My Westfield Roadster build diary...

[J4MES]

Hello. Thought I'd pop back to C&B as I've been MIA for a while...

I recently discussed building a kit car with her indoors (not building it with her, or indoors though, to be clear) and got a green light, which was nice. Having had a Mazda MX-5s and a few (well, four) Eunos Roadsters I thought I'd look for a kit based on the very reliable and now ubiquitous little car...

I narrowed down the choces to the Roadrunner SR2 and Westfield SE, the former being a newer and more motorsport inspired take on the Lotus 7, the latter being a well established and popular Kit Car...

Roadrunner:


Westfield:


The costs of both seemed comparable, but the Westfield following (and so support network) and residuals, which I assume to be greater, seemed good reasons to go down that route.

Only a few days after discussing the project, I was chatting with a colleage who told me his girlfriend had recently smashed up her 1991 Eunos Roadster which was on her drive and would she take £250 and when can I pick it up!

A few days later I drove home to Putney from Egham in H***CMW (it had a few weeks tax/mot, insurance for the day was £22) only £270 lighter than when I left. Brilliant!

It's now in the garage (pic to follow), so far I've sold a wing and the wing mirrors and made £70 back. Other costs so far are an MX-5 Haynes manual, and £2995 worth of Westfield SDV (single donor vehicle) 'Starter Kit' - basically the chassis, suspension components and body. I was fortunate enough to put my deposit down during their August 10% sale, the savings of which I spent on getting the chassis powdercoated, the suspension bushes fitted, and the optional detachable rear arches...

I pick up the Kit in a month, more to follow...

[Zak33]

more to follow is now awaited with excitement

[DanceswithUnix]

Well done that man!

I imagine it will be a very long month

[J4MES]

Sorry all, this is a bit of a pants thread at the mo... No pictures of my own and very little progress. Ah well. By means of a brief update, I've started to strip the Mazda back, sold both wings and some lights/interior bits and made back £175; further costs include WSCC membership at £25, £199 for a nearly new pair of Westfield seats (they're £256.81 each new) and £0 for a dymo labeller borrowed from work, for marking up the loom. I still need some carpet for the garage floor, a garage door seal, inspection lamp(s) and some axle/chassis stands (which I make make out of a palet)... Hopefully I'll have time this week to spend some time in the garage putting up shelves. Deep joy.

[chris_argyle]

I'm very jealous! Sounds a fantastic project!

[chuckskull]

Very nice, will be watching. Good luck.