Westfield SEiGHT
Discussion
Westfields are often seen (wrongly in my opinion) as a Caterham for those who cannot afford a Caterham but I like Westfields and this is my second, the first being 16 years ago and was a clamshell winged Lotus Twin Cam powered car that sadly had to be sold due to space restrictions.
Last year saw me being in the position where I could look at another - I decided at an early stage I did not want a "middle of the road" car - Zetecs, Redtops being ruled out as being just a little too sensible.
That really only left bike engine and V8's. Whilst I enjoy tinkering the regularity of maintenance seemingly required on bike engine cars left me a little cold so the search was on for a V8.
A wanted ad was placed on the Westfield Sports Car Club site and within an hour or so I had a response from someone with a V8 that whilst not for sale could be for sale if I was genuinely interested. Numerous emails were exchanged and a date arranged to go over to Leicestershire to have a look.
This was a car that was built with no expense spared to replace one that the builder wrote off on the autoroute in France. Built from virtually all new parts back in 2004 it had clearly cost a fortune (stack of invoices, with some missing subsequently showed a total of comfortably over £26k).
Now in the hands of the second owner we thrashed out a price, obviously above my budget but I knew this was quite a special car.
The following weekend saw me collect the car - a combination of an unfamiliar car, pouring rain and no sat nav signal made for a potentially miserable 100 mile journey home but nothing could be further from the truth.
Now had the car 12 months and put on 2,500 very enjoyable miles. Lots of money spent but mostly on upgrades, only things gone wrong have been a clutch slave cylinder fail and the Stack instrument pack requiring a service - things upgraded / replaced have been the original seats, changing from 5" to 7" headlights and aeroscreen and lots of time spent on cleaning and preventative maintenance.
Despite its 330bhp and 205 section tyres its a real pussycat, so much torque that it will amble along in 5th at idle but absolutely decimate most things on the road if the need arises.
This is definitely a keeper - have promised my 10 year old son it will be gifted to him on his 21st birthday.
Collection day
As it is now
Last year saw me being in the position where I could look at another - I decided at an early stage I did not want a "middle of the road" car - Zetecs, Redtops being ruled out as being just a little too sensible.
That really only left bike engine and V8's. Whilst I enjoy tinkering the regularity of maintenance seemingly required on bike engine cars left me a little cold so the search was on for a V8.
A wanted ad was placed on the Westfield Sports Car Club site and within an hour or so I had a response from someone with a V8 that whilst not for sale could be for sale if I was genuinely interested. Numerous emails were exchanged and a date arranged to go over to Leicestershire to have a look.
This was a car that was built with no expense spared to replace one that the builder wrote off on the autoroute in France. Built from virtually all new parts back in 2004 it had clearly cost a fortune (stack of invoices, with some missing subsequently showed a total of comfortably over £26k).
Now in the hands of the second owner we thrashed out a price, obviously above my budget but I knew this was quite a special car.
The following weekend saw me collect the car - a combination of an unfamiliar car, pouring rain and no sat nav signal made for a potentially miserable 100 mile journey home but nothing could be further from the truth.
Now had the car 12 months and put on 2,500 very enjoyable miles. Lots of money spent but mostly on upgrades, only things gone wrong have been a clutch slave cylinder fail and the Stack instrument pack requiring a service - things upgraded / replaced have been the original seats, changing from 5" to 7" headlights and aeroscreen and lots of time spent on cleaning and preventative maintenance.
Despite its 330bhp and 205 section tyres its a real pussycat, so much torque that it will amble along in 5th at idle but absolutely decimate most things on the road if the need arises.
This is definitely a keeper - have promised my 10 year old son it will be gifted to him on his 21st birthday.
Collection day
As it is now
Edited by Andy665 on Tuesday 27th February 09:56
jontysafe said:
Lovely car!
Please think about a roll cage though.
It’s very similar to what my cosworth powered one was like and the thought of a deer running in front of it and general, if you crash you’re not going to have much chance, made me fit one.
That and the engine upgrades!
Certainly no desire or intention to fit a roll cage. Never heard of a single incident where people in this kind of car have been injured / killed that would otherwise have been saved by a cage.Please think about a roll cage though.
It’s very similar to what my cosworth powered one was like and the thought of a deer running in front of it and general, if you crash you’re not going to have much chance, made me fit one.
That and the engine upgrades!
I have been giving some thought to a change of wheel for quite some time, whilst I like and will be keeping the OZ Ultraleggaras I have wanted something with a bit more "bling".
Always liked the quality of Image wheels but always found the price a bit hard to stomach - typically £1500-1600 for a set of 4 in 15" without tyres
Stumbled across a set in the correct fitment for my car a coupe of weeks ago and made a cheeky offer which was accepted. Whilst not new they had been on the car for only 600 miles and had been stored for the last 3 years, fortunately the deal included new tyres which upon collection were the dreaded Toyo T1Rs so took the opportunity to get some nice sticky Nankang NS-"Rs ordered and fitted.
Although they do not look it they are 3 piece, the bolts are mounted on the inside of the rim which means cleaning less of a chore.
Needed a lot of polishing but really happy with the look - even better is that they are 1kg per wheel / tyre lighter than the Ultraleggaras and fill the arches nicely with new 15mm spacers fitted.
23rd June saw me fulfill a long time wish - to drive at Shelsley Walsh hillclimb - the oldest motorsport venue in the world
The hill was hired by the Westfield Sports Car Club for the day and we had 7 hours of unlimited drive time - about 45 cars were there so plenty of time to get in a fair number of runs.
Been a spectator for a few years but driving the hill makes you realise
1. How addictive it is
2. How tough it is to drive it properly - not that for one second am I suggesting I came remotely close to doing so
Was a great opportunity to really push the old girl but on the drive there I was panicking as the new tyres mould release compound took a long time to wear off, the first 40 miles or so was like driving on sheet ice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV1oi2FSskE
Great run out to the Breakfast Club at Shelsley Walsh yesterday, this is a car that is just as happy ambling along at 55-60 as it is being thrashed.
Increasingly going out without a helmet unless fast A roads and motorways are going to be used, certainly no less comfortable, the Carbon NV aeroscreen whips the air up very well so full frontal buffeting is actually kept to reasonable levels.
Despite many SEiGHT owners saying that both oil and water temps can get pretty high the custom radiator and dry sump system is really keep things under control, oil temp rarely gets in to the 90's and water temp is usually below 80 degrees - heat soak at low speed in to the footwells is another matter entirely and may become the winter project.
Great collection of cars at Shelsley this morning, particular favourites of mine being a Guards Red 964, lovely patina of age, clearly loved AND used and an Alfa F12 van - first time I have ever seen one
Always liked the quality of Image wheels but always found the price a bit hard to stomach - typically £1500-1600 for a set of 4 in 15" without tyres
Stumbled across a set in the correct fitment for my car a coupe of weeks ago and made a cheeky offer which was accepted. Whilst not new they had been on the car for only 600 miles and had been stored for the last 3 years, fortunately the deal included new tyres which upon collection were the dreaded Toyo T1Rs so took the opportunity to get some nice sticky Nankang NS-"Rs ordered and fitted.
Although they do not look it they are 3 piece, the bolts are mounted on the inside of the rim which means cleaning less of a chore.
Needed a lot of polishing but really happy with the look - even better is that they are 1kg per wheel / tyre lighter than the Ultraleggaras and fill the arches nicely with new 15mm spacers fitted.
23rd June saw me fulfill a long time wish - to drive at Shelsley Walsh hillclimb - the oldest motorsport venue in the world
The hill was hired by the Westfield Sports Car Club for the day and we had 7 hours of unlimited drive time - about 45 cars were there so plenty of time to get in a fair number of runs.
Been a spectator for a few years but driving the hill makes you realise
1. How addictive it is
2. How tough it is to drive it properly - not that for one second am I suggesting I came remotely close to doing so
Was a great opportunity to really push the old girl but on the drive there I was panicking as the new tyres mould release compound took a long time to wear off, the first 40 miles or so was like driving on sheet ice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV1oi2FSskE
Great run out to the Breakfast Club at Shelsley Walsh yesterday, this is a car that is just as happy ambling along at 55-60 as it is being thrashed.
Increasingly going out without a helmet unless fast A roads and motorways are going to be used, certainly no less comfortable, the Carbon NV aeroscreen whips the air up very well so full frontal buffeting is actually kept to reasonable levels.
Despite many SEiGHT owners saying that both oil and water temps can get pretty high the custom radiator and dry sump system is really keep things under control, oil temp rarely gets in to the 90's and water temp is usually below 80 degrees - heat soak at low speed in to the footwells is another matter entirely and may become the winter project.
Great collection of cars at Shelsley this morning, particular favourites of mine being a Guards Red 964, lovely patina of age, clearly loved AND used and an Alfa F12 van - first time I have ever seen one
Edited by Andy665 on Monday 9th July 15:31
Edited by Andy665 on Monday 9th July 15:32
Edited by Andy665 on Monday 9th July 15:33
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