Vixen 21 motorhome

Since we have had some threads regarding camper vans recently, I thought I would post some pic of a motor home I saw at C&C today. 

It is a Vixen 21 motorhome.  Classified a a Class A motorhome, but you can park it in your garage.  Has a full kitchen, bath, and a full size bed with no rearranging stuff to use.  The dinette can be converted to another bed.  Power comes from a 6 cyl BMW turbo diesel.

I think they're pretty cool, and they're also pretty rare.

Rob Sigel had a couple of columns on Vixens in BMWCCA Roundel Weekly a few months ago. IIRC he was considering buying one & looked at a couple & provided pretty good info on what to look for or be aware of in Vixens.

A friend of mine has one of those things, they are pretty cool in a Space:1999 sort of way.  

Only thing cooler would be an UltraVan, I passed one on I75 a week or two back between Dayton and Toledo with Oregon plates. I can't imagine driving a corvair based Camper across the country.

I passed a vixen on the highway last year. They are incredibly small. Very very cool in a retro-futuristic way.

Always really dug those.

ultimate camping machine?

In reply to Hal :

Interesting that it uses a GM belt tensioner, although maybe that's a retrofit.

They also used 3800 Buick engines.  Always though they were neat machines.

I'm familiar with their existence and some of their basic stats. One thing i don't know is whether i can stand up in one..

In reply to Vigo :

that's why they have the poptop

Vigo said:

I'm familiar with their existence and some of their basic stats. 

Read that as 'back seats' and thought this thread was going to go in an even more interesting direction.

In reply to Vigo :

As long as you are ~6' or less, no problem with the top up.

In reply to Vigo :

If you get the hi-top, and 6' or shorter, you can stand up all the time.

It's a controversial opinion, but I think these are much cooler than the GMC "Stripes" motorhomes.

Hal said:

In reply to Vigo :

As long as you are ~6' or less, no problem with the top up.

 

One of the design points of the Vixen is that it would fit in a standard residential garage, which is why they went with the flip up top.

But will it tow a car trailer?

I do like the design though.

I doubt you'd be able to pull much of anything on a trailer.  That BMW diesel engine was only rated at 114hp, plus they used a Renault transmission that wasn't very strong.

stuart in mn said:

I doubt you'd be able to pull much of anything on a trailer.  That BMW diesel engine was only rated at 114hp, plus they used a Renault transmission that wasn't very strong.

"It is impossible to make an RV slower than an old VW camper"

Vixen: "Hold my beer..."

stuart in mn said:

I doubt you'd be able to pull much of anything on a trailer.  That BMW diesel engine was only rated at 114hp, plus they used a Renault transmission that wasn't very strong.

well, what it is needs is a Porsche transaxle bolted up to a BMW v10 from the M5

mad_machine said:

stuart in mn said:

I doubt you'd be able to pull much of anything on a trailer.  That BMW diesel engine was only rated at 114hp, plus they used a Renault transmission that wasn't very strong.

well, what it is needs is a Porsche transaxle bolted up to a BMW v10 from the M5

The owner said he was thinking about putting in the new Cummins 4cyl "crate engine" that just came out.  Didn't say what transmission he would use.

I love these things. They really press all of my Ark II buttons. Sadly they can't tow anything of note, or I'd probably have one rotting away in my yard.

I mean COME ON. If the crap really hit the fan, who wouldn't line up behind Bulgy McSexbeard here to wander the wasteland forever?