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

[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...

[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?