Westfield SEi / SEiW History
History
After a legal settlement with Caterham Cars in the late 1980s over Lotus Seven styling rights, Westfield evolved the SE into a distinct design with independent rear suspension and a double-wishbone setup, badged SEi. The settlement compelled Westfield to depart further from the original Seven silhouette, which ultimately produced a car with better handling than its litigious rival.
The SEiW ('Wide') variant added several centimetres to the cockpit and engine bay without changing the minimalist footprint, substantially improving habitability for taller drivers. Both narrow and wide variants accepted a broad range of Ford and Rover four-cylinder engines and became the platform on which the performance SEight and Megabusa derivatives were grafted.
At its peak the SEi family accounted for approximately 450 chassis per year. Production continued under the Westfield Chesil Ltd custodianship after the 2022 rescue until that entity also entered administration in April 2026.
Generations
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SE
Post-XI Seven-inspired roadster; dropped 'Seven' from the name; live-axle rear. (Sources vary on the exact SE-to-SEi changeover; the restyled SE and independent-rear SEi both emerged around 1988–1991.)
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SEi / SEiW · SEi Wide-body era
Independent rear suspension, double wishbones; Wide variant adds cockpit room; platform for SEight and Megabusa.
Body styles
- Roadster
Related models