Pre-litigation westfields
Discussion
Short answer: 605 of your variant, Grubnut.
Info from the Robinshaw & Bouckley Westfield book:
There were two 'generations' of Pre-lit Westfield Sevens.
The Westfield Seven followed on from the Westfield Eleven, and was an accurate replica of the early Lotus Seven, with all-alloy bodywork (except for GRP wings and nosecone), Triumph front uprights and Spridget or Ford engine/gearbox/axle. Total production 132.
The pre-lit Westfield SE was a cheaper update with more GRP (all-in-one GRP rear bodywork and wings, for example)and all-Ford running gear. Robinshaw and Bouckley reckon '605 Seven SE kits were sold from Spring '86 until production was brought to a premature halt in early 1988 as a result of the litigation with Caterham Cars.'
The car was relaunched in 1988 as the plain SE (no 'Seven' moniker), with the familiar current body style with 'swage lines' on the bodywork to differentiate it sufficiently from the Caterham product to avoid further litigation.
>> Edited by Mutant Rat on Friday 22 July 18:01
Info from the Robinshaw & Bouckley Westfield book:
There were two 'generations' of Pre-lit Westfield Sevens.
The Westfield Seven followed on from the Westfield Eleven, and was an accurate replica of the early Lotus Seven, with all-alloy bodywork (except for GRP wings and nosecone), Triumph front uprights and Spridget or Ford engine/gearbox/axle. Total production 132.
The pre-lit Westfield SE was a cheaper update with more GRP (all-in-one GRP rear bodywork and wings, for example)and all-Ford running gear. Robinshaw and Bouckley reckon '605 Seven SE kits were sold from Spring '86 until production was brought to a premature halt in early 1988 as a result of the litigation with Caterham Cars.'
The car was relaunched in 1988 as the plain SE (no 'Seven' moniker), with the familiar current body style with 'swage lines' on the bodywork to differentiate it sufficiently from the Caterham product to avoid further litigation.
>> Edited by Mutant Rat on Friday 22 July 18:01
Many Thanks for taking the time to post a most comprehensive answer.
I have chassis number 200 so was hoping that they were a little more scarce than that (and consequently more valuable!!).
What do you prefer - the TVR or Westfield experience - taking into account performance and cost?
I have chassis number 200 so was hoping that they were a little more scarce than that (and consequently more valuable!!).
What do you prefer - the TVR or Westfield experience - taking into account performance and cost?
grubnut said:
What do you prefer - the TVR or Westfield experience - taking into account performance and cost?
The Griff is a fine fast touring car - very comfortable, and crushing acceleration even at high motorway speeds (Sevens run into an aerodynamic brick wall much above 100mph, no matter how much power you throw at them) and it makes a nice noise, but it doesn't handle.
Sevens are much more fun (regardless of costs!) for a quick blast down the country lanes on a summer evening.
I still run a Sylva Phoenix as well as the TVR, but don't use it much because I only get to see my girlfrined on weekends (the only time I get to play with the cars, too), and she won't go near it!
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