TVR Vixen
Encyclopedia
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, it succeeded the MGB
-engined TVR Grantura 1800S
.
engine familiar to many Ford Cortina GT
and, after 1969, UK Ford Capri
owners. Power was 88 hp, although this increased to 92 hp with the use of the Capri engine from the S3 on.
The body was made of glass fibre, which was built around a tubular frame. The interim Series 4 model built in 1972-73 used a combination of round and square-section steel tubing. It had double wishbone suspension
at both ends, and disc brake
s at the front (with drums at the back). The car was significantly lighter than mainstream competitors such as the MG MGB GT
, and offered correspondingly class leading performance and fuel economy
.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
which was designed and built by TVR
TVR
thumb|right|240px|TVR No.2, the oldest surviving TVR, located at [[Lakeland Motor Museum, Newby Bridge, Cumbria]]TVR was an independent British manufacturer of sports cars. Until 2006 it was based in the English seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire, but has since split up into several smaller...
in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
from 1967 until 1973. Ford-engined, it succeeded the MGB
MG MGB
The MGB is a sports car launched by MG Cars in May 1962 to replace the MGA. Introduced as a four-cylinder roadster, a coupé with 2+2 seating was added in 1965...
-engined TVR Grantura 1800S
TVR Grantura
The first of the Granturas used a fibreglass body moulded to a tubular steel backbone chassis and VW Beetle-based front and rear suspension. The car was designed around a 1,098 cc Coventry Climax type FWA engine but many different makes were fitted from 1,172 cc Ford side valve to...
.
Design
Power originally came from the Ford supplied Ford Kent 4 cylinderFord Kent engine
The Ford Kent is an internal combustion engine from Ford of Europe. Originally developed in 1959 for the Ford Anglia, it is an in-line four-cylinder engine with a cast-iron cylinder head and block.-Pre-Crossflow:...
engine familiar to many Ford Cortina GT
Ford Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
and, after 1969, UK Ford Capri
Ford Capri
Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three different automobile models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986...
owners. Power was 88 hp, although this increased to 92 hp with the use of the Capri engine from the S3 on.
The body was made of glass fibre, which was built around a tubular frame. The interim Series 4 model built in 1972-73 used a combination of round and square-section steel tubing. It had double wishbone suspension
Double wishbone suspension
In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
at both ends, and disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s at the front (with drums at the back). The car was significantly lighter than mainstream competitors such as the MG MGB GT
MG MGB
The MGB is a sports car launched by MG Cars in May 1962 to replace the MGA. Introduced as a four-cylinder roadster, a coupé with 2+2 seating was added in 1965...
, and offered correspondingly class leading performance and fuel economy
Fuel economy
Fuel economy may refer to:*Fuel economy in automobiles, refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed*Fuel efficiency in general...
.