No, you’re not seeing things: this is another Vixen motorhome offered for sale, just hours after we spotted the GM-powered variant featured here on Barn Finds. This futuristic-looking RV features two distinct components not found on the updated model, which was a BMW turbodiesel 6-cylinder engine and a pop-top roof (which, when stowed, allows the Vixen to slide into standard garage openings.) The Vixen as it’s shown here on craigslist is said to have rough cosmetics and an interior that needs plenty of work, but the engine is said to run well and the magical pop-top works as intended. The seller is asking $20,000.
That’s a lot of coin for one of these, admittedly, but if you were desperate to park one of these in your driveway this summer, you don’t have many to choose from. Some might say this earlier version with the flat roof and BMW engine is the one you want, owing to its truly quirky combination of features. When I was deep into the world of vintage BMWs, this RV was on my radar as a bit of a bucket list project that would leave no question as to my brand devotion, but even for me, it was a bridge too far. They seemingly always and only popped up as projects, with no one specimen ever in good enough shape to justify taking the plunge on.
Coupled with the fact that the Vixen does have a bit of a following and it wasn’t uncommon to see asking prices like this made it a no-go for me. I’m not sure how the seller arrived at this asking price, other than the fact that most of the work needed seems to be of the cosmetic variety. The BMW turbodiesel wasn’t fast, clocking in with just 115 horsepower, but it made the whole package seem slightly exotic. How many RVs offered aerodynamic styling with a rear-mounted BMW engine and a 5-speed manual? Only one. And with less than 600 made across both the BMW and GM-powered variants, calling it rare is an understatement.
A few years ago, when I still had my manual transmission-swapped 2003 VW Eurovan, I took it on two long-distance trips with my family in tow. I grew to not enjoy it much, owing to the fear of something breaking somewhere inconvenient. The Vixen, for all its wonderful qualities, will always give me the same pause even if one in mint condition came up for sale with a reasonable asking price. However, for anyone more courageous than I, there is a dedicated network behind these motorhomes committed to helping keep them on the road and support the owners that choose to road-trip in one of the coolest homes on wheels ever made. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the find.
This Vixen checks many boxes. And also Unchecks many boxes at the same time. The price for starters. I’m in the middle of a Vice Grip Garage episode right now where Derek is driving a 40 year old RV home. He’s very funny if you’ve watched him, and his sense of humor definitely comes out in this new one. But you see first hand the issues you run into with a vintage RV. Wiring is one of them. You’d have to walk into this with open eyes, an open mind, and an open wallet. Jeff brings out a very good and realistic point with his own Eurovan experience. What IF you break down in an inconvenient location? Where do you find parts for the Vixen? Or the Bimmer Diesel? The one huge box this checks off for me though is the BMW Diesel and the manual transmission. Thats just so rare to see in any RV. Toyota chassis RVs are all I can think of from the 80’s. It would definitely take some work to get this looking up to snuff again. It definitely needs a certain type of buyer. Great write up Jeff. And a really cool find too.
Bang on the buck on all points, Dave-and who can forget the experience of being behind a wheezing little Toyota Sunrader on some narrow, winding, obscure two lane traversing a mountain pass at 15MPH below the posted speed limit?
Imagination and ingenuity did overcome that though when a friend (with an import business for used Japanese engines) put a Toyota V-8 in one which woke it right up.
And thanks for the note about Vice Grip Garage. That’s on my list now!
Sounds like you were on the long and lonely highway, East of Omaha…having one last cigarette before the engine threw a rod….
I checked one out in my neighborhood that was for sale. They are super cool. The FB group provides a lot of insight into their quirks. I’ve often thought how nice it’d be to do a swap with the BMW B57 twin turbo diesel…just to make a complicated situation even more complicated.
Maybe factoring in breaking down should be part of the adventure?
Primo finds a unicorn 🦄.
Hopefully Howard writes ✍️ in on this one too 👍 Thanks Lavery for the write up.
Awesome looking motorhome. It’s too bad Vixen didn’t produce motorhomes for very long before closing shop. They had an awesome idea. Not everyone needs a 40′ diesel pusher motorhome. Sometimes a 20′ diesel pusher motorhome is way better.
I have a travel trailer and use it all the time.
When it comes to camping, this is not “classic car” territory, with the exception of the truly classic pieces like Airstream, etc. This vehicle is definitely NOT one of those. There are all kinds of oddball campers out there. That’s what this is.
1) Absolutely NOBODY cares if you show up at a campground with a classic camper like this. The exceptions are the cute old travel trailers from the 50s/60s. There are no “classic camper shows” to show it off, like with car shows. Overall, restoration is a lonely endeavor that pays zero dividends and will drive you nuts, with most old units.
2) EVERYTHING BREAKS on a camping vehicle. You’re hauling a house down the road and then using it. If you can’t readily get parts, you are scrwd.
3) Old parts, if you find them, are more expensive than than new parts. They are less roadworthy, weigh more, and operate worse. The camping industry creates new products all the time that are a huge improvement over the old stuff. They have 12v A/C units and refrigerators now. And none of it will easily retrofit your old camper.
3) People have lived in it, with all that implies. UGH. If you get a used one, get one that is only lightly used and swap out all of the soft goods. .
4) There are newer units that accomplish the task of camping for less money than this, with more mainstream parts and less need for repair or restoration.
Units like this are the mainstay of desperate people who have a few grand to spend and need something that runs. Then whatever breaks, you just don’t use anymore.
I’m gonna go out on a limb as say the RV industry is pushing out what’s cheap, generic and easy to build. More of next years junk. Good enough to last one’s good years of retirement then meth lab/landfill fodder.
Yes, this would probably drive someone like me insane and broke trying to make right and keeping it together. But it transcends a lot of ideals.
A) High Syd Mead/‘80s/Total Recall/Rad appeal
B) Ambitious design, road presence.
C) Rare, sensible size…like a Cortez meets a Westy and a Supervan in the modern world in which we never arrived.
D) I hated being in most campgrounds. Too many highly visible, weirdo, religious or political zealots.
$5000-7500 and go down from there. Paint and graphics alone will probably get you to that 20K quickly enough.
Hope it finds a good home.
Do these issues also apply to the old GMC motorhomes? Or are they easier to live with?
I see those GMCs around once in a while, and they show up in the RC newsletters if someone has jumped through all the hoops of restoring one. The question is WHY?
Personally, I see ZERO value in restoring almost ANY old camping rig. The exception might be the old aluminum classic trailers. Even at that, you are restoring OLD technology, and dealing with all of those old problems.
If you can get a something like an old GMC motor home for next to nothing, and it is in decent shape, and most of it works, then you might make it worthwhile doing some re-work on one. Your chances of buying a headache are enormous.
In general people camp to get away from problems, not to haul them down the road with you.
Again, with the exception of a couple of vintage RV websites and a few shops that restore Airstreams and the like (for huge money), nobody except old hippies who are looking for a really cheap motorhome are interested in this stuff.
People with money to burn buy brand new rigs. Period.
I’d buy a Vixen motorhome if I had someone to share the experience and responsibilities with. It’s a damn shame that Vixen discontinued production when they did. Not everyone needs or wants a 40′ diesel pusher motorhome. I know I wouldn’t. I’m sure there are people who would’ve loved to drive a 21′ diesel pusher motorhome. I know I would. I’d want mine to have a Duramax 2.8 Turbo Diesel engine and an automatic gearbox.
Diesel is expensive as it is. No one that I’m aware of wants to spend $Billions a year filling up the damn fuel tank. I’d rather spend 1/4 that filling up the tank.
these are tops for me, along w/the realto (VW) and GMC 23 ft (all sm, solo motor homes). (@ least as I’d ‘up-grade’ for myself.) The last one comes in all the time for incremental mechanical resto.
Some 1 else is doing a bang-up job on the interior. Fella owns an “ele bike retail” in ‘the 5 College Area’ so U no he’s doin well (all the hipsters wanna ele bike, no? 1 of 1st rail-to-trail – here they call it “the bike path”- in USA). He also hasa converted MB Sprinter. Doin well I’d say~
Considering the below poverty line neighborhood this Vixan is oparked in, I would stay far away. This unit has been trashed from the beginning; I fear nothing here does nor need replacing. In my experience, no matter the make, an abused vehicle is a lost cause and motor homes are seemingly always abused.
It’s cool, were I suddenly single it might be a project I would tackle.
I am, however, hung up on the powerplant: a 6-cylinder turbo-diesel making only 114HP??
I have a 200ci I6 (gas, no turbo) in my Econoline that produces (not much) more than that.
The only people willing to put up with it are hippies who will deal with anything that runs.
Performance is binary, measured in “will it get me there?” Or not.
They have $2000, max, cash.
That’s what were looking at.
Lovely looking Vixen. If I bought one, I’d keep stock what I can, while also upgrading what can be upgraded.
Lotta grumps on this thread. It is rough, no doubt, but Vixens are supposed to drive well.
I’d look for a better one though.
What matters to me is how well maintained it is, and how safe it is to drive. I wouldn’t want one that’s been left outside in the elements with all the windows rolled down and allowed to accumulate rain water.
Hope all is well,Howard.Are you off on a road trip? Broke down somewhere?.I can honestly say,in all my road trips I somehow always made it home.God bless.
The shells for these were laid up (or down since they were done upside down) at a facility about a mile from my auto repair shop in Traverse City, Michigan. Of course, I didn’t have my repair shop them but I did deliver pizza to the employees there a couple of times and remember seeing some cured shells right side up.