Westfield Sportscars
British manufacturer of lightweight, hand-built and kit sports cars inspired by the Lotus Seven.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Westfield Sportscars was a British specialist sports-car manufacturer established by Chris Smith in 1982. The company became known primarily for lightweight, open-top two-seat cars derived in concept from the Lotus Seven: minimalist vehicles designed to emphasize low mass, direct handling and an intense driving experience rather than luxury or practicality. Westfield sold both self-assembly kits and factory-built cars, allowing customers to choose among different engines, transmissions, donor components and levels of completion. Westfield emerged as a rival to Caterham after Caterham acquired the rights to continue production of the Lotus Seven. Its early cars shared the broad visual language and basic purpose of the Seven, which led to a legal dispute with Caterham over industrial design rights in the late 1980s. The dispute was settled out of court, after which Westfield revised and developed its designs. Although the two brands remained visually related, their engineering approaches differed. Westfield made extensive use of glass-fibre bodywork, following a material tradition associated with several Lotus road cars, while Caterham generally retained an aluminium-bodied construction. Westfield also developed wider chassis designs and independent rear suspension systems, features that helped distinguish its cars from earlier Seven-style layouts and influenced the wider specialist-kit-car sector. The company’s range included the SE and SEi families, wider SEiW variants, performance-oriented models such as the SEiGHT, and a succession of factory or near-factory sports cars. Some versions used Ford Sierra donor parts, while the SEi Mazda derivative used components from the Mazda MX-5. Westfield also offered high-performance engine packages, including the Honda S2000 engine and gearbox in the MegaS2000. Other notable models included the Megablade, Megabusa, Megabird, Sport, Sport Turbo, XTR2, XTR4, FW400 and XI. The XTR2 gained particular public attention after appearing on the BBC television programme Top Gear, where it set a notably rapid lap time in the programme’s first series. Westfield expanded beyond conventional petrol-powered kit cars during the 2000s. In December 2006 it became part of Potenza Sports Cars, and GTM Cars later joined the same group. In June 2009, Westfield became the first niche vehicle manufacturer to receive European Small Series Production Status for its Sport Turbo model, a regulatory milestone that supported production of a road-legal, low-volume vehicle. The company subsequently developed the iRacer, an all-electric racing vehicle, and a hybrid version of the Sport Turbo. In 2019, Westfield Sportscars acquired Chesil Motor Company, a specialist associated with Porsche 356-inspired vehicles. Westfield entered administration in June 2022 and ceased trading. In September 2022, the business and associated assets were bought out of insolvency by Westfield Chesil Ltd., which relocated operations from Kingswinford to Bicester. The subsequent corporate status of the brand is uncertain; reference material reports that Westfield Chesil Ltd. entered administration in April 2026. Westfield is therefore best understood as a historically significant British specialist and kit-car marque whose legacy rests on lightweight sports cars, customer-built configurations and engineering experimentation.
History
Westfield Sportscars was founded by Chris Smith in 1982 as a British specialist manufacturer of lightweight sports cars and self-build kits. Its central concept was a modern interpretation of the Lotus Seven: a small, open two-seater with minimal equipment, low weight and an emphasis on acceleration, cornering and driver involvement. Westfield supplied both kits for private assembly and completed or partially completed vehicles. The company’s origins were closely connected with the post-Lotus Seven specialist-car market. After Caterham Cars obtained the rights from Lotus Cars to continue producing the Seven, Westfield developed cars with a similar overall silhouette and purpose. Caterham threatened legal action in the late 1980s on industrial-design grounds. The dispute was settled outside court, and Westfield subsequently changed and refined its designs. The resulting cars retained the general Seven formula but differed in important construction and engineering details. Westfield favored glass-fibre bodywork, contrasting with Caterham’s characteristic aluminium construction, and pursued wider chassis designs and independent rear suspension. Westfield’s engineering programme broadened the brand beyond a single basic kit. The SE and SEi families formed the core of the range, while SEiW and SEiGHT variants provided wider or more powerful alternatives. Donor-based versions used components from vehicles such as the Ford Sierra and Mazda MX-5. The company also developed high-performance combinations including the MegaS2000, which used a Honda S2000 engine and gearbox. Other cars and derivatives included the Megablade, Megabusa, Megabird, Sport, Sport 2000, Sport 220, Sport 250, FW400, XI, XTR2 and XTR4. The XTR2 helped raise Westfield’s profile outside the kit-car community. During the first series of the BBC programme Top Gear, an XTR2 driven by the black Stig recorded a faster lap than the series’ previous benchmark, a Pagani Zonda. The car’s performance illustrated the benefits of Westfield’s low-mass design philosophy, while also reinforcing the brand’s association with track driving and extreme performance. Westfield became part of Potenza Sports Cars in December 2006. GTM Cars was subsequently reported as joining Potenza in December 2007. During this period Westfield continued to develop low-volume production vehicles and specialist derivatives. In June 2009, the company became the first niche vehicle manufacturer to receive European Small Series Production Status, with the Sport Turbo cited in connection with the approval. This was significant because it provided a regulatory route for limited-volume production outside the mainstream automotive industry. The company later explored alternative propulsion. It produced the iRacer, an all-electric racing vehicle, and developed a hybrid version of the Sport Turbo. These projects extended Westfield’s identity from traditional donor-based kit cars into experimental low-volume performance vehicles, although the brand remained best known for its lightweight petrol-powered sports cars. In 2019, Westfield acquired Chesil Motor Company, adding another specialist vehicle business to its portfolio. Westfield subsequently entered administration in June 2022 and ceased trading. In September of the same year, Westfield Chesil Ltd. bought the business out of insolvency and relocated operations from Kingswinford in the West Midlands to Bicester. Reference material further reports that Westfield Chesil Ltd. entered administration in April 2026. Because the later corporate structure and trading position are not fully established in the supplied material, the continuity of the brand after that event requires review.
- 2022
Enters administration
[1]Westfield enters administration in June and ceases trading under its existing structure.
- 2022
Business relocates to Bicester after insolvency sale
[1]Westfield Chesil Ltd. acquires the business out of insolvency in September and moves operations from Kingswinford to Bicester.
- 2019
Acquires Chesil Motor Company
[1]Westfield expands its specialist-vehicle portfolio through the acquisition of Chesil Motor Company.
- 2009
Receives European Small Series Production Status
[1]Westfield becomes the first niche vehicle manufacturer reported to receive European Small Series Production Status, associated with the Sport Turbo.
- 2006
Joins Potenza Sports Cars
[1]Westfield becomes part of Potenza Sports Cars in December.
- 1982
Westfield Sportscars is founded
[1]Chris Smith establishes Westfield Sportscars in the United Kingdom as a specialist producer of lightweight sports-car kits and vehicles.
- 1980
Design dispute with Caterham is settled
[1]A late-1980s dispute concerning the similarity of Westfield and Caterham designs is settled out of court, followed by design changes and further Westfield engineering development.
Products and positioning
A specialist British performance marque centered on lightweight construction, direct handling, customer assembly, mechanical simplicity and track-oriented driving enjoyment.
Lotus Seven-style kit car
SE and SEi
The SE and SEi families formed the heart of Westfield’s range. They followed the lightweight, open-top two-seat formula associated with the Lotus Seven while allowing substantial customer choice in engines, running gear, trim and assembly level. The SEi introduced independent rear suspension, while related wide-chassis and donor-based variants expanded the platform’s road and track applications.
Wide-body kit car
SEiW
The SEiW was a wider-bodied and wider-chassis development of Westfield’s core SEi concept. Its additional width supported broader packaging and a more planted stance while preserving the brand’s emphasis on low weight, open-air driving and customer-selected mechanical components.
High-performance kit car
SEiGHT
The SEiGHT was a performance-oriented Westfield derivative, associated with the company’s practice of combining a lightweight chassis with a larger or more powerful engine. It represented the extreme end of the road-going Seven-style range and was intended for drivers seeking strong straight-line performance alongside the platform’s agile handling.
Factory-built sports car
Sport and Sport Turbo
The Sport family represented Westfield’s move toward more complete, production-oriented sports cars rather than purely self-assembly kits. The Sport Turbo added forced induction and was associated with Westfield’s European Small Series Production Status in 2009. A hybrid version was also developed as part of the company’s alternative-powertrain work.
Performance sports car
MegaS2000
The MegaS2000 paired Westfield’s lightweight sports-car architecture with the Honda S2000 engine and gearbox. The package offered a high-revving performance drivetrain in a substantially lighter vehicle than the donor car, making it especially relevant to Westfield’s road-and-track performance positioning.
Track-focused sports car
XTR2 and XTR4
The XTR models were among Westfield’s most overtly performance-focused vehicles. The XTR2 became particularly recognizable after its appearance on Top Gear, where it demonstrated a lap-time capability beyond the programme’s previous benchmark. The cars emphasized aerodynamic and chassis performance for circuit use while retaining the marque’s low-volume construction approach.
Electric racing vehicle
iRacer
The iRacer was an all-electric racing vehicle developed by Westfield. It extended the company’s lightweight performance philosophy into electric propulsion and demonstrated its interest in low-volume competition and technology projects beyond conventional internal-combustion kit cars.
Racing car
AeroSport and AeroRace
AeroSport and AeroRace were racing-oriented Westfield models. They belonged to the company’s broader competition portfolio, which included cars developed for circuit performance and specialist motorsport use.
Open-top sports car
XI
The XI was one of Westfield’s named sports-car models and formed part of the company’s broader range of open two-seat vehicles. It reflected the brand’s focus on lightweight construction and enthusiast-oriented driving rather than mass-market production.
Brand decisions
2022
Enters administrationOtherBackground
Westfield encountered financial and operational difficulties within its existing corporate structure.
Action taken
The company entered administration in June 2022 and ceased trading.
Aftermath
Westfield Chesil Ltd. bought the business out of insolvency in September and relocated operations to Bicester.
2019
Acquires Chesil Motor CompanyM&ABackground
Westfield sought to broaden its specialist-vehicle activities.
Action taken
Westfield Sportscars acquired Chesil Motor Company.
Aftermath
The transaction connected Westfield with a second specialist marque and later contributed to the Westfield Chesil corporate structure.
2009
Pursues small-series production approvalStrategyBackground
The company sought to expand beyond conventional kit sales into regulated low-volume vehicle production.
Action taken
Westfield obtained European Small Series Production Status in connection with the Sport Turbo.
Aftermath
The approval supported Westfield’s position as a niche vehicle manufacturer and enabled further development of low-volume road vehicles.
2006
Joins Potenza Sports CarsM&ABackground
Westfield operated as a niche manufacturer in a specialist automotive market.
Action taken
The company became part of Potenza Sports Cars in December 2006.
Aftermath
Westfield continued product development within a group that later also included GTM Cars.
1988
Refines designs after Caterham disputeStrategyBackground
Caterham challenged the similarity between its cars and Westfield’s Seven-inspired products on industrial-design grounds.
Action taken
Following an out-of-court settlement, Westfield changed and further developed the design and construction of its cars.
Aftermath
Westfield continued as a distinct competitor, with glass-fibre bodywork, wider chassis concepts and independent rear suspension helping differentiate its products.
- Caterham Cars — Caterham threatened litigation over industrial-design rights; the dispute was ultimately settled outside court.
Recent events
- 2026
Westfield Chesil Ltd. enters administration[1]
Bankruptcy
Reference material reports that Westfield Chesil Ltd. entered administration in April 2026, creating further uncertainty around continuation of the Westfield marque.
- 2022
Westfield enters administration and ceases trading[1]
Bankruptcy
Westfield entered administration in June 2022 and ceased trading under its existing operating structure.
- 2022
Westfield business is acquired from insolvency[1]
M&A · Bankruptcy
Westfield was bought out of insolvency by Westfield Chesil Ltd. in September 2022, with operations relocated from Kingswinford to Bicester.
- 2019
Westfield acquires Chesil Motor Company[1]
M&A
Westfield Sportscars acquired Chesil Motor Company, expanding its specialist-vehicle portfolio beyond its traditional Seven-inspired sports cars.
- 2009
Westfield receives European Small Series Production Status[1]
Regulation · Product launch
Westfield became the first niche vehicle manufacturer to receive European Small Series Production Status, initially in connection with the Sport Turbo.
- 2007
GTM Cars joins Potenza Sports Cars[1]
M&A
GTM Cars was reported to have become part of Potenza Sports Cars in December 2007, following Westfield’s earlier integration into the group.
- 2006
Westfield becomes part of Potenza Sports Cars[1]
M&A
Westfield Sportscars joined Potenza Sports Cars in December 2006, placing the specialist manufacturer within a broader group of niche automotive businesses.
Sources2 sources
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