A evaluate of The TVR Vixen Collection 2 and 3 Sports activities Motor vehicle, masking improvement, important functions, and technological data of this the eleventh product in the TVR range.
In this Posting, I supply a nostalgic search at the TVR Vixen Series 2 and 3, one particular of an elite group of traditional cars, which was manufactured for the duration of the interval 1968 to 1972.
TVR Vixen Collection 2
In October 1968, the TVR Vixen Series 2 was launched.
Even though, mechanically, extremely equivalent to that of the Series 1, the most crucial aspect connected to the chassis, thanks to the point that the extended 90 inch wheelbase was improved from 7 foot 1.5 inches in the Series 1 to 7 foot 6 inches.
This new stretched chassis was originally created for the large bodied Tuscan V8 SE variant.
Having said that, the profit of this, in conditions of the Vixen, was that it presented greater consolation in the cockpit space.
This resulted from the truth that the doors have been now larger, and delivered larger access for coming into and leaving the automobile, which was a serious unfavorable issue in past TVR types.
The Sequence 2 was the first TVR model in which the fibreglass human body was bolted to the chassis, compared with preceding variants in which the two were bonded by usually means of strips of glassfibre.
The advantage of this variety of development was that it manufactured repairs, in the event of incident or damage to the physique, so substantially simpler, which is mirrored in the reality that pre 1968 TVR’s tended to be fairly of a rarity.
IN 1969, additional changes that occurred included:
- There was restyling of the bonnet, which now exhibited a outstanding central bulge in early creation products, whilst afterwards vehicles been given two air ingestion ducts positioned at the front corners
- The rear lights ended up up to date from the preceding circular model, as employed in the Ford Cortina Mark 1, to the newer wraparound design, from the Cortina Mark 2 saloon
- It was fitted with disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear, and the brakes were being now electric power assisted
The Collection 2 was run by the exact same engine as employed in the Sequence 1 and, with a compression ratio of 9.:1, it made 88 bhp at 5400 rpm, and 96 ft/lbs of torque at 3600 rpm.
By the finish of 1970, when creation ended, product sales of the Vixen Series 2 experienced arrived at 438 units.
TVR Vixen Series 3
In 1970, the Vixen Collection 3 sports vehicle was launched, and was driven by the very same Ford 1.6 litre, 4-cylinder engine as employed in the Ford Capri 1600 GT saloon, which made 86 bhp, in comparison with 88 bhp produced with the Ford device in the Series 1 and 2.
In addition, this would be the final model to incorporate the Thurner intended chassis, which was changed by a redesigned chassis that was to be made use of in the forthcoming M-Collection of cars.
This new chassis highlighted the use of a a little bit thicker gauge of metal tubing than that made use of earlier, as perfectly as the use of sq. tubing for the to start with time on a TVR body.
This chassis was equivalent to the Thurner model, apart from that the parts made use of have been generally sourced from Triumph.
With the Series 3, the warmth extraction vents on the bonnet acquired aeroflow grilles, as made use of on the Ford Zodiac Mark 4 saloon.
The wire wheels have been replaced by cast alloy variations, which ended up now typical gear.
By April 1972, when production finished, a total of 168 units of the Sequence 3 experienced been designed.
This marked the conclude of the TVR Vixen Sequence 2 and 3.
Probably this stroll down memory lane may well have answered, or at least shed gentle on, a attainable issue:
Which TVR Sports Motor vehicle is Your Favourite?
On the other hand, should really this dilemma still continue being unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some depth, in long run articles in this web site, the overall selection of TVR sports activities cars and trucks which had been highlighted in the memorable era spanning 1946 to 1967.
I hope you join me in my nostalgic travels “down athletics automobile memory lane”.