TVR Vixen

TVR Vixen
Overview
Manufacturer	TVR
Also called	TVR 1300 TVR 2500 TVR Tuscan TVR Tuscan V6
Production	1967–1973
Assembly	Blackpool
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car
Body style	Coupe
Powertrain
Engine	1,599 cc Ford Kent[1] Triumph 2.5L I6 Ford Essex 3.0L V6 Ford Windsor (289 cid or 302 cid)
Transmission	Ford 4-speed all-synchomesh Manual transmission[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase	85.5 in (2,172 mm) (S1)[2] 90 in (2,286 mm)[1]
Length	145 in (3,683 mm)[1]
Width	64 in (1,626 mm)[1]
Height	48 in (1,219 mm)[1]
Curb weight	1,624 lb (737 kg) [1]
Chronology
Predecessor	TVR Grantura
Successor	TVR M Series

The TVR Vixen is a hand-built sports car which was designed and built by TVR in Blackpool, England from 1967 until 1973. Ford-engined in most of its configurations, it succeeded the MGB-engined TVR Grantura 1800S. It also also the basis for high-performance TVR Tuscan in both V6 and V8 configurations.

Design

The body was made of glass fibre, which was fitted to a tubular-frame chassis.^[3] The chassis was the same as that used in the Mk4 1800S, a model which was discontinued just before Vixen production began. The chassis used double wishbone suspension at both ends, and disc brakes at the front (with drums at the back.)^[1] The car was significantly lighter than mainstream competitors such as the MG MGB GT, and offered correspondingly class leading performance and fuel economy.^[1]

Variants

Rear view of Vixen S3

The Vixen Series 1 was introduced in 1967 as an evolution of the discontinued 1800S. Although it used the same chassis as the outgoing car, the significant change was the use of the 1599 cc Ford Kent engine (as found in the Ford Cortina), developing 88 bhp.^[1] The bodywork was also slightly revised, with the bonnet having a broad air intake scoop. The rear of the car with fitted with the round Cortina Mark I tail lamps.^[4]

• Total S1 production: 117

The S2 was built with the longer (90 inch) wheelbase chassis, on which TVR had now standardized to address complaints about difficulty of ingress. The bonnet was restyled again, with some early cars having a prominent central bulge, and later cars having twin intake ducts at the front corners of the bonnet. The tail lamps were updated from the round Cortina Mark I style to the newer wraparound Mark II style. Also very significant was the fact that the body was bolted (rather than bonded) to the chassis, meaning that it could be easily removed for repairs.^[4]

• Total S2 production: 438

The S3 continued to improve the car with a number of detail changes. The heat extraction vents on the bonnet were decorated with "Aeroflow" grilles borrowed from the Ford Zodiac Mark IV,^[4] and the Ford four-cylinder engine was now in the same tune as in the Ford Capri, producing 92 bhp.^[5] Instead of wire wheels, cast alloy wheels were fitted as standard.

• Total S3 production: 165

Finally, the S4 cars were an interim model that used the TVR M Series chassis with the Vixen body shell. Apart from the chassis, there were no significant mechanical or cosmetic changes between the S3 and S4. Twenty-two were built in 1972 and one in 1973.^[4]

• Total S4 production: 23

The 1300 model was built in an attempt to fill an "economy" market segment for sports cars. It was powered by a 1,296 cc Triumph Spitfire engine making 63 bhp, and its lackluster performance limited its sales success. Only fifteen were built, all in 1972. The final six of these cars were built on a M Series chassis, and the very last 1300 was also built with M Series bodywork, although it never received a "1300M" designation.^[5]

• Total 1300 production: 15

Not to be confused with the later 2500M, the 2500 (marketed as the Vixen 2500 in the United States) built between 1971 and 1972, and was designed to take advantage of the fact that the Triumph 2.5L inline-six engine had already been certified for US emissions standards (although only in 105 bhp form.) The final production run of the 2500 (comprising 96 cars) used the M Series chassis with Vixen-style bodywork.

• Total 2500 production: 385

Tuscan V8

Recalling the performance potential of the Grantura-based Griffith, the Tuscan V8 was based on the Vixen and was built in three different configurations between January 1967 and early 1971. It was initially available in both short- and long-wheelbase forms with Vixen-style bodywork and powered by the Ford 289 V8. Approximately twenty-four of each wheelbase variant were built between 1967 and 1969. The SWB style was essentially identical to the V8-powered Griffith, which was discontinued in early 1967 as a result of the reputation it had gained for issues with build quality and reliability. The LWB car used the same long-wheelbase chassis as the Vixen S2, and the same method of bolting the body to the chassis.^[5]

1970 saw the introduction of the widebody Tuscan V8, which featured a restyled body shell that gave a preview to the upcoming M Series body style. The widebody Tuscan was powered by the 302 cid version of the small block Ford V8, and, although estimates vary, it appears that approximately ten widebody cars were built between 1970 and 1971.

Total production:

• SWB: approximately 24
• LWB: approximately 24
• LWB Widebody: approximately 10

Tuscan V6

To provide a car at an intermediate level of performance, TVR introduced the Tuscan V6 in 1969. Also based on the Vixen, the Tuscan V6 used the Ford Essex V6 engine (UK) (in 3.0L form) as was then used in the Ford Zodiac Mark IV. At the time it was offered for sale, the Essex V6 did not meet emissions requirements in the United States, so the Tuscan V6 was not exported there.^[5]

• Total Tuscan V6 production: 101

References

External links

• TVR Vixens at nearthecoast.com