Another Fauxari

TOMGREEN413 said:
The only kit car I've owned was a Westfield X1 LE MANS, I absolutely loved it, it was build as a track car but road legal had hand-built alloy body and a rose jointed suspension set up, dry sumped lotus twin cam big valve engine with twin webber, quaif racing box , it was an absolute blast and extremely quick up to about 70 mph, only drove it on the motorway a few times as it was quite scary having lorries n coaches going past with your eye line at their hub cap levels.........it was very much done as a replica of the team lotus cars that raced in the 1955 Le Mans , l was just 19 at the time and every road trip was an adventure. The only thing that caused me issues was the small 10 litre race fuel tank that had no fuel level indicator, l used to carry a fuel can for the odd occasion l ran out of fuel and to help l made myself a little alloy dip stick to get an idea on fuel levels. I shall have a dig around and try n find some pictures. Unfortunately l had to sell it when l moved to New Zealand, l always wondered what happened to it? But as you know l still have a love for Lotus.....the Exige isn't quite a extreme as the XI and has the luxury of a roof, wipers, windows and fuel gauge!!!! The Xl in a rain storm had such good aero (as long as you were going over 40 mph ) that you stayed dry :)
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Interesting that you went from a Westfield to a Lotus. I did the same. Mine was an SEiW that I owned for over 20 years. It replaced a very similar Westfield that met its untimely demise against a crash barrier, a lamp post, then another crash barrier. Fortunately, I was able to walk away.
I stopped driving my Westfield on the road after I was very nearly hit from behind when stopped in traffic. The rear crumple zone that doubled as a fuel tank didn’t inspire much confidence.
I always wanted an XI. The XI was Midget-based IIRC?
 
RMB said:
@TOMGREEN413 I’ve just used a vehicle smart search to look up the registration, but no details found. I could be on a private plate if still around.
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Yes , the l looked as well, l think it would definitely look more legit with a age related plate, something l never go around to doing, l sold it over 25 years ago so who knows what became of it.
 
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BMWZ4MC said:
Interesting that you went from a Westfield to a Lotus. I did the same. Mine was an SEiW that I owned for over 20 years. It replaced a very similar Westfield that met its untimely demise against a crash barrier, a lamp post, then another crash barrier. Fortunately, I was able to walk away.
I stopped driving my Westfield on the road after I was very nearly hit from behind when stopped in traffic. The rear crumple zone that doubled as a fuel tank didn’t inspire much confidence.
I always wanted an XI. The XI was Midget-based IIRC?
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Mine was built on a tubular chassis and had full lotus running gear, l think it may have had a couple of bits from a Midget but although it was a Westfield it really didn't have much from the original kit. It's funny as l bought it for about 12k in around 1992 ish and yet today you could actually pick one up for not a lot more.......as you say......as a teenager l never considered my mortality and when l think about it the secondary spare fuel tank made of alloy was in the sill next to my legs, also no side impact protection and only a roll over hoop under the fin........deadly contraption but it looks incredible and sounded epic......
 
Zed Baron said:
I've mentioned before my best mate at the age of 18 deciding to build an MGB roadster with a V8 engine. He purchased a donor car and an ex police SD1 V8, invested in a new MG heritage shell and off he went, his previous technical ability like myself was making wooden spatulas and toy planes at school! The police car was stripped of the engine and brakes, and then sent off to Oselli for an overhaul, the engine was finally built in his bedroom and it took three of us to manhandle it down the stairs when completed! Slowly over the next months he put it together in a small lockup garage, learning skills as he went along like welding engine mounts etc. Luckily most MG parts were still available and with constant trips to pick things up the car was completed and professionally painted in tartan red and could it shift! Sitting in the passenger seat as this thing flew along remind me of the wooden spatulas and my constant fear of what would happen if the car started coming apart (there was a socket set and a hammer in the boot just incase it was needed!). He went to a few shows in it, and it languished in a garage for about 10 years before selling it as other thing took over his life, his only regret... he should have done a Cobra!
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Haha "built it in his bedroom" 🤣🤣 great story that's brilliant lol
 
TOMGREEN413 said:
Mine was built on a tubular chassis and had full lotus running gear, l think it may have had a couple of bits from a Midget but although it was a Westfield it really didn't have much from the original kit. It's funny as l bought it for about 12k in around 1992 ish and yet today you could actually pick one up for not a lot more.......as you say......as a teenager l never considered my mortality and when l think about it the secondary spare fuel tank made of alloy was in the sill next to my legs, also no side impact protection and only a roll over hoop under the fin........deadly contraption but it looks incredible and sounded epic......
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Sounds fantastic!
They started from around 12k just over a decade later when I paid 7.5k for my Seven.
I did lots of silly things in cars when I was younger, thankfully I always escaped without injury. I’m much more risk-aware now, but I still commute in hectic rush hour traffic in my Exige. Like a biker, I hope people will hear me even if they don’t see me!
 
I'm really tempted with this as a modern version of my Xl but probably won't happen for a little while, even the wife thinks it's epic and doesn't seem upset with the idea of one appearing at some point, it's just finding space as the Exige is a keeper and not going anywhere......the 2 ELEVEN is bonkers but with safety....but keeps with the ethos of no heater,no doors , no aircon, radio or windscreen wipers .....not much to go wrong me thinks !!!
 

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TOMGREEN413 said:
but keeps with the ethos of no heater,no doors , no aircon, radio or windscreen wipers .....not much to go wrong me thinks !!!
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Except you (and your lovely wife) would need to wear helmets every trip. A bumble bee hitting you in the head at 70mph will need surgery to remove. Ask me how I know!

Part of reason I don't have a bike anymore is the helmet need. I find them uncomfortable and claustrophobic.
 
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