Oops, here we go again...

[KS]

Just pulled the trigger on this: very nicely built Westfield SEi (ie, narrow body with independent rear), 1600 Crossflow with twin 40DCOE Webers, Type 9 Ford five speed. Freshly rebuilt motor, rewired, new wheel and tyres, gauges etc. Full wet weather gear (ie, you get wet when you use it...). For sale on my doorstep - well, 90 minutes away. A lot of fun for £5250. Yes, I still have the Cayman, but my Audi A6 Avant TDI will soon be appearing here for sale!

Pure coincidence that the colour almost matches that of the departed 'El Chucho'! Just need to add some silver stripes...

I blame it on Mitch - he let me drive his lightweight Caterham, which Sarah memorably dismissed with the word "Next?". I had driven a Caterham with 1600 X-Flow and DCOEs out to Paris and back in the 1990s, and swore I'd get one (or similar) one day. Caterhams are strong price-wise, but you can pick up a well-built Westfield for roughly 50 per cent. They hold their value, too. Bad ones don't...

Well, it's my birthday on Tuesday, so I needed to spoil myself, right?

[hot66]

.. could tell when speaking to you at CLM a 'caterfield' was deffo going to happen . Thats not a car for the shy

[KS]

[Lightweight_911]

Everybody should own a 'Seven' - whether it be a Lotus, a Caterham or a Westfield - at some time.

All of the clichés - 'like a 4-wheeled motorbike', 'the closest you'll get to driving a racing car on the road' etc are all true ...

[KS]

I knew you'd understand - but I am envious of yours!

[Bootsy]

[911hillclimber]

You will enter a hillclimb next with that!
I know several who have/had Locaterfields, mild to wild, and they all have a big grin.

Schoolboy dream car for me, never driven one but was once driven round a spring course in one by someone who can Drive.

Breathtaking.

MY wife has said NO.

[964RS]

Nice keith, would love something similar

Enjoy what is left of the dry summer!

[Sam]

My first ever sports car was an 89 SE with a 1700 xflow on 40s. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I did. I still occasionally wear my WSCC sun hat. Though never in polite company.

Put some 13s on it. It will transform the ride and steering. I liked mine on 185/60 13s, it made it feel all up on its toes and ready to play. They feel a bit too planted and heavy on big wheels.

[hot66]

I gather the lower horsepower cars are more fun than the Real quick ones ?

[Lightweight_911]

.

I think so - 100-120 bhp & narrow wheels/tyres means that you can have a lot of fun at realistic speeds on public roads …

.

[Sam]

Agreed.

And famously, when Hyperion bossed Caterham racing in the 90s, the R400s were just as quick over a lap as the R500s, despite a whole hundred extra Rs.

Also I prefer a 7 with an iron engine. Sharper turn in then easier to steer on the throttle. The lighter engined cars - K series, 4AGE etc - look better on paper but a bit of weight up front is a nice thing if you like it loose and lively.

[KS]

Quick visit to my friend's rolling road netted 98.4bhp at the wheels, or around 120bhp at the flywheel. OK for a 1600 in a car that weighs nothing.

Video to capture that Weber music...

https://www.facebook.com/keith.seume/vi ... 310059768/

Now to change the wheels and tyres – bought some 13in Minilites, to be shod with 185/70s...

[hot66]

That sound pretty cool

[KS]

Next stage.. swap the modern 16in wheels and 205/45 tyres for 6x13 Minilites with 185/70s... Completely transforms the looks (for the better, I think). Handling feels sharper, too, with much better turn in.