1967 TVR Vixen

The TVR Vixen S1 is a two-seater coupe produced from 1967 to 1968.

The TVR Vixen S1 uses the space frame chassis, independent coil spring and double wishbone suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and disc/drum braking of its Grantura Mk. IV predecessor, and had a similar GRP 2-door coupe body shell. The main difference was the use of a 1.6-litre Ford Cortina GT ‘Kent’ engine and transmission.

The Vixen was launched in October 1967 and marked TVR’s use of Ford power plants, which was selected in order to keep prices as low as possible and because of supply problems from BMC; the Cortina unit was less powerful than the MGB engine but it was also lighter. A handful of early examples were ‘B-series’ powered but the ‘Kent’ unit, fitted with a Weber carburettor, is far more commonly seen on TVRs. The Vixen could be distinguished from the Grantura Mk. IV via its larger front air scoop. Prices ranged from £998 (as a kit) to £1,216 (fully built), with a top speed of 109mph with 0-60 in 11 seconds.

A TVR Vixen S1 gained eyebrow-raising levels of TV fame when it appeared in ‘The World Beater’, the final episode of ‘The Saint’.

The S1 was replaced by the heavily modified TVR Vixen S2 in October 1968.

A few Vixens were powered by the 1,798cc S4 OHV BMC ‘B-Series’ engine, combined with the MGB gearbox. However, the 1,588cc S4 OHV Ford unit, married to an all-synchromesh 4-speed gearbox, is the more common format.

The first generation of the Vixen have all of the many and various merits of the last of the Granturas combined with an excellent Ford gearbox and extremely responsive engine.

Potential TVR Vixen buyers should check for any cracks or crazes in the bodywork. Resprays can be very expensive so beware of any paint flaking. Further points to bear in mind are that the front chassis outriggers and sills are corrosion-prone and that the S1 was the only Vixen with factory-bonded coachwork - as such moisture can be trapped between the chassis and the body.

The TVR Vixen S1’s aim was to provide a club racer with a car one could use every day at a price in the BMC/Triumph bracket – and TVR more succeeded in their goals for the Vixen.

Rivals to the Vixen included the Marcos 1600GT, MGB GT and the Triumph GT6.