Rare versions of common cars

[anonymous-user]

Bit of a left of field entry, my old Westfield Zei220.

It was a production only car and fully type approved for sale in Europe, so had a different chassis and bodywork to any other Westfield to meet the requirements and crash testing limits. They made just 13 of them, mine was the original press car that was used by the MD after the press had finished with it.

It came out of the factory with an Escort Cosworth 220BHP engine, 2wd cosworth gearbox and rear diff with fully independent suspension. I modded it for 330BHP. Everything was brand new to meet the type approval rules for European sales. It proved to be a very expensive car to build so they dropped it.

So although there are lots of Westfields about, not many went through full new car type approval.



Motorsport magazine article https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...

[Dannbodge]

Prinny said:

AppleJuice said:

Fun Bus said:

AppleJuice said:

M1C said:

I'm sure those wheels are from a 7 series. I've never seen a 5 with them.

They were an option:
Style 152
8Jx18

Also available on the E90 (Individual).

Only available on an Individual specced car, regardless of range.

Ah! I see - thanks!

To be fair, most 3/5/6 didn’t get specced with “individual” bits, in the same way the 7 did. After all, the individual stuff ain’t cheap. It’s less of a concern on a £100k 7 than it is on a £20k 3series, obviously.

What’s interesting is that the style152 comes in a variety of sizes, both diameter, width & offset, so that it fits many models:

http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/152

So with that said, some shameless whoring of my car with the 152 wheels in 20” flavour. As a 760 (6l v12), there’s only about 160 total brought into the UK from 2002-2008, but there’s many, many more 730d...

It's the only Individual option that didn't get spec'd on my E90

[M1C]

Prinny said:

AppleJuice said:

Fun Bus said:

AppleJuice said:

M1C said:

I'm sure those wheels are from a 7 series. I've never seen a 5 with them.

They were an option:
Style 152
8Jx18

Also available on the E90 (Individual).

Only available on an Individual specced car, regardless of range.

Ah! I see - thanks!

To be fair, most 3/5/6 didn’t get specced with “individual” bits, in the same way the 7 did. After all, the individual stuff ain’t cheap. It’s less of a concern on a £100k 7 than it is on a £20k 3series, obviously.

What’s interesting is that the style152 comes in a variety of sizes, both diameter, width & offset, so that it fits many models:

http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/152

So with that said, some shameless whoring of my car with the 152 wheels in 20” flavour. As a 760 (6l v12), there’s only about 160 total brought into the UK from 2002-2008, but there’s many, many more 730d...

Prinny, your car is the reason i questioned the wheel initially

I remember seeing them on a 7 series....and it was yours

[M1C]

Bjam99 said:

In keeping with the latest fast Yaris - I can't imagine there are huge numbers of the 1.8 Yaris SR out there?

I'd never considered these to be a particularly rare car...but then i thought...how many of them have i actually seen?

Not many!

But i have driven one, i really liked it, it was pretty quick and good to drive. Maybe it was just too subtle to interest anyone?

[austinsmirk]

vtecyo said:

How about a Toyota Avensis estate with 4WD and the 3S-GTE from the Celica GT4 / MR2 turbo under the bonnet. Sold in Japan as the "Caldina".

Seen one straddling a mucky churned grass verge on a council estate. Arguably just where you’d expect to see a financially crippling car of its type to run of course.

[theplayingmantis]

jsf said:

Bit of a left of field entry, my old Westfield Zei220.

It was a production only car and fully type approved for sale in Europe, so had a different chassis and bodywork to any other Westfield to meet the requirements and crash testing limits. They made just 13 of them, mine was the original press car that was used by the MD after the press had finished with it.

It came out of the factory with an Escort Cosworth 220BHP engine, 2wd cosworth gearbox and rear diff with fully independent suspension. I modded it for 330BHP. Everything was brand new to meet the type approval rules for European sales. It proved to be a very expensive car to build so they dropped it.

So although there are lots of Westfields about, not many went through full new car type approval.



Motorsport magazine article https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...

common cars

[anonymous-user]

theplayingmantis said:

common cars

13 made is common?

[Truckosaurus]

jsf said:

13 made is common?

I suspect our comrade is suggesting that any Westfield is an Uncommon vehicle - with perhaps not many of all variants existing.

[anonymous-user]

Truckosaurus said:

I suspect our comrade is suggesting that any Westfield is an Uncommon vehicle - with perhaps not many of all variants existing.

I am not sure how you come to that when he said its a common car. Anyway, doesn't matter really does it, just another idea thrown out for people to enjoy (or otherwise)

[Triumph Man]

Boobonman said:

AppleJuice said:

E60 540i manual.
One on Autotrader; don't think owner comes with it though. Or does he?|https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201801243041168?advertising-location=at_cars&transmission=Manual&sort=sponsored&maximum-badge-engine-size=4.0&keywords=540i&quantity-of-doors=4&make=BMW&postcode=pe111sp&radius=1501&fuel-type=Petrol&model=5%20SERIES&onesearchad=Used&page=1[/url]

To be fair to him he has got his best tracksuit / baseball cap combo on.

Where's the "using your gay bh lover to sell your car" thread?

[AppleJuice]

Jakg said:

AppleJuice said:

W203/S203 30 CDI AMG:

3.0 I5 > 231 PS / 540 Nm

Very rare in the UK... because they were never sold over here (or in RHD). Not really sure that counts.

Same as the M550d

Ah, bugger. I suppose I could include the G30/G31 M550i too. Plus the E38 725 tds/730d/740d, E65 740d/745d and E38 Alpina B12 (though I did see a good replica in my local town centre - didn't manage to take a photo - that was based on 728i).

Edited by AppleJuice on Thursday 25th January 21:48

[Fun Bus]

AppleJuice said:

E38 Alpina B12

This was available in the UK. Rare, but available.

[BrabusMog]

Joe5y said:

I’m yet to understand what a rare common car is yet so here’s mine, 1 of 66. Next to the Eiffel Tower, 1 of 2.

Is this a C350 petrol? If so, only 66?! Really?!

[antacid]

p1stonhead said:

You only feel the difference because you know there is a difference. 90% of people probably dont even know FWD or RWD cars exist. They havent ever given a second's thought as to how their car functions.

meh I'll agree to disagree

[theplayingmantis]

jsf said:

Truckosaurus said:

I suspect our comrade is suggesting that any Westfield is an Uncommon vehicle - with perhaps not many of all variants existing.

I am not sure how you come to that when he said its a common car. Anyway, doesn't matter really does it, just another idea thrown out for people to enjoy (or otherwise)

trucko was correct. i thought it was obvious. i was being ironic that you were suggesting a westfield was a common car. not sure what your definition of common is.

westfield isnt common. ive never seen one and never heard of them until recently, and i doubt the majority of folks have seen or heard of them. i wouldnt call any kit car maker common.

common is your mainstream marques that you see most days.

no harm done. who am i anyway, the thread police? i will shut my big fat gob now.

[InitialDave]

theplayingmantis said:

westfield isnt common. ive never seen one and never heard of them until recently

Really?

[Kewy]

Levin said:

I read on these forums that they only seemed to come in the entry trim level and Ghia, eliminating a lot of possible sales. They seem to have been more popular in the Republic of Ireland as I occasionally see them on ROI plates. Of all the Focus saloons I've seen, the second-generation Focus (think 2005-ish) is the one I can only remember seeing once.



Vauxhall Insignia saloon. It looks pretty much the same as the hatchback but it isn't. Compared to some cars on here I'd guess a decent number of these exist but the odds of anyone actually noticing are bound to be low.

My previous car was an Insignia Saloon, 2.0T petrol one, had it 3 years and only ever saw one other petrol turbo on the road. Was running 305bhp too so not bad for a grandad car. I managed to source a set of the 20'' VXR alloys for £400 (£2k worth of wheel!), car was okay for a while but quite a few problems and sliproad sling shots got a bit boring.




Current car is a Honda Accord Euro R. Import so bound to be on the rarer side but again I've only ever seen one other on the road (and one at a car show).

[Kewy]

DoubleD said:

Only 80, wow when you think of all the 1 series on the road that makes this a seriously unpopular choice.

That's the second time you've tried that joke and you got ignored the first time.

The BMW 130i is actually very highly rated.

[theplayingmantis]

InitialDave said:

theplayingmantis said:

westfield isnt common. ive never seen one and never heard of them until recently

Really?

no not really

[anonymous-user]

theplayingmantis said:

InitialDave said:

theplayingmantis said:

westfield isnt common. ive never seen one and never heard of them until recently

Really?

no not really

I find that quite remarkable on a car enthusiasts forum.