Vixen Project On Car & Classic

[Moto]

For anyone here who is interested in a Vixen project, this has just popped up on Car & Classic.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C979214

Looks to me that it would be the perfect car for a full resto project. Price tag - well that's down to the individual I guess.

Not sure whether no original log book would be an issue but DVLA would soon confirm.

Moto

[vixen1700]

Can't see that being around for long.

[Moto]

I don't think so either. If I wanted to do a Vixen build project I think that would be better than anything I could hope for.

Moto

[anonymous-user]

Moto said:

For anyone here who is interested in a Vixen project, this has just popped up on Car & Classic.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C979214

Looks to me that it would be the perfect car for a full resto project. Price tag - well that's down to the individual I guess.

Not sure whether no original log book would be an issue but DVLA would soon confirm.

Moto

Isn’t that the one from long term storage that’s been hawked around for a couple of years? I seem to remember it was at an auction at some stage but may be wrong.

[Astacus]

Interesting. Apart from the price, was there an issue with it?

Seems to be pretty much all there. Someone has started to dismantle it, the engine is just sitting in the chassis, and its pretty filthy, but it even looks like it has the correct seats.

[anonymous-user]

Look like its sold now. Someones got themselves a great car - or will have after they've taken a deep breath at what needs doing...

[ATE399J]

If I didn't have one of my own I'd be jealous!!
Actually, if I didn't have one of my own I might have bought it.

[plasticpig72]

Imho the price was correct
Alan

[Astacus]

well, lets hope they turn up here to tell us all about it

[Dollyman1850]

£30k vixens as the norm now then!! £9k plus £20plus for the build!!

N.

[phillpot]

Dollyman1850 said:

£30k vixens as the norm now then!! £9k plus £20plus for the build!!

If the guy gave it away would a £20,000+ Vixen be okay? ....

[anonymous-user]

I had a look. Very genuine seller and TVR enthusiast who spotted a local ad on gumtree but had too many projects. It lightly hit something in 1977 and was just left at the back of a warehouse. Great story and will hopefully be a great car again.

[Dollyman1850]

phillpot said:

Dollyman1850 said:

£30k vixens as the norm now then!! £9k plus £20plus for the build!!

If the guy gave it away would a £20,000+ Vixen be okay? ....

I will buy it, wait a week then re-advertise it for 11k!!

[plasticpig72]

I hope it was someone on the forum who bought it.
If you did the work as a hobby i would have thought more like 10K to tidy up.
Unless you want a Show Queen just to polish and never drive then it could cost 20K to tart up.
Alan

[Moto]

I know it comes down to how much you can do yourself but £20k just wouldn't do a full resto for most of us. I've spent over £12k on parts and some specialist external services, although I've done most stuff myself. And I haven't touched the chassis, body or paint, gearbox, diff & lots more bits. Those pounds do mount up very quickly when restoring a Vixen. It also depends on your definition of a full rebuild / resto. To me it means every component being checked and either refurbished or replaced.

Moto

[plasticpig72]

I suppose it's a personal choice e.g. paintwork a blow over or top class job at Option 1 or SMS.
For me i prefer to drive and have fun and not be frightened of a little scratch.
Alan

[anonymous-user]

plasticpig72 said:

I suppose it's a personal choice e.g. paintwork a blow over or top class job at Option 1 or SMS.
For me i prefer to drive and have fun and not be frightened of a little scratch.
Alan

No reason at all why you cant have a pristine car and drive it, it just takes some effort to keep it that way.

Had many discussions with folk who's excuse for their car being a bit tatty was that they used them. No need to be that way, its a choice.

[anonymous-user]

plasticpig72 said:

I suppose it's a personal choice e.g. paintwork a blow over or top class job at Option 1 or SMS.
For me i prefer to drive and have fun and not be frightened of a little scratch.
Alan

That Vixen could be done as mechanically perfect and leave the bodywork and interior as-is. The trouble with that is it needs a new bonnet so it would never match. Interesting stress cracks considering it hasn’t been used:

[plasticpig72]

I had a +2S Elan with stress cracks on the boot lid and fixed it ok.
Ground out cracks and area around, laminated matt in and finished with Tissue. No filler used and was 100%, cracks never came back.
Are you sure it needs a complet Bonnet. On Lotus Elans you just get a new part for where it is damaged and laminate in.
But then i would do the grp work myself.
If you pay someone to do the work with labour costs maybe a complet Bonnet would be cheaper.
Alan

[anonymous-user]

plasticpig72 said:

I had a +2S Elan with stress cracks on the boot lid and fixed it ok.
Ground out cracks and area around, laminated matt in and finiTissue. No filler used and was 100%, cracks never came back.
Are you sure it needs a complet Bonnet. On Lotus Elans you just get a new part for where it is damaged and laminate in.
But then i would do the grp work myself.
If you pay someone to do the work with labour costs maybe a complet Bonnet would be cheaper.
Alan

The bonnet was definitely u/s. At £1500+ for a new one a lot of repair can be done but it’s really gone too far. It’s a major body repair and paint job. I hadn’t realised but the S3’s had a black painted skirt and there’s a vertical down turn on the rear valance edge. With this one the down turn was partly damaged where it’s been towed/shifted about with a strap on the chassis rail.