1997 Westfield ZEi Turbo 1.8L Manual

Highlights

• Rare factory-built ZEi with original Westfield order documentation from 1997

• Professional turbo conversion with recent MAXX ECU and dyno mapping

• Upgraded vented brakes with Tarox racing fluid

• Dyno-verified 138bhp in a sub-700kg package

• Complete documentation trail from factory order to 2024 specialist invoices

Overview

The Westfield SE and its many derivatives have stood as one of the best of breed for more than 30 years, gaining a big following in track day and motorsport circles. The ZEi sits at the top of that tree as Westfield's type-approved, factory-built production model — a car that combined Colin Chapman's lightweight philosophy with the reassurance of professional assembly and genuine manufacturer backing. Built around a multi-tube spaceframe chassis wrapped in glass fibre bodywork, the ZEi featured all-independent fully adjustable suspension and Ford's proven 1.8-litre 16v Zetec engine with fuel injection as standard. A broad range of engines have found their way under the Westfield's bonnet, but the Zetec remains the most popular and accessible choice for good reason — it's robust, tuneable and makes all the right noises.

The original Westfield Sportscars order form for this car reveals a car specified with considerable care: Antelope Doeskin leather seats and dashboard, Shetland Claret trim piping, chromed front suspension, chromed roll bar, external exhaust, and the desirable large headlamps. The agreed price of £15,965 included fuel injection, with collection confirmed for 15th October 1997. This was hand-built at Westfield's Kingswinford facility to a customer's bespoke specification, and the Ford engine registration documents provide further verification, confirming engine serial D1884/16 as a new installation marked explicitly "RHD FACTORY BUILD."

The stamped service book shows the factory itself performed the 500-mile check at 1,040 miles in March 1998. In 2002, approximately five years after delivery, the car received a professional turbo conversion costing £5,500 — a substantial investment that transformed the Zetec's character. More recently, the current owner has invested significantly in modernising the car's systems. A specialist workshop fitted a MAXX engine ECU with complete loom modifications, upgraded sensors throughout, reworked all boost pipework with proper silicone couplings and aluminium fabrication, and performed comprehensive dyno tuning. The result: a verified 138.4bhp at the flywheel, which in a car weighing around 650kg translates to genuinely rapid point-to-point pace.

The specification now includes upgraded vented brake discs with Tarox racing fluid, a Pipercross air filter, and complete rewiring of the engine bay. The vendor reports that a Quaife limited-slip differential has recently been fitted and that the car starts first time, sounds great (particularly when the turbo kicks in) and is “very fast” (predictably, given the vital statistics). Finished in maroon metallic, it presents as an honest, usable example of a genuine factory-built car and it looks like a bundle of fun.

History and documentation

• First registered 17th October 1997; declared new at first registration

• Original Westfield Factory Built Car Order Form (Document #00037) dated 16th August 1997 confirming bespoke specification and £15,965 purchase price

• Ford Industrial Engine Registration documents confirming engine serial D1884/16 as a new installation marked "RHD FACTORY BUILD"

• Turbo conversion invoice from April 2002 totalling £5,500

• Specialist invoices from September 2024 for MAXX ECU, complete rewiring, dyno tuning and MOT totalling approximately £3,800

• Dyno sheet showing verified 138.4bhp at the flywheel (30th September 2024)

• Original owner's handbook and factory brochure included

• Stamped service book and supporting invoices documenting: Mar 1998 @ 1,040 miles (Westfield factory), Dec 1998 @ 2,500 miles, Mar 2001 @ 6,541 miles, Apr 2003 @ 7,152 miles, Jul 2017 @ 15,640 miles (oil/filter/plugs, MOT pass), May 2020 @ 16,794 miles (turbo rebuild), Jul 2020 @ 16,883 miles, Apr 2022 @ 18,112 miles, Sep 2024 (ECU/MOT)

• V5C present in owner's name; 11 former keepers

• In current ownership since April 2022

• Two keys

• MOT passed September 2024; will be provided with a fresh MOT

• 18,112 miles at last documented service

Interior

• Originally specified with Antelope Doeskin leather and Shetland Claret piping per factory order; the interior now presents in black leather throughout

• Minimalist two-seat cockpit with matching black leather bucket seats featuring vertical ribbed upholstery

• Driver's seat outer bolster shows surface cracking and wear consistent with use; passenger seat in noticeably better condition with light creasing only

• Black loop-pile carpet throughout in serviceable condition

• VDO instrumentation including speedometer (to 140mph), tachometer (to 7,000rpm), fuel gauge, oil pressure gauge and water temperature gauge

• Nomad boost gauge fitted for turbo monitoring

• Polished aluminium gear knob shows moderate wear; black leather gear gaiter intact

• Leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel in good condition with minor surface wear

• Dashboard wrapped in black vinyl presenting well with no visible cracks or warping

• Rocker switches and toggle controls fully operational per vendor

• The digital mileage display is intermittent on display

• Aftermarket immobiliser fitted

• Inertia reel seatbelts fitted as standard for road use

• Chrome ignition barrel with key; two keys supplied

• Boot floor lined in black fabric; rear-mounted spare wheel on matching alloy

Exterior

• Maroon metallic paintwork presents well with good gloss and colour depth across all panels

• Multiple stone chips across the bonnet — typical for an open-wheeled car of this age; a light diagonal scratch also visible on closer inspection

• The vendor tells us it's in very good condition overall with no dents or scratches beyond the minor marks you'd expect from a car of its age

• Fibreglass panels in good condition with no visible cracks or crazing

• Chrome Hella headlight bezels and stalks intact and clear

• Polished stainless steel roll bar in very good condition with no obvious pitting

• "WESTFIELD" and "TURBO" chrome badges present on the rear panel

• Silver multi-spoke alloy wheels with orange Westfield centre caps; light kerbing marks but no significant damage

• Toyo Proxes tyres fitted all round

• Removable "Soft Bits for Sevens" soft-top with side screens included; the seller advises that one area requires re-stitching but it does not affect use

• Side-exit stainless steel exhaust with polished perforated heat shield

• All light lenses clear and intact

• Riveted aluminium stone guards fitted to front and rear wings

• Tubular steel spaceframe chassis visible underneath with black-painted members in good condition; no signs of structural damage or significant corrosion

Mechanical

• 1.8-litre Ford Zetec 16v four-cylinder with turbocharger

• Dyno-verified 138.4bhp at the flywheel (September 2024)

• MAXX engine ECU with professional mapping replacing the original unit

• Complete engine bay rewiring with upgraded coolant temperature, air temperature and oil pressure sensors

• Five-speed manual gearbox (Ford MT75)

• Rear-wheel drive; the vendor reports a Quaife limited-slip differential is fitted

• Upgraded cross-drilled vented brake discs front and rear with Touchbrake System calipers

• Tarox racing brake fluid; the vendor tells us the brakes are racing-spec and perform best once warmed up

• Turbo rebuilt in May 2020 at 16,794 miles

• Front-mounted intercooler and oil cooler; Bailey Motorsport catch tank fitted

• Pipercross performance air filter

• Stainless steel exhaust system with catalytic converter

• Boost pipework comprehensively reworked with silicone couplings and fabricated aluminium piping

• The vendor tells us it starts on first turn of the key and is in top mechanical condition

• Surface corrosion noted on brake discs from standing — workshop advisory recommends re-inspection once mileage has been put on; should clean up with use

• No oil or coolant leaks visible in photographs; engine sump and gearbox casing appear dry underneath

Summary

Here's the thing about Westfields: you can find plenty of them, but finding one that’s factory-built is a different proposition entirely. This ZEi's provenance runs from the original 1997 order form through Ford's own engine registration documents to a stamped service book with a Westfield factory first service stamp.

But provenance alone doesn't make a car worth owning. What makes this one genuinely compelling is that somebody's taken all that factory authenticity and thoughtfully built on it. A professional turbo conversion, a MAXX ECU with specialist dyno mapping and upgraded brakes. With 138bhp pushing well under 700kg, and a fresh MOT to be provided, it's ready to remind you what driving is supposed to feel like.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Winscombe, North Somerset.