Wow, I just saw one of these

[Gina D.]

1987 Vixen Motorhome. We have discussed them before. Only 587 made.

This one was a 1987, even said so on the personalized Vermont plat "87Vixen", but appeared to be in "ratty" condition. The hood was tied down to keep the lid from popping off, and it was parked on the side of the street appearing quite like someone was living in it.

We stopped to knock, but no one was home... and no, no camera.

[Robert Brummett]

There's one for sale here...

http://www.vixenrv.com/vixen_for_sale.php

$26K OBO.

[james kent]

They seem to be very under powered for an extended van. My old '89 Safarri van had more power. Might be OK on the praries but how about West coast mountains?

[peterh]

Lynne and I saw a Vixen a couple times while we were in Yellowstone last summer. I saw another one (or perhaps the same one) here in Washington State last fall, too. They are cool-looking!

[David & Leslie]

Ooooooooooooooo, I want that one in the ad! Ummmmm, nope - D won't part with our 13ft GeezerEgg. Vixen is a really neat rig tho! LdB

[Bryan L.]

Wow, the mileage on those is really impressive. That compares to our minivan with no load.

[pjanits]

Perhaps that mileage only worked in conjunction with the 1989 price of $1.19 per Gallon.

[Frederick L. Simson]

D won't part with our 13ft GeezerEgg. Vixen is a really neat rig tho! LdB

So pull the GeezerEgg with a Vixen!

[Karalyn]

with gas mileage like that, why on earth are they not still making them?

[David & Leslie]

Ah, Frederick ... a superb thought! You have NO idea what a wicked seed of a plan has now been planted here LdB

[Frederick L. Simson]

with gas mileage like that, why on earth are they not still making them?

Because if it cost between [b]$40,000 and [b]$53,000 in 1986, it would cost between [b]$77,527 and [b]$102,724 today!
For that money, people want a BIG motorhome.

Consumer Price Index Inflation Calculator

[peterh]

This web site has a lot more details about the Vixen, including a neat, 10-minute Vixen sales video, and a Vixens-For-Sale section with half a dozen selling for $20-30K and a couple for less.

And it has a molded fiberglass shell!

[Roger H]

THE Vixen repair shop in the US used to be just up the road from us, until he retired. It was interesting to see Vixens from all over the country come in for repairs. They had an odd-ball drive train... a Pugeot engine or something like that as I recall.

Roger

[Donna D.]

A couple from Northern California came to one of the NOGs. They owned a Vixen, in fact they put an ad in the Misc RV sale forum about it. I THINK Jim said the drivetrain was German. Anyway:
"All of the spare parts and molds were purchased by a dealer when the manufacturer went belly up in 1989. They are now owned by another dealer in Montana. So these vehicles are not totally orphaned. In fact, the new guy keeps coming up with new improved replacement parts. He also has a deal with Coach Glass to make and drop ship the windshields to his customers."

[David & Leslie]

Hey, more interesting information on these amazing vehicles - thanx, Donna! L 'n D

[Palmer M]

had an odd-ball drive train... a Pugeot engine or something like that as I recall.

The Vixen had a BMW diesel. I had the original brochure for the Vixen for years; I'll look through my stored stuff and see if I can find it.
P

[Palmer M]

Thanks for the link to the video, Peter. The Vixen was a nicely made vehicle, and they're a treat to see on the road because they have a very different proportion - very low profile.
I had thought that the ones with the raised, "custom van" type roof had been retrofitted, but the video shows some views of both roof types.
Also, I thought they were all BMW turbodiesels, but the video shows them fitting a Buick 3800/HydraMatic drivetrain. That was probably because the BMW ones were (I think!) all equipped with a manual transmission.
Thanks everyone for the info on one of my favorite vehicles of all time. It's right up there with the Corvair-based UltraVan, and the GMC motorhome of the '70's.
One other detail I remembered while looking at the pictures - the tail lights were from the Pontiac T1000 (rebadged Chevy Chevette).
P

[ddayton]

Spotted this one in a South Dakota campground in September 2007. Was not able to locate the owner/resident for comment. It looked as if it were in pretty good condition. More photos at:
http://tinyurl.com/aswx86




Don

[Steven O. Colburn]

I get 21 mpg towing my Hunter thru the hills of Big Sur with my Honda Fit and I can get parts anywhere! (well, for the car at least)