I had a Westfield. I bought over a Caterham because it was less money
and I got what I paid for: a poorly engineered copy of a Lotus. Just
like repro parts on any other car, everything was close but not quite 100%.
There were design problems with their pedal box which if left alone
could have been deadly. I had problems with the suspension bushings and
the sway bar mountings. Also the front suspension geometry was off and
due to the design of other parts and aluminum body panels couldn't
practically be corrected.
Westfield totally ignored any and all contact from me and their
Connecticut "dealer" didn't know as much about the car as I did.
The car was fun to drive and a nightmare to own only because there was
zero support from Westfield. I was totally on my own and the fact that
Westfield would never respond to any contact from me, was insulting.
Someday I hope to own another 7 and next time it will be a Caterham.
There are very few replica cars that hold any of their original value.
Caterhams do. I would imagine some of the better Cobra re-creations do
as well as some of the Lynx Jaguars, and I understand some of the
recognized Porsche spyders do as well. But getting involved with one of
these illegitimate "children" is risky business in my opinion.
For example, about 12 months ago someone on Long Island had a Westfield
Eleven for sale which looked like a decently built car but couldn't sell
it. I believe he was asking $12,000 or $14,000.
My Westfield was exciting to drive, and I scared many a passenger. It
had beautifully polished aluminum body panels with Bugeye dark green
fenders. Supposedly, their newer offerings are better sorted which is
meaningless to me. You buy one of these and sink money into them at your
own risk and financial loss. They aren't a recognized car and their
appeal is very narrow. A Westfield 7 is not a Caterham and it is not a
Lotus 7. Period. And a Westfield Eleven is just that. It is not a Lotus
Eleven.
The most exciting experience I had with the car, was seeing that piece
of crap exit the driveway on the new owner's trailer.
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BTW, that car on ebay that sparked this whole thread (AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH)
wasn't even a kit. It was a home-built car from the book by Ron
Champion
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1859606369/qid=1124162893/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-1138885-1280728?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
The book was published in 1996. At that time he claimed you could build
a 7-based car for under $500. You be the judge.
jay fishbein
wallingford, ct <http://home.ix.netcom.com/%7Etype79/>
http://home.ix.netcom.com/~type79/ <http://home.ix.netcom.com/%7Etype79/>
"Why can't I be different and unusual...like everybody else?" Vivian
Stanshall
RBHouston@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 10/13/2006 12:35:17 PM Mountain Standard Time,
> type79@ix.netcom.com writes:
>
> Speaking from experience, you don't want a Lotus-inspired kit-car.
>
> Jay, I assume your bad experience was a while back...how about sharing
> the story?
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