s2 Vixen at Auction, Paris
Discussion
As a footnote to this thread I notice that SYD8G also appears on the excellent Car & Classic Website. I hadn't seen this but on just re-reading the script (typical bloke; I went straight to the pictures without paying much attention to the text) I notice one or two things different to the auctioneers website which are of interest.
Whoever did the write up mentions an engine re-build by the current owner in 2004. How did he do that without me knowing!!?? The car was in my garage by early January 2004 - I went to my files to find the first date it was insured by me. I wonder if he means 2014? From memory, when the car left me, it was only giving about 127/129bhp at the wheels. I have written to the advertiser via C&C website to ask for the current spec. On reflection he may have found the rolling road readout that I had done by Jon Lee at Lynx AE in late 2004/ early 2005 which might have given the read out at the flywheel?? I have always thought the difference would be circa 20% lost at the road wheels so that would come out about right.
Regarding previous owners:
He mentions Rob Cutler (01-Oct-1968 onwards)
and John Bunting (01Jun-1969 onwards)
I can add that it also went to;
John Maund from 30-Nov to 01-Jan-1997
Simon Anderson from 01-Jan-1997 to 01-Jan-2000
I think it went from Simon to sTeVeReid from whom I bought it around new year 2003/4.
I sold it on 17th March 2008 to Motor Racing Artist Tim Layzell. Tim had a change of plans (marriage!) shortly afterwards and offered it back to me, which in retrospect I was foolish to turn down.
He sold it thereafter to Olivier Davy in Normandy.
Olivier, I believe sold it on to Serge Petit somewhere else in France - this is according to Antonio's Vixen Register which also indicates it as being sold in 2009.
After that the trail goes cold for the next 4/5 years to date.
If anybody is a current member of the TVRCC perhaps the Vixen Registrar might help??
I stand corrected on the colour shade; The ad states Sahara Yellow not Bahama yellow as I thought. I knew it was something to do with Desert Sand!
On the spec as done in my care in 2004:
I put a new gas flowed big valve head with bronze guides, double springs and steel rocker posts on it to replace the previous item which had cracks. At the same time the 711M block was bored from 1700 to 1720cc and correct new forged Accralite pistons (via Burtons) to replace the incorrect flat-top pistons fitted by others. The existing iron crank was crack tested, and balanced with the lightened flywheel and a new starter ring fitted. (the old one was mis-aligned which resulted in me praying that the crank came to rest in the right place each time the car stopped, otherwise the starter just spun without engaging with anything! The engine also had oil cooler, and FilterKing fuel filter. The original twin 45 Webers were re-used and later, a large bore steel exhaust manifold plus silencer system was fitted by Tony Law Exhausts in Leeds. This cost almost £1000 at the time but it did give a noticeable improvement to the Torque curve which is everything to a hillclimber. The oil catch tank that can be seen on the O/S of the engine bay was custom made to my drawing (by Ralloy?) Car was corner weighted and set up by John Lee at Lynx AE whilst he was a Hanslope.
The Rollover bar was a full cage and though I don't recall any labels it was a good one and I think it would have been from John Aley in Cambridgeshire which subsequently became Safety Devices (not sure if they are still trading?)
Phew! I did say I wouldn't enter into any lengthy correspondence!
Enclosed is a photo of the car competing at Abingdon with vintage pilot hanging on for grim death circa 2005. Quarter bumpers were off for some reason but replaced later. I'm interested to know if anyone from the UK is attending the auction?
Kind Regards
Pete Sims
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/i6733Nw0.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/L17Z6b2l" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/L17Z6b2l.jpg)
Whoever did the write up mentions an engine re-build by the current owner in 2004. How did he do that without me knowing!!?? The car was in my garage by early January 2004 - I went to my files to find the first date it was insured by me. I wonder if he means 2014? From memory, when the car left me, it was only giving about 127/129bhp at the wheels. I have written to the advertiser via C&C website to ask for the current spec. On reflection he may have found the rolling road readout that I had done by Jon Lee at Lynx AE in late 2004/ early 2005 which might have given the read out at the flywheel?? I have always thought the difference would be circa 20% lost at the road wheels so that would come out about right.
Regarding previous owners:
He mentions Rob Cutler (01-Oct-1968 onwards)
and John Bunting (01Jun-1969 onwards)
I can add that it also went to;
John Maund from 30-Nov to 01-Jan-1997
Simon Anderson from 01-Jan-1997 to 01-Jan-2000
I think it went from Simon to sTeVeReid from whom I bought it around new year 2003/4.
I sold it on 17th March 2008 to Motor Racing Artist Tim Layzell. Tim had a change of plans (marriage!) shortly afterwards and offered it back to me, which in retrospect I was foolish to turn down.
He sold it thereafter to Olivier Davy in Normandy.
Olivier, I believe sold it on to Serge Petit somewhere else in France - this is according to Antonio's Vixen Register which also indicates it as being sold in 2009.
After that the trail goes cold for the next 4/5 years to date.
If anybody is a current member of the TVRCC perhaps the Vixen Registrar might help??
I stand corrected on the colour shade; The ad states Sahara Yellow not Bahama yellow as I thought. I knew it was something to do with Desert Sand!
On the spec as done in my care in 2004:
I put a new gas flowed big valve head with bronze guides, double springs and steel rocker posts on it to replace the previous item which had cracks. At the same time the 711M block was bored from 1700 to 1720cc and correct new forged Accralite pistons (via Burtons) to replace the incorrect flat-top pistons fitted by others. The existing iron crank was crack tested, and balanced with the lightened flywheel and a new starter ring fitted. (the old one was mis-aligned which resulted in me praying that the crank came to rest in the right place each time the car stopped, otherwise the starter just spun without engaging with anything! The engine also had oil cooler, and FilterKing fuel filter. The original twin 45 Webers were re-used and later, a large bore steel exhaust manifold plus silencer system was fitted by Tony Law Exhausts in Leeds. This cost almost £1000 at the time but it did give a noticeable improvement to the Torque curve which is everything to a hillclimber. The oil catch tank that can be seen on the O/S of the engine bay was custom made to my drawing (by Ralloy?) Car was corner weighted and set up by John Lee at Lynx AE whilst he was a Hanslope.
The Rollover bar was a full cage and though I don't recall any labels it was a good one and I think it would have been from John Aley in Cambridgeshire which subsequently became Safety Devices (not sure if they are still trading?)
Phew! I did say I wouldn't enter into any lengthy correspondence!
Enclosed is a photo of the car competing at Abingdon with vintage pilot hanging on for grim death circa 2005. Quarter bumpers were off for some reason but replaced later. I'm interested to know if anyone from the UK is attending the auction?
Kind Regards
Pete Sims
P.S. Someone did ask who did the engine rebuild whilst SYD was in my care. It was CK engineering in High Wycombe who are had a lot of knowledge with competition X-flows. The boss at the time was Chris Denham but I believe he's now retired but his son was still in the business when I was last there a couple of years back.
Pete S
Pete S
Pete,
It would be great to see the car return to the UK although it seems to have been well looked after in Europe. Can't justify another Vixen at the moment, but have seen Syd a few times over the years. I first saw Syd when John Maund owned it, I think he may have been an RO for Wiltshire at the time. If I recall I then saw it at a Dorset meeting.
When I was last at sTeVRs which must have been early 2001 it may have been there, he certainly had the ex Randell & Hopkirk Vixen then.
Matt
It would be great to see the car return to the UK although it seems to have been well looked after in Europe. Can't justify another Vixen at the moment, but have seen Syd a few times over the years. I first saw Syd when John Maund owned it, I think he may have been an RO for Wiltshire at the time. If I recall I then saw it at a Dorset meeting.
When I was last at sTeVRs which must have been early 2001 it may have been there, he certainly had the ex Randell & Hopkirk Vixen then.
Matt
The snag with the Paris auction is that many who would be interested in buying will not be able to, and that add-on fee for the auction house is around 25%, so a potential £5-6,000 on top. I wonder if the seller realises its better to sell privately rather than putting buyers through the mill?
sydaitge said:
Via a reliable source;
LVX1235F sold and will stay in France. The hammer price was 23000 Euro so just under £18k plus fees and commissions at today's exchange.
Blimey!! With 20:20 hindsight (&often repeated); "I wish I had kept it!"
Regds
Pete Sims
So 23K all told with fees sounds about what I expected hope the new owner enjoys the carLVX1235F sold and will stay in France. The hammer price was 23000 Euro so just under £18k plus fees and commissions at today's exchange.
Blimey!! With 20:20 hindsight (&often repeated); "I wish I had kept it!"
Regds
Pete Sims
Andrew
sydaitge said:
Via a reliable source;
LVX1235F sold and will stay in France. The hammer price was 23000 Euro so just under £18k plus fees and commissions at today's exchange.
Blimey!! With 20:20 hindsight (&often repeated); "I wish I had kept it!"
Regds
Pete Sims
The auction results have just been advertised on the web. LVX1235F sold and will stay in France. The hammer price was 23000 Euro so just under £18k plus fees and commissions at today's exchange.
Blimey!! With 20:20 hindsight (&often repeated); "I wish I had kept it!"
Regds
Pete Sims
The following prices includes the buyer’s premium and taxes.
224 1968 TVR Vixen S2 No reserve €27,416 Sold
So about £21,450 at todays exchange rate
These cars are certainly increasing in price.
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