1998 Westfield SEight 4.4 litre V8

Highlights

• JE Developments performance V8 tuned by John Eales

• Just 4,512 miles on the clock

• Finished in stunning BMW Le Mans Blue

• Redesigned cooling system by Mulfab

• Dyno-tested at 323 bhp and 300 lb ft

Overview

Distillation is an interesting process. It concentrates and purifies, evaporating all the needless guff until you’re left with the essential, core ingredients.

Usually this process is used to turn humble grain into something more laudable, like whisky. But were it possible to take a Caterham, a TVR and an AC Cobra, distill them down to their essential ingredients and marvel at the outcome, we reckon it would be something like this Westfield SEight.

Known for their Caterham-style cars, available factory built or in kit form, Westfield have long had a reputation for creating blisteringly quick, fine handling sports cars. Usually powered by a 2-litre Zetec or similar, these lightweight machines make for superb track machines or fun weekend rides.

Of course, they also make the V8 model, which benefits from the compact Rover V8s deep reserves of torque and power to make for a more muscular, visceral driving experience. Over the years, JE Developments in particular have gained a reputation for refining the Rover V8, carefully enhancing and improving it to create something rawer, more powerful and much more focussed. Something more distilled, if you will.

This particular Westfield SEight, as well as benefiting from some well-chosen aesthetic enhancements, also has at its heart a thumping great JE Developments V8. Pushing 323 bhp and 300 lb ft to the rear wheels, it makes this SEight a head-turning giant-slayer and a proper track monster. With low mileage and a very comprehensive history file, detailing every step of the car’s journey and development, you can also have confidence that it’s been built, serviced and maintained to the highest standards, with no expense spared. In fact, around £50,000 is said to have been spent in getting the car to that lovely state it’s now presented in, with a spreadsheet itemising where it's all gone.

Part muscle car, part racecar and just a little bit unhinged, if the standard Westfield is like a warming Islay whisky, then this is 90-proof moonshine. Bonkers, yes; but it makes for one hell of a party.

History and documentation

• First registered on 10 November 1998

• Owned by the current keeper since June 2021

• Extensive history folder with maintenance and servicing invoices, as well as a Westfield parts catalogue

• Original order sheet and delivery letters from Westfield

• Approximately £50,000 spent on building the car

• Previous owner fitted the current JE Developments V8 in 2015/16

• 4,512 miles on the clock, though this may increase a little prior to handover (should remain below 4,750)

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 30 April 2026

• Full pre-sale health check by Aeon Sports Cars in February 2025

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• Cherished registration ‘A4LVB’ (a 4L V8) is included in the sale

• The seller reports that he had the car weighed and it registered 742kg with 3/4 tank of fuel

• Numerous spares available separately by negotiation – see below for details

Interior

• Lovely two-tone black and blue leather sports seats, presented in fine overall condition

• The seats are more padded and comfortable than the standard ones, and were fitted in 2015/16

• The previous owner also fitted new side panels, Westfield-branded carpets, padded leather to the transmission tunnel and new back panels

• A 7-in-1 fire extinguisher is mounted between the seats and is finished in chrome to match the exterior

• Blue Willans four-point racing harnesses with shoulder pads

• Momo steering wheel and boss

• Quad lock phone mount, colour matched to the car in blue, and super-fast USB charger that supports PD, meaning that you can charge a laptop from it

• Gear lever with billet aluminium knob

• A bank of RaceTech gauges has been fitted, showing oil temperature, coolant temperature, oil pressure, fuel level, engine revs and road speed

• Starter button and battery cut-out fitted

• Davies Craig electronic water pump and fan control module

• Chrome rollover bar

• New rear view mirror from Westfield

• All of the internal trim and switchgear looks to be in good order, with some light wear and patination

• At the rear there is a small boot space, trimmed with black carpet, and with enough room for a couple of soft overnight bags

• The vendor tells us that everything in the cabin works just as it should, with no known faults or issues

Exterior

• Originally supplied from the factory in yellow

• Fully resprayed by previous owner in BMW Le Mans Blue

• The paintwork looks to be in very good order, with a deep gloss

• We noted a few minor blemishes and stone chips, as well as a little of the usual ‘road rash’ on the rear arches, but overall the paint presents very well

• The bodywork itself (GRP) looks to be in great condition, with no cracking, warping or damage we could discern on any of the panels

• There's numerous carbon details on the car, with carbon wing mirrors, cycle wings, tail light surrounds, rear numberplate surround, numberplates, door sills, and foot sills

• Dominator LED headlamps, brake units, fog and reverse lights fitted

• New LEDPerf Audi-style Dynamic Front Turn lights

• Alloy windscreen surround

• Aero style rear fuel filler

• Genuine ‘SEight’ chassis with reinforced fillet bracing

• Any underside corrosion has been dealt with according to the vendor, and the tubular chassis looks to be in excellent condition, with a few spots of surface corrosion on some of the suspension components

• Image Wheels 16-inch ‘RM2’ alloys with graphite centres, polished barrels and lips – all appear to be in excellent condition, with no kerb damage or lacquer peel apparent

• Full matched set of Toyo Proxes R888R tyres (205/45 all round), which look to be in fine condition, with good tread depth and no sidewall damage on show

Mechanical

• 4,420cc Rover V8, prepared and tuned by JE Developments

• Rear-wheel drive

• LT77 5-speed manual gearbox

• Limited slip differential

• 48mm down-draught Dellorto carburettors

• 234 cam with Vernier timing gear and high rev lifters

• Compression ratio is 10.1:1

• 44mm inlet valves with a 38mm exhaust

• Colour-coded rocker covers, coolant hoses and ignition wires

• ITG air cleaners

• Mulfab redesigned front -end cooling system with: larger 48mm core performance radiator with high Performance coolant, Davies Craig electronic water pump and 14-inch high power fan, bespoke oil/coolant heat exchanger with custom pipework (all at a cost of around £2,000)

• Produced 323bhp and 300 lb ft on JE Developments dyno as a fresh build (data sheet included) - said to have loosened up now it’s run in, and performs exceptionally well

• High ratio steering rack, great for tighter roads

• Upgraded front brakes to Hi-Spec 4-pot calipers with vented and grooved discs, uprated hoses and Mintex pads

• AP Racing Green clutch plate, cover and new release bearing

• Fred Davis of Tracksport built fully rose-jointed, wide track wishbones

• Twin side-exit Tech-Craft stainless steel exhausts

• Stainless steel 4-into-1 exhaust manifolds

• In February 2025, Aeon Sports Cars were commissioned to give the car a pre-sale health check, the work undertaken included pulling the engine out to fit new clutch gear and adjust it, carburettor set-up, new spark plugs as recommended by JE, fresh coolant, a new lightweight Odyssey racing battery and a full 4-wheel alignment with corner weighting

• The vendor tells us they have only ever used Valvoline VR1 Racing 20W-50 oil

• Other parts fitted during the current owner's tenure include a chromed super-quiet Holley billet fuel pump with AN fittings, Aeromotive billet in line high flow fuel filter, Deutch connectors, a Megaflow JC50 air filter, a new Westfield master cylinder, Filter King V8 high flow pressure regulator, Mocal Oil filter relocation kit, bracket, takeoff plate, and oil lines

• We’re assured that the car starts, runs and drives just as it should, with no mechanical issues that the vendor is aware of

List of extra loose parts also available by negotiation:

• Brand new sealed 2x chrome exhaust covers (dotted holes)

• Brand new sealed SoftBits half hood

• Brand new sealed Westfield gear knob

• Door side screens and wind deflectors

• SoftBits Tunnel Bag (touring version)

• Screen channel

• Cycle wings in BMW Le Mans Blue

• Rear wheel/tyre holder

• Rear open differential

• Racetech oil pressure gauge

• 4x shocks

• Front brake calipers

• Fuel pressure regulator

• BMW paint touch up kit

• Filler cap

• Roll bar

• 5x Team Dynamics wheels in BMW Carbon Black

• Front lower and upper wishbones

• Leather style arm rests

• SPAL high power fan

• Valvoline VR1 Racing 20W-50 oil

• Various light fittings

Summary

Lord Byron was once described as “mad, bad and dangerous to know”, which makes us think that he’d have loved this Westfield SEight.

Mad? Certainly – it’s rocking a filthy great, performance-tuned V8 and weighs only slightly more than your average supermodel. Bad? Not in the traditional sense, as it’s beautifully finished, engineered and presented. However, it is definitely a complete badass of a machine, rumbling and barking away like the hybrid offspring of a NASCAR racer and a particularly angry rhino. One that’s had chilli rubbed in its eyes.

And as for “dangerous to know”? Well we have the feeling that intimate association with this particular machine may well be dangerous for your weekends. Every dry Saturday and Sunday will probably be spent whizzing around circuits, steering with your right foot while whooping in delight, or bombing down country lanes in a glorious riot of noise and adrenaline. Precisely as it should be.

You already know if a Westfield is the kind of car you fancy parking in your garage. And if you want a Westfield, then you want a V8.

Mad, bad and dangerous to know, but all the better for it.

Non-concierge cars: To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Croydon, South London.