When I had Z Cars build my new rear trailing arms Chris did say he could knock up an engine frame to take K Series, Honda Vtec, Volvo Turbo using different engine mounts. I informed Paul at Westfield of my plans and Chris's suggestion. He really wasn't interested.

I recon Z Cars could develop an engine frame/ trailing arms with ford brakes etc and re-do the front wishbones to take the Westfield uprights etc for around £5000 based on what I paid. The rest of the donor bits surely wouldn't take that much effort to replace with something more current.

The major problem I think is the cost in making the monocoque. There is only one mold for the Libra, Spyder, V6 and it takes a week or so to make.

There was some serious talk of a third party being asked to make a spaceframe to hang unstressed panels off. What has happened to this idea I do not know.

Westfield's reasons don't really stack up - whilst the Libra is largely based on Rover parts these are still available from China. There are one or two bits that might be difficult to get hold of but you deal with these on an as and when basis.

The one thing that GTM were good at in the Paddy and Peter days is gel coat and GRP - just look at the quality of the Coupe I've just bought and it's 26 years old! (OK so it's been looked after).

When I built my Libra that was really good quality and that comes with attention to detail. Westfield simply do not have that passion in my opinion and just want to sell a collection of components most of which are either off the shelf or outsourced. You simply can not do that with the GRP on the Libra.

I was with Jeremy Philips the other day and he still hand build all the chassis for his kits, in his words "you can not outsource such a critical component as it is the backbone of your product and reputation". I'm sure Westfield will design a new GTM but it will be based on a steel spaceframe with unstressed GRP probably similar to the 5exi.

And there, very much, is the point.
It won't be a GTM, far from it.
Pete Beck and Paddy Fitch evolved their cars in a way that was always true to the marque. Potenza simply want another car, a 2 seat coupe, on which they can maximize profit.

Will the mighty Westfield employ a designer for it's new car?? We'll see.

Westfield's Libra replacement?

Sorry, last post didn't work.

See the images of the possible new design here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topi ... %202008-10

http://thumbsnap.com/v/d9JwNEN0.jpg

Malcolm Ball picked-up on this in a previous thread.

Some interesting stuff there but I think I'd call Richard Oakes -- as the virtual 3rd partner in GTM he understands the brand.

Web site is now missing - but no holding page.... Very odd