Vixen S3/4 and M-chassis differences.

[simonpa]

Hi - I've been offered a September '71 project (disassembled) Vixen and have been told it has the later M-series chassis.
Is there a way to tell if it is a series 3/4, or has an M-chassis?

I have the chassis number (from the V5) if there is a list somewhere..

Many thanks in advance,

Simon

[Adrian@]

I have just converted a 1973 M series chassis to M series 'proper' and, I have changed about 20 things to allow the owner to buy and fit 'M Series' parts.
The differences would be engine mounts, ARB brakets, brake flexi pickups, under seat cross braces, the neck of the opening of the engine bay and cross piece above the bell housing is different,methods of attaching coolant towers, horns and inner wings,THE biggest thing is that there about 12 different handbrake positional brackets and tags (I have not even mentioned O/D car chassis either), that I can think of ATM.
Adrian@

Pictures...will help.

Edited by Adrian@ on Tuesday 23 December 00:03

[Slow M]

What about checking the chassis' VIN plate?

Best,
B.

[plasticpig72]

imho check n° stamped on chassis rail
Alan

[Dollyman1850]

Post a pic of it and we will tell you?

Vixen chassis are all round tube and M chassis have a mixture of round and square tube.
N.

[simonpa]

Ah - it's all round tube, so standard S3 then.

When I looked at Vixen chassis images on Google, most of them have a slightly arched crossmember about whee the firewall would be.
This chassis has a much higher arch.

I took a couple of quick pics (hopefully they will upload/show):

[simonpa]

[simonpa]

Where on the chassis should the number be?
It's been blasted and painted and not immediately obvious...

[Dollyman1850]

There aren't any chassis numbers stamped on Vixen Chassis.

That chassis is a replacement, Its welded and the front hoop is larger than std.
N.

[Dollyman1850]

There aren't any chassis numbers stamped on Vixen Chassis.

That chassis is a replacement, Its welded and the front hoop is larger than std.
N.

[chris52]

Have you had the body fitted to the chassis? That larger hoop was fitted to the 1800s which is a slightly shorter chassis than the later Vixen.
Chris

[Adrian@]

The car reg on the wall is from a Taimar as well!



Adrian@

Edited by Adrian@ on Tuesday 23 December 13:56

[simonpa]

Lol - the pic on the wall is the owner's previous car.

The chassis is purportedly the one that came with the V5 and bodywork, but there are probably no guarantees regarding heritage.
They bought the car as a barn find (hedge find, actually) 10 years ago, with a view to fully restoring and getting it back on the road.
He has done most of the chassis/suspension, but illness, screwed knees and a heart attack has stopped him going further and even if he paid for it to be done, he could no longer get into it

Interesting comments re: that chassis hoop - why has it changed over the years?