Is this a Westfield or a Lotus identification tag ?

[erik.b]

I'm in the process of buying a "Lotus Super Seven S2 from 1963"

However the car has this identification tag,

which as far as i can tell has a Westfield 1988 chassis number on it.

Can anyone shed some light on this ?

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Thats a Westfield chassis number but stamped on a lotus vin plate.

 

I’d need to see the car to comment on whether it’s a 1963 lotus 7 or a 1988 Westfield.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

looking again the vin plate is wrong if this is a 1963 lotus.

from 1959 -66 lotus were at Delamare Road, Cheshunt so the correct plate for 1963 would be Hertfordshire. The move to Hethel near Norwich in Norfolk didn’t happen until 1966.

[erik.b]

Advertised here:
https://www.autoscout24.be/nl/aanbod/lotus-super-seven-original-lotus-hand-built-interior-benzine-groen-d8079441-8d5f-449c-823f-4401f2fd3c13?sort=standard&desc=0&lastSeenGuidPresent=true&cldtsrc=listPage&cldtidx=1&position=1&search_id=o4jfnuethk&source=listpage_search-results

 

It does appear to have been registered for a numberplate as a Lotus in 2001 with first registration 1963

but Lotus chassisnumber should be SB1000 to SB2310

Edited August 20, 2022 by erik.b

[Richard (OldStager)]

Is it possible its a pre-lit ? , kinda fits with the chassis number date.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

11 minutes ago, erik.b said:

Advertised here:
https://www.autoscout24.be/nl/aanbod/lotus-super-seven-original-lotus-hand-built-interior-benzine-groen-d8079441-8d5f-449c-823f-4401f2fd3c13?sort=standard&desc=0&lastSeenGuidPresent=true&cldtsrc=listPage&cldtidx=1&position=1&search_id=o4jfnuethk&source=listpage_search-results

 

It does appear to have been registered for a numberplate as a Lotus in 2001 with first registration 1963

but Lotus chassisnumber should be SB1000 to SB2310

Later GRP bodied Westfield pre-lit which fits with the 1988 chassis number. dressed up and pretending to be a Lotus which it definitely is not.

 

 

[erik.b]

That's what i suspected,

how can you tell (with certainty if possible) that it is a Westfield and not a Lotus ?

Apart from the wrong chassisnumber that is.

 

[Richard (OldStager)]

For me its the nose, the opening in it is the same as my 94 car.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

1 minute ago, erik.b said:

That's what i suspected,

how can you tell (with certainty if possible) that it is a Westfield and not a Lotus ?

Apart from the wrong chassisnumber that is.

 

The most noticeable is that rear arches are integral to the main body tub whereas a lotus s2 would have an aluminium body with separate bolt-on GRP arches.

[Richard (OldStager)]

Also, and happy to be corrected, a Lotus of that age would have had Triumph Herald / Spitfire wishbones which are square in shape, not round as in those pics.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

It might fundamentally be a decent car, but ultimately it’s being passed off as something it isn’t, and someone has gone to great lengths to do so. To me, personally, it makes it something to steer we’ll clear of, as. You have no idea what other liberties with the truth have been taken, whether it be condition of parts, specification of parts or whatever. (Incidentally, the current seller may well be completely unaware of all this)

[erik.b]

True, i suspect the "makeover" happened along time ago and the current owner genuinely thinks he has a Lotus.

If you look at the license plate registration and the (belgium) MOT it all says Lotus Seven.

The only thing on those papers that doesn't add up is the chassisnumber.

Best guess is the identity switch took place when it was imported and first registered here in Belgium in 2001.

 

I'm actually still willing to buy it,

at a Westfield price that is.

 

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

1 hour ago, Richard (OldStager) said:

For me its the nose, the opening in it is the same as my 94 car.

 

 

Not like my '94 car. 

The windscreen pillar mounts were open (pierced) triangles on all the Swept wing Lotuses I've seen IIRC. 

 

 

[Kingster]

Yep nosecone, indicators and lower wishbones all point to Westfield. 
 

Lotus front wishbones are very distinctive and they never had indicators on the nosecone to my knowledge (happy to be corrected)

[Richard (OldStager)]

Anyone for a Lotus Vin plate, new from the UK today

Not difficult to "age " it.