I can up my budget and get something that doesnt need "much" - or spend a couple of grand bringing this one up to scratch....

 

Decisions...... decisions......

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

10k would get you a great car that would perhaps give you a better feeling without the niggles.

[Andy Banks]

Never wanting to dampen a sale or a purchase and being completely impartial, all I can add is; head over heart. If you've the skills, time and money to put things right, you may get just as much enjoyment out of this car as you would with any other car. If you are looking to make the most of a solid car initially, there will be others out there...

[MrPid]

This is very true - defo a head ruling the heart this week, perhaps the two weeks between viewings allows that nagging doubt to creep in before the deal is done.

 

I have the skills and equipment to rectify for sure, and my main reason for kit car ownership starting nearly 20 years ago, aged 19 when all my mates were off to Ibiza, was to have a project to keep my mind active and give you that real sense of achievement.

 

I have seen newer cars with glaringly obvious mistakes on them, which fills me with dread. I like that older Westfields were mostly built by engineers, or enthusiasts with fastidious attention to detail. Some i've seen look like badly built mechano sets.

 

The problem is I can argue for and against anything (its my job) and its tough one to know what the correct decision is. I've been looking for a good six months (mostly hoping my Seight would pop up) and its prob the first to tick all the boxes, minus the niggles.

 

I might have to use the old coin flip technique - its the only way to really know whether you would be sad to loose out.

 

 

[Mighty Mart]

Only you know at the end of the day whether its the right decision or not to buy.

However, there is always an element of doubt IMHO when you buy anything, and there doesn't seem to be enough doubt in your mind to not buy it?

If it drove ok and you are happy with it overall, then maybe its the one for you?

Mart.  

[MrPid]

Oh yeah - I forgot to say, the owner wouldnt let me drive it (as I wasnt insured etc) so not sure how it drives. 

 

He drove and I was passenger (as was the case in all previous Westfields) and it drove well, and went well.

 

I've always been dubious as to the effectiveness of a test drive anyway, its not for some time until you start to learn and spot niggles and defects in cars, unless of course there are blatantly obvious.

[Rory's Dad]

Don't worry about the power - it went well as you say 180 - 190bhp is fine for the car. Back damage should not be a worry really. Changing the bushes shouldn't be a worry either (over the winter). I doubt if I would change the chrome to black - chrome looks so much smarter on a dark coloured car imo.