Old flame rekindled

[Stuart Davis AO - Devon Cornwall & Somerset]

Just introducing myself having rejoined recently. I originally joined years ago but never posted anything, so here goes…

 

When I was in my early twenties, I bought myself a little Westfield SEi 1.6 X-Flow with money I earned from my first job. It was my only car for quite a few years, and I drove it in all conditions, including snow which was quite lively. I made a few changes to it, fitting a Vulcan 138bhp 1.7l Ford X-Flow which perked it up a bit. We had many adventures together, including driving it up to  North Wales for a stag do in fairly trying conditions. It was always a lovely car to drive, but cosmetically quite shabby and needed a few bits sorting which I never got round to.
 

I kept the car for 16 years until one evening someone (a car with three yoofs in it) pulled out in front of me from a lay-by as I crested the brow of a hill, albeit at a fair old lick. They were clearly up to no good as they rapidly disappeared from the scene of the accident, leaving me to pick up the pieces.

 

The car had a fair amount of damage, including a bent frame, and I ended up selling it to a mate of mine who just happens to be a very talented mechanic; building Bowler rally cars being his job for quite a few years. 

 

Anyway, he set to work and over a period of a few years completely rebuilt the car to its current lovely state. It may have been posted up on here before but I’m not sure. He has had it for about 14 years, but wanted to shift it on and given its sentimental value, as well as its potential for fun (!) I was not able to resist the temptation to buy it back. The biggest challenge was it being up on the Llyn Peninsula.
 

I sorted getting a tow bar fitted and and hired a trailer from Gloucester to bring it back on. I set out at 6am on Thursday, picking the trailer up at 8am, then headed up to Wales which took about 4.5 hours through beautiful countryside which I’m sure many of you have enjoyed in your cars.

 

A couple of hours to rest and load up and I was on my way, back to my parent’s house in Wokingham where it will stay for a couple of months until I clear my garage in Somerset and bring it down. I got back at 8.45pm, so it was a pretty long day, and my already poor trailer reversing ‘skills’ were sorely tested getting the car onto the drive 🤪. My poor Mondeo clutch was smelling pretty bad by the end of it!

 

I headed home to Somerset yesterday afternoon and conveniently was able to drop the trailer near home.

 

As my forum name suggests, I am currently a sizeable chap (with aspirations to slim down 🤣), so a narrow bodied SEi is likely not the most sensible choice. However, I love the small size, weight and minimalism of these cars and I was delighted to find that I fitted it ok, albeit having taken the seat out! I’ll have to find a suitable pad for the interim until I reach my fighting weight and can refit the seat.

 

Anyway, if you made it this far, thank you. Hopefully I can make contact with some of you local to Somerset and perhaps meet up.

 

The first two pictures are from 2007. My son is now nearly 21 and taller than me 😃.

 

I said to a friend when I told him I was buying it back that it was my mid life crisis car. He replied, that’s not a MLC, that is true love, and I guess it is. I couldn’t face it potentially disappearing off to France and being lost to me.

 

Stu

 

 

 

 

 

[Kit Car Electronics and Essex AO]

Wow, welcome back! The car looks amazing 🙂 

 

[Labrat]

He did a good job on fixing it  Glad you got it back.

 

[Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO]

Welcome back to fun car ownership. Like the colour scheme, hope to see it in the flesh in the not too distant future.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

What a fantastic story, great to see you reunited! A lovely looking car, now and then.

[Rory's Dad]

...and welcome back!!

[Nic Chase (NICO) - Shropshire & Mid-Wales AO]

Welcome back. Thanks for sharing your story. 
Once bitten …. 

[Jenko]

Fantastic and welcome....

 

[mikef]

That's brilliant.  Well done and welcome back.

[Martin Aldred (Neptune) - Club Treasurer]

What a great story and so committed back then and now.

 

Welcome back hope you enjoy the car as much this time round