Under new ownership of Arthur and Martin Lilley, TVR, sportscar builders of Blackpool, Lancashirem became a more professtional company. The 1967 Vixen, son of the earlier Grantura, was one of the first products of this new approach. Outwardly the entry level TVR looked much like its predecessor with the usual ‘sausage bonnet’ front end. A closer inspection revealed new ‘Manxtail’ styling with a bigger rear window and Mkl Cortina lights behind, at the rear. Although the first few cars had an MGB engine, TVR policy was now to just offer one unit, the 88bhp 1599cc Ford Cortina GT limp, matched to the excellent Ford four speed gearbox. The optional brake servo became standard on the S2 of 1968, which also had a longer wheelbase chassis developed for the Tuscan SE, bolt on (not bonded on) body panels, twin bonnet vents and Cortina Mkll rear lights. The S3 of 1970 had a 92bhp engine, and vents in the front wings.
It was still available as a kit but the new Lilley management no longer encouraged do it yourselfers and, in any case, by the of the decade new British purchase tax rules wiped out the kit market. The 1600M carried on the tradition of a small engined TVR after 1973, but by then the majority of buyers were opting for the much faster 3 liter models.
I loved my SII — RMA 995H