Surprisingly not named after one of Santa’s reindeer, the 1968-72 TVR Vixen mated a series of readily available powerplants with TVR’s custom-designed tube chassis and fiberglass body. This 1972 TVR Vixen 2500 in York, Pennsylvania came near the end of Vixen production, using the most powerful American-spec engine fitted to a Vixen in regular production. Check out more pictures and a frank description of items not working here on Craigslist. The optimistic $23,900 asking price seeks a buyer who simply must own one in short order, based on the market report at Classic. Thanks to reader T.J. for spotting this interesting TVR.
Give some Vo-Tech students an account at the lumber yard and a fabric shop, and you’re likely to see a dashboard and center console like this. Form follows function in the Vixen, and the road ahead is what really matters. With a four-wheel independent coil-spring suspension and a curb weight around a ton, the little TVR would have been a handful for most American cars of the era to chase down any road with curves. While making the most of every horsepower, lighter cars also slow down with less effort, and their mass in motion can be redirected more readily to accomplish cornering. Drivers of today’s two ton performance cars may not like it, but dollar for dollar, the lighter car always has the advantage.
Along with the 105 HP 2.5L Triumph TR6 straight-six, TVR fitted a differential and four-speed manual transmission from Triumph, with optional overdrive, according to Hemmings.
The handsome and sporty fiberglass body will not rust, but like Chevrolet’s Corvette, corroded metal parts beneath can ruin you. Plotting this unregistered Vixen 2500 on the Vixen Registry at TVR, it falls about 300 cars ahead of the last one. Wikipedia lists a number of improvements implemented by the time this one hit the road.
Credit the seller for showing undercarriage pictures on this Pennsylvania classic. While plenty of fast cars have lapped road courses without an independent rear suspension, it’s certainly an advantage for spirited cornering on imperfect roads. Most American RWD cars of the ’70s had a strong and cheap-to-manufacture live axle, but a rise or hearty bump in mid-corner upsets a live-axle car notably more than one with IRS. What’s your opinion of this low-volume British sports coupe?
This brings back memories of the Griffith that I lusted for, 1800 pounds sporting a 289 engine.
Optimistic ask for a flood car. Parts bin car when new with horrible Cortina tail lights . Maybe convert it for historic racing.
The Cortina owners will be burning a Yugo in effigy
on your front lawn.
Rich rock. Legend in PA hillclimb
@Ryan Are you saying that he is or was the owner of this car? That is very hard to believe that anyone with knowledge of the TVR market would list this car in this condition for more than a small fraction of this amount.
M & M of New York might as well take up selling M & M candies because there is no way there is someone, even a New Yorker, dumb enough to buy this car in this condition for 24K.
That dealer usually has a few grossly overpriced project cars. Fishing for a sucker.
If you have a large frame (read anybody over 175lbs you will find getting in and out of those seats in a TVR …ummmmmm shall we say challenging
Also listed on ebay motors. 1 day left on auction and bidding is at $4k. It’s local to me and I was going to check it out until I saw the Craig’s List wishful thinking price. Just picked up a true barn find Griffith for the same money. Been off the road 50 years.
Hey just curious to know where that Griffith you found came from? I’m in ma and knew of a green one but the owner passed away before I could find out more about it.
Thanks Paul
It was near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. It has been in the same family for 50 years. The interior is in remarkably good shape. The rest of the car is very original. I just picked it up a couple of months ago and I’m just starting to try to figure out what direction I go in with the car. Originality, or resto mod.
Something I still kick myself for not picking up in about 1975. A beautiful Griffith for $1800 that was just down the street from me.
About six years ago I found an abandoned Griffifh 200 – it spent 50 years in the owners back yard with weeds growing up through it and kids prying parts off. A Griffith is a rare enough car that it funded the purchase of my house.
Hi, What is the VIN and what color was it ? I’m from Pittsburgh and knew of 7 in the area. The dealer was European Cars on West Liberty Ave. The owner was Ed Hugus of Cobra fame.
It’s number 38. It was in Bentleyville. The color is a very light blueish silver. If you know the car and could shed any light on it that would be helpful! The other one I own is # 123 which is pictured in The Griffith Years. Thx
Agreed that the price is ridiculous, but these are good cars when sorted. Much better idea to by one which has been sorted, then….
I like it but not at that price. If priced appropriately it doesn’t look like a difficult project. Fascinated with many of the TVR & Griffith, but the early cars did have a weird bobbed tail to them. I consider the later M-series to be much better proportioned and probably a much more practical car (hey, you have to fit in it, not roast in it, and hopefully not swap ends in a turn). Unless you like those things.
6 k the way it is, doesn’t look too bad, hard to see if the chassis is rotten or not, nice car when finished😀👍🙏🏻
Y’all have mostly said it – crazy price, tube frame rust in a PA car needs close inspection, interior trashed, great driving car. Back in the early 70s, my GF’s GF had one of these and I got to drive it. It was a screamer for sure and handled like a go-cart. Hers was navy blue and she had a mechanic on speed dial.
Not sure they had “speed dial” back in the early ‘70’s, but your point is taken
Many of the photos have the doors and hood off? Lots of parts missing. Crazy price!!
GRIFFITH 200 ,
Fastest car in the world in 1965 !
You hear of them out there now and then ,they eat COBRAs !
Very special car !
You are absolutely 100% correct! If only Jack Griffith had fielded a race team like Shelby, we’d be seeing million dollar Griffiths and asking “What was that car named after some sort o’ snake??”
The Griffith I looked was in 1966 it was Opalescent blue HIPO 289 . This was in Upper St. Clair. I heard later that he had run it into his house and did some front end damage. There was a collage professor from Bentleyville who was into buying and sell HIPO Fords back then, If you can could you send me pictures of your cars for my collection with VIN numbers. Thanks, Jerry