Vixen S3 black bits

[Monkeythree]

The press shots of the Vixen S3 show the car with black sills which continues through to the rear end forming a line between the quarter bumpers, But it is very rare to see a picture of an S3 with this black detail. So do we think that TVR did a few that way then quietly dropped it or have so many been repainted without recreating this?

[Astacus]

I seem to remember this was a fashionable feature in cars of the 70s no?

[Moto]

I'm fairly sure that black sills was the original TVR paint scheme. Colour matched sills and valence being a later change when fashions changed.

Personally I like the black sills / valence, particularly suiting silver cars

Moto

[Dollyman1850]

They probably did it to hide the horrible sill line and square moulding that the S3 had along the bottom of the sill line. The earlier cars were not spoiled with this detail.
N.

[Monkeythree]

My best guess is that it was TVR trying to move with the times and modernise a 60’s shape for a 70’s market.
What’s weird is that so many S3’s (mine included) have lost this over the years. Whether it was done for aesthetics or because it was in vogue at the time, you don’t see many S3’s which have kept the black sills.

[280i]

That's my silver Vixen 2500 !

Edited by 280i on Thursday 24th May 14:06

[Pat H]

Moto said:

I'm fairly sure that black sills was the original TVR paint scheme.

It would seem so.

Here's the factory Vixen demonstrator in 1970.



And here's my Dad's Tuscan in early 1971.