a4gom Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 A couple of people have asked me this recently and I know it does get asked quite a bit on here so a search would probably sort it but it would seem an appropriate topic to have in the FAQ. How do you tell the differrence between the following cars / bodies: i) Pre-lit ii) Narrow Low-line iii) Narrow iv) Wide (Have I missed any standard bodies?) Please add details of any areas which are different visually, points to measure, measurements etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I think 1, pre lit has rear arches that are flat on the top and dont blend into the body it looks very similar to a catering van 2, Narrow low line I dont know 3 & 4 narrow & wide, a wide has litte square cutouts in the main body tub where the rear lights fit, the narrow does not have these. cant think of anything else dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 cant think of anything else dave .....a wide is wider than a narrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 QUOTE 3 & 4 narrow & wide, a wide has litte square cutouts in the main body tub where the rear lights fit, the narrow does not have these. Unless it's a detachable arched car. But then *all* detachable arched cars (apart from one! ) are wide bodies, so that gives it away... Pre-lit: Earlyl ones are *almost* indistinguishable from Caterhams. Narrow low line: Bonnet/nose bodywork is a few inches lower than the later "high line". The untrained eye would probably need a tape measure to be able to tell. Narrow: Not wide... Wide body: These are now the factory standard offering. If you buy a Westfield new, it's a wide body or evolution thereof. The cockpit space is 4 inches longer, and 2 inches wider per side than a narrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhutch Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Should this be stickied? Anyone got a dates for when irs became avilable on the SE (SEi) , or when the first widebodys came about? I mean dates for lit are known, and crude timeline goes: PreLit, SE (second edition?) , SEi, SEiW. For instance specificaly, can you get a 1990 SEiW? I though widebodys came after this? Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Sticky? No. The FAQ isn't that hard to search through is it? Wide bodies first became available in mid to late 1989. They became factory standard issue from about 1994 onwards... I think... so yes, you can get a 1990 wide body. It'll be fixed arch (unless it's had later bodywork fitted) and use the Escort diff in the Westfield casing, or a "normal" live axle rear end. Not sure when Sierra diffs were first introduced though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Homer Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 For all the history on Westfield just buy this book:- It also details other models Westfield have produced such as the Topaz, Grand Prix Midget, TRA/TRZ, Turbo Diesel SE and loads of technical data. Even our beloved club gets a mention - well worth the money There is a link to it on the first page our website:- www.wscc.org.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomi Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Hi, I'm new here and trying to find the answer to this exact question. My car is a 1990 SEi which I'm guessing is a narrow body because I'm guessing the 'W' in SEiW stands for wide? Probably being really stupid but could somebody confirm this? If I'm wrong, would it be possible for someone to measure their wide or narrow car so we have something to compare against? It's great to know a wide is 2inches wider than a narrow - but how wide is a narrow? Great site BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stanton Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Yep "w" stands for wide SE = Seven styleee i = independent (both narrow and wide body variants) but not too many narrow ones around w = wide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stanton Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 QUOTE Even our beloved club gets a mention That's cos Jeremy and Paul got directly in touch with the WSCC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomi Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Yep "w" stands for wide SE = Seven styleee i = independent (both narrow and wide body variants) but not too many narrow ones around w = wide Great, thanks for that! Sounds like I have something slightly rare then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailing Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I have a 1987 SE narrow bodied but with the pre lit chassie. I think. The front uprights are more upright than the later SE/SEI and has the large diagonal brace on the drivers side. The front wishbones are curved and not straight out. Does anybody else have this version. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stanton Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 If your front top wishbones also more rounded - then these are original pre-lits. I do recall you mentioning previous that you thought yours was a rebodied pre-lit - think it may have been Donington in 19(long time ago) 1987 was last year of pre-lit and it might have been one that was manufactured around time of legal agreement so had new body design fitted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailing Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Cheers Mark, You have a good memory. Perhaps if Westfields ever become classics the old ones may become collectors items. Then again, can a kit car ever become a classic. I am sure someone will be able to name some? Rob Marshall contacted me today, so there is a blast from the past. With us all using strange names on the forum, nobody know who is who anymore. I will have to start using my real, Tony O'Brien. regards Tony O'Brien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stanton Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 and Robs got a few grey hairs now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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