2008 Westfield XI Jubilee

There are kit cars and there are kit cars.

More specifically there are kit cars, and there are replica cars that are properly engineered but just happen to be designed to be built at home – and just in case you think you’re getting the hang of how complicated the scene can be, there are also properly engineered replica cars that are then professionally built by the same folk who designed them, like the Westfield XI you are looking at here.

Because ‘RVP 987G’ was built by Westfield in 2008. Number twenty-five of only twenty-five ‘Jubilee’ cars ever built, at its core lies fully refurbished components from a 1968 MG Midget and a rebuilt 1275cc A-Series engine.

Still in the hands of its one and only owner, he bought it because a friend of his had one and driving it was a eureka moment: he’d found the antidote to the modern-day electronic nannying he was finding so frustrating in his daily drivers.

And he’s loved every single moment of the 17 years it’s been in his life. MoT’d until June 2025 and last serviced in August 2022 at 3,262 miles, it’s covered only a couple of hundred miles since being fettled.

Only for sale because he just isn’t using it anymore, this is your passport to the life gladiators like Stirling Moss enjoyed at legendary circuits like Le Mans, Sebring, and Monza in the 1950s.

Utterly distinctive, the Westfield XI has a presence that far outweighs its diminutive size. With a shape that looks like a sheet has been laid over its mechanical components, it proves the engineering adage that if it looks right then it probably is.

And make no mistake, it does look right. Yes, there are a few cracks and imperfections in the finish but these are entirely in keeping with the car’s age and in no way detract from the impression it makes.

The bulk of the bodywork is green, which shines very nicely and has a good finish to it. Details, including the pinstripes, are in yellow, giving a classic colour scheme for a classic shape.

A large part of the yellow colour scheme are the 13-inch wheels. Largely hidden from view, especially at the rear, they’re iconic alloy Minilite-style jobbies from Image.

As you can see, they’re in great shape but then the combination of so few miles, a track-focused chassis, and hefty (by modern standards) sidewalls means they haven’t had to negotiate high kerbs and tight parking spaces on a daily basis.

The tyres are 165/70R13 Toyo 350s, and given they’ve covered so few miles, they’d still have oodles of life left in them if they weren’t 18 years old.

Best budget for a new set then, not that this will be too much of a chore because there are few more satisfying ways to spend money than on a full set of tyres – and that’s without factoring in the hours of fun you’ll have deciding which ones to get.

Racing roundels add further drama, as do high-level rearview and door mirrors, faired-in headlamps, the immense roll cage, a smattering of quarter-turn fasteners, black leather panel straps (one for the bonnet and two for the rear body), an LED rear fog light, and the stainless-steel side-exit exhaust system.

Plus, of course, the single red headrest on the D Type-esque aerodynamic tailfin.

As for glazing, there isn’t any. Just an aero screen that wraps around the doors – and as that’s fastened on with rivets, we’re going to have to take a moment to compose ourselves.

There’s no roof either, just a natty red leather tonneau cover that’ll give you enough protection in bad weather for you to be able to smoke around in the rain and snow like a bad ass.

And have you seen the way the doors open? We’ll come to the price later but suffice it to say we don’t think you could buy a cooler car for twice the budget.

The interior might be as spartan as the original it is based on but what there is is simply fabulous.

The steering wheel, for example, is a simple design comprising three alloy spokes with the two-piece wooden rim being riveted on.

The red leather seats are low-backed and slim, and the combination of a tight cockpit and deep side bolsters keep you firmly snugged in no matter what sort of high-G jinks the driver initiates, aided and abetted by proper racing harnesses.

The gearknob, which is a heavy chunk of chromed metal, sits on top of a tiny gearlever. A rev counter, along with instruments for fuel level, oil pressure, and coolant temperature, take pride of place in front of the driver. The rearview mirror sits above the top of the aeroscreen.

And it’s all in a very good condition, as you can see.

Not that it’s been left standard. The seller clearly subscribes to the theory that period safety equipment can lead to period accident injuries, so he’s splashed out on a custom roll cage. A one-off designed, built, and installed by Davron in August 2012, the final bill ran to 23-hours of labour alone, but it looks a neat and strong job. It can also be unbolted fairly easily if you prefer the streamlined look, need to carry a passenger, or have the need to drive under car-park barriers.

As for flaws, the leather dashboard trim has come adrift along the bottom edge on the nearside and a section of the padding on the rollcage is tatty.

That’s it.

The tiny A-Series engine sits well back in the chassis, creating what is almost a front-mid-engined car. Nicely presented, it’s neat and workmanlike without being prissy – but then you’d rather spend your precious free time driving it than polishing it, eh?

Breathing through a K&N air filter and Weber carburettor, it’s got a lovely rasp to it as well as a simply magnificent exhaust note: has 65bhp ever sounded better?

And that power output might not read well on paper but it’s plenty in the real world; the seller used it for gentle track days at classic circuits like Goodwood (“I have a self-imposed 5,500 rev limit”) and says that “it feels much faster than it is”. Its “faithful chassis” means you always know what it’s going to do – and unlike modern cars with their overly intrusive traction control and anti-lock braking systems, the Westfield will do exactly what you tell it to, when you tell it to.

Not that’s a slouch: Westfield claim the XI will reach 120mph after passing 62mph in 8.5 seconds, thanks to that sub-500kg weight and 72 lb.ft of torque.

And this one also builds good oil pressure, as you can see in the video.

The underside is ridiculously clean, but then you’d guessed that by now, hadn’t you?

The Westfield also comes with a well-tailored and snug-fitting indoor car cover to keep the dust off when you’re not driving it.

The Westfield’s MoT certificate, which is valid until June 2025, was issued with no advisories, just like the majority of the ones that came before.

The online MoT record also shows the mileage creeping up slowly over the years, giving further credence to the odometer’s reading.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and as for paperwork, the low mileage means there really isn’t much of it because the car hasn’t needed much doing to it.

Peter Egan, the legendary motoring journalist, built a Westfield XI for Road and Track – and embarked on a 5,000-mile road trip the day afterwards.

He wrote: “How does the car work? Just fine, thank you. It's quick, light, fun to drive, and handles so well you can't believe the suspension was designed nearly 30 years ago. (But then the man who designed it was good at this sort of thing.) Suffice it to say that when the sun is just rising on a Sunday morning and you just happen to own a cap and a pair of goggles, the Westfield is not a bad thing to have lurking in your garage.”

And how much will it cost to have this fine example of an iconic sportscar lurking in your garage?

We estimate it’ll be somewhere between £10,000 and £15,000, and that’s a ridiculously small sum to pay for a car like this, even factoring in the need for new tyres and a service.

NB: If you want to know more about its performance and handling, search YouTube for “Technic 550 Spyder vs Westfield 11” and enjoy seven and a half minutes of Tiff Needell and Jason Plato battling it out.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.