Hi! New member from France, need your advice!

[Afrojazz]

Hello to you members, I'm Nicolas, I'm from France and I'm really interested into buying a Westfield Car. 

I have a car that I will go to check next wednesday in a garage. I'd like your advice on this one, What do you think of this car? Especially the under parts, it looks like it has been "welded" on the front part of the car where the front links are. 

Here is the ad:        http://www.pauls-classic-cars.fr/car/westfield-1990-2/

 

I have other questions about this car but first if you can tell me what do you think about this particular ad.

 

Thanks a lots for your help, I don't know very much about these car yet.

 

Nicolas

[SootySport]

enter Q192hnr here, it shows this car is still registered in the UK, it is off the road but tested till 2021, all good so far. https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/VehicleFound?locale=en
Test history is here https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/?_ga=2.146742580.147632322.1590789887-842490902.1590789887

looks like the speedometer was changed around 2010 so total mileage about 52000 miles.

Only way to see how good ,  is to have a good look at the chassis, take a torch with you.  
Engine is same as Opel 2000cc twin cam 16valve.  Power chart is correct at 164 bhp on Weber’s and no engine mods. Look for oil leaks but they can all be cured relatively easy. Drive it if possible and should go straight and brake straight.  The good thing is, anything can be repaired and parts for engine, carbs, suspension, brakes, steering Are available.

Good luck.  Bernie

 

 

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Welcome Nicolas, 

 

the paperwork suggests that this was a former members car Paul Hammond (aka Hammy)

 

it looks to have changed a big since he sold it.

 

 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Welcome!

 

Wow, that’s the most comprehensive trade advert photography I think I’ve ever seen!

[Gary Taylor]

Bonjour and welcome Nicolas , from the photo of the area your concerned about , it appears that the welding has been to add a different piece of steel to secure the bottom of the nose cone and as long as the structural integrity of the tube has been retained isn’t a problem, and can be tidied up later. But I would recommend particular inspection/ questions when you visit the garage.

the car has had the engine replaced in its lifetime, evident by the letter of conformity, so there will have been some adjustments around the engine bay to a greater or lesser degree.

As already said the cosmetics are easily rectified and the advert is very informative and open , so I wouldn’t dismiss the car on the welding alone.

if you are unsure of anything take pictures as detailed as possible or ask the questions on hear and I’m sure you’ll get a quick response.

Good luck 

[Afrojazz]

Wow Thank you guys! That's crazy that you found out the existence of the car on your forum!!

 

I found the topice where Hammy swapped the engine from a Ford to a 20XE. + T9 gearbox. A lot of work and modifications has been done, this frightens me a bit 😞

 

Also the car changed a lot since 2013... I wonder who bought it from Hammy, was he on the forum since?

 

The look of the engine changed I hope it is still the same that went on the dyno in 2013 🙂 .

I'm not really worried about engine, brake, suspension parts, I know it is available, the thing that worries me is the welding done on the front part of the car, I saw what Hammy did to mount the Vauxhall engine,  and also on the picture below, the 2 pieces of the chassis are really not together/paralell! Should I avoid buying this car? As it been crashed and rebuild? Also the Exhaust manifold is really damaged, sign of a crash?

 

Thanks a lot for your comments and your help!

 

Nicolas

 

 

Edited May 30, 2020 by Afrojazz

[Martyn Vann - Warwickshire AO]

Paul @Hammy no longer owns a Westfield but is a regular at the WSCC Derby & Notts meetings so it would be possible to contact him about the car during his ownership if that would be of any help.

 

I must say it does look like the front of the chassis has had some repairs!

[Captain Colonial]

Hi Nicholas  

 

Just to point out this is a narrow body car which was in production until about 1992, when it switched over to a body style that was slightly wider and longer.  As the owner of a narrow body car myself, it’s a bit snug in there.  I’m 1.8m tall and if you’re much taller than that, or on the large body size, it may well not be suitable for you.  Sit in it before you do anything else.

 

I seem to remember the body stripes were added to conceal the holes left when it was changed from swept to cycle wings.  The reason for the black bonnet is that it was a replacement for the original which was destroyed when it became a member of the Flying Bonnet Club (it wasn’t secured properly and took off and flew over his head when he hit about 110kph 😄).