What have we done?

[Euan Hoosearmy]

11 hours ago, Tim Sideways said:

Going off that Spot the Difference post, I’m thinking our car may well be a ‘kit’ but only based on the size of the lugs and the two sets of bonnet clips.

All good to know, but I guess there’s so many variables on these cars that a definitive answer is probably not possible. Hey ho, I just want it now 👍

If you confirm what body type you have and it is a "kit" (Andrew at ToyBox should know) let me know if you're interested in the hood and frame. I can get some pictures if it would help. I put it on the car once but don't know how much the previous owner used it, my guess is not much as he only did 9k miles in 23 years. The strip that clips onto the top of the screen is split, but i believe that is a common failure.

[Tim Sideways]

10 hours ago, Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO said:

The luggage capacity on a Westfield is fine for two people on a two week euro tour 😎

Haha, nice!

That's actually a really helpful picture as the rear of your car looks to be exactly the same as ours. Do you have a full hood and do you have any pictures of it up? DM me if you prefer.

Many thanks!

[Tim Sideways]

43 minutes ago, Euan Hoosearmy said:

If you confirm what body type you have and it is a "kit" (Andrew at ToyBox should know) let me know if you're interested in the hood and frame. I can get some pictures if it would help. I put it on the car once but don't know how much the previous owner used it, my guess is not much as he only did 9k miles in 23 years. The strip that clips onto the top of the screen is split, but i believe that is a common failure.

Could be of interest then. Let's see what pans out and I'll let you know. 

Many thanks!

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Easiest ways to tell the two bodywork style apart is how the nose cone attaches to the chassis, and the shape of the scuttle where it meets the dash.

 

Pop up some photos of these areas and we can confirm in a flash!

[Flying Carrot Steve]

17 hours ago, Kingster said:

 

 

 

I appreciate that info @Kingsterbut what I really meant is why are they called that, what is the difference between the two from Westfield's marketing viewpoint, ie why is one called 'kit', the other ZK etc? ie, not how to tell them apart but what is the difference between them if that makes sense? 

[Euan Hoosearmy]

I don't think the factory ever differentiated from a marketing POV and just changed what they supplied over time and we as owners have been left to play "spot the difference". My "kit" SEiW was sold in 1997 as a "Sport 2000". The invoice just says SEi Chassis and SEi Body+Det rear arches. The order confirmation says "SEi Wide"

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

It's just behind the scenes notation for different generations of Westfield.

 

The very first body design was what became the Pre Lit, this was a copy to a greater extent of the Caterham Seven.

 

After a legal case saw Westfield being forced to make the body style unique to Westfield, they released what we now know of as Kit Bodywork. It wouldn't really be known as this at the time though, it was just the body style offered.

 

Around 2000, give or take a year or two, (like much around Westfields, exact timelines are tricky, as there can be overlaps) the bodywork received a subtle re-style this is what we know as the ZK bodywork. In everyday use, it was still just the bodywork, for the first few years, but the ZK suffix was important to be aware of, as the nose, bonnet and scuttle were different to the previous Kit bodywork and couldn't be mixed from an aesthetic point of view.

 

In the early mid 2000's the FW body shape was launched, as this was to be sold along side the "traditional standard" body shape, to avoid confusion, it became much more common to refer to the two as FW and ZK styles.

 

There have been some sub variations to the body over the years, and chassis developments have not run neatly alongside body developments, each has been at their own pace. Plus parts are often retrofittable.  So it would have been much harder for the factory to simply name them Westfield mk 1, mk 2, mk 3 and so on.

[Flying Carrot Steve]

30 minutes ago, Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman said:

It's just behind the scenes notation for different generations of Westfield.

 

The very first body design was what became the Pre Lit, this was a copy to a greater extent of the Caterham Seven.

 

After a legal case saw Westfield being forced to make the body style unique to Westfield, they released what we now know of as Kit Bodywork. It wouldn't really be known as this at the time though, it was just the body style offered.

 

Around 2000, give or take a year or two, (like much around Westfields, exact timelines are tricky, as there can be overlaps) the bodywork received a subtle re-style this is what we know as the ZK bodywork. In everyday use, it was still just the bodywork, for the first few years, but the ZK suffix was important to be aware of, as the nose, bonnet and scuttle were different to the previous Kit bodywork and couldn't be mixed from an aesthetic point of view.

 

In the early mid 2000's the FW body shape was launched, as this was to be sold along side the "traditional standard" body shape, to avoid confusion, it became much more common to refer to the two as FW and ZK styles.

 

There have been some sub variations to the body over the years, and chassis developments have not run neatly alongside body developments, each has been at their own pace. Plus parts are often retrofittable.  So it would have been much harder for the factory to simply name them Westfield mk 1, mk 2, mk 3 and so on.

 

Thanks Dave, that is some good insight and educational info right there. Much appreciated 👍

 

[Tim Sideways]

2 hours ago, Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman said:

Easiest ways to tell the two bodywork style apart is how the nose cone attaches to the chassis, and the shape of the scuttle where it meets the dash.

 

Pop up some photos of these areas and we can confirm in a flash!

Once I've got it, I will. Not going to bother Andrew for pictures as I'd rather him and the team were getting on with things so I can get our car

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

12 hours ago, Tim Sideways said:

Haha, nice!

That's actually a really helpful picture as the rear of your car looks to be exactly the same as ours. Do you have a full hood and do you have any pictures of it up? DM me if you prefer.

Many thanks!

Here ya go, obviously like all Westfields it’s never been driven in the wet 🙄

 

[Tim Sideways]

28 minutes ago, Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO said:

Here ya go, obviously like all Westfields it’s never been driven in the wet 🙄

 

Perfect. Thanks, that helps a lot. Where do the hood rails/supports live when it’s down?

[Stuart]

@Tim Sideways they fold down under the bootbox lid

[Tim Sideways]

10 hours ago, Stuart said:

@Tim Sideways they fold down under the bootbox lid

Thanks. I'll stop asking questions in the wrong bit of the forum now and will just wait impatiently for our car to be ready

[Tim Sideways]

Things are getting serious now, I just ordered a four post lift, so I can stack one car above the other instead of losing my workbenches and having to wangle two cars into a very tight space side by side

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Fantastic!

 

Just noticed your location says South Cheshire! The Cheshire and N. Staffs area meet the first Thursday of the month at the Golden Pheasant, Plumley. We’d love to see you and your new car! (Though you’re very welcome to join us with or without the Westfield!)

 

Additionally, a few of us often join the Peak District Area of a Sunday, to enjoy runs in the hills and dales. You’d be very welcome to come along.