So, I'm thinking of building a Westfield...

[Donatello]

A while ago, I was in a position to get a 2nd car and it was going to be a 'Seven' type car. Well that didn't happen and we bought a house and an estate for the dogs instead!

My BIL has a pre-lit 1987 Westfield with a 1700 x-flow engine which I have driven (but it was too small) and loved, made me want one.

I have now seen that a lowered floor is an option and the post lawsuit cars are bigger anyway? I am weighing up my options but don't have £10-12k to spend right now and looking through the classifieds, that is the sort of price I'd be looking to spend to get the right car.

I'm considering buying a starter kit and despite my VERY, VERY limited mechanical knowledge, having a go at building one myself! I've read build diaries, I've read all sorts and just think it would allow me to add bits as and when I could afford it but would also lead to a great sense of achievement.

So... Is it do-able for someone as mechanically retarded as me? What bits should I seek professional help for? Wish me luck, it'll be a while until I get going but will do some sort of build thread when this happens.

Edited by Donatello on Wednesday 22 August 15:55

[Alex]

It's certainly do-able by anyone willing to learn, and as you correctly say, immensely satisfying!

And you won't be mechanically retarded by the end of it.

[Donatello]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I understand the cost could spiral, but wasn't sure where it would get to. £20k does seem a tad steep!

I don't fancy a x-flow myself and was hoping to be in a Duratec or maybe even the new S2000 kit they have available. I had a Fiesta ST and enjoyed the engine. Think it would be brilliant in such a light car.

The other factor for me is that I would like it to be a bit posey as well as a driving thrill. I want it to be shiney with nice new bits and carbon fibre dotted around. That is probably where the more expensive cars fit the bill for me.

I have seen the odd car less than £7k, even less than £5k that appeal to me, a majority seem a little more expensive for my criteria though...

I know I sound like a posey knob but I'm not, I promise!

[Donatello]

I lied.. looking again there are plenty under £10k. My other concern is I need/would prefer a widebody/lowered floor as I'm a 6'2" 16st and wide hipped! A lot of narrow body cars around

[Alex]

The spec you describe will be difficult to build for much less than £20k.

[Donatello]

Ouch! Genuinely didn't think it would get so expensive... Well I guess I'll have to save up that bit longer and buy one that's ready to go. Thread is kind of silly now! Haha...

[Megaflow]

At 6'2" and 16st, you should be able to fit comfortably in a normal wide body, much bigger people than you have. This opens up a much bigger market of cars as the lowered floor was only introduced in the last 5 years, where as widebody cars have been around for 20+ years.

[spaximus]

You have to factor in a lot of things when building new, you have almost £500 for IVA if it passes first time. I think with careful budgeting £15k would get you the car if you wanted to build it by not buying everything from Westfield.
But unless you really want to build one you will buy top notch cars for much less than you would building one. Buying over winter will make it cheaper still.
Join up to the Westfield Sports Car Club on line and see what you can get.

[PisstnBroke]

Does it have to be of the lotus seven type?
With limited build knowledge and budget as trust me these things can get expensive it could be worth looking at the Sylva Stylus or Ginetta G20's. Can easily put your mark on such cars and share the same base cars as a seven.