Ralph Lohmeyer's Vixen S3 LVX2233/4
Last updated - 04.08.2011
My name is Emma Airey. I bought the above Vixen this year from
Stephen Nunn (had owned the car for the previous 9 years) in Stock, Essex, UK.
I paid £1,050 for the car - found it through a Pistonheads advert on
the internet and it is currently undergoing a 12+ month professional
rebuild by Neil Hookway of BM Racing Services Ltd nr Southend-on-Sea Essex.
The car was in pieces when I bought it and had been for the past 3
years.
The previous owner used the car at various track days until there was a
loud bang from the chassis en-route to a track-day!! The car was taken
apart with the intention of repairing the chassis/rebuilding but he
bought a Lotus Seven instead.
Since I purchased the car Neil has had the chassis repaired/outriggers
replaced/stronger engine mounts/mountings for a full roll cage + powder
coated in bright yellow. I have also had a roll cage made and this has
been powder coated in yellow.
The suspension components have been stripped down/powder coated (in
yellow!) with purple polyurethane bushes. They look SO SMART!! Pity
no-one will ever see them....
The original engine is currently undergoing a £2,000 rebuild. The
gearbox has been sent away for rebuilding and should be back in 2-3 weeks'
time.
The car was originally black and had been re-painted a total of 7 times
over 33 years (always black). It will be stripped right back to the
gel coat and re-sprayed yellow by Phil Wood or PR Wood Motorbodies
(Westcliff-on-Sea), hopefully before Christmas this year.
I am looking forward to taking delivery of my rebuilt car in the
spring/early summer of 2005.
My intention is to keep this car indefinitely - to my mind it's THE
most gorgeous of all TVR models ever produced (and yes, I have previously
owned TVRs - a 350i E880 EBL - great car!! (TVR 21X) + 2 Chimaera 450s).
The car is now at rolling chassis stage and has gone to be trimmed.
Completion of the rebuild should be mid-August 2005. If I had realised
at the outset the costs involved with a professional rebuild I would not
have undertaken it.
The original estimate I was given for £12,000 is
nowhere near the actual cost.... it's nearer to £20-22,000.... With hindsight
I should have waited 12 months - there have been a couple of very nice
Vixens sold on Pistonheads for approx £10-12,000, It would have saved me a
lot of worry, hassle and money!
Anyway, I am sure the car will be great fun. I'm just so impatient to
take delivery of it.
If anyone has any history/photos of this car then please feel free to
contact me.
Current Owner:
Ralph Lohmeyer
To contact the owner, please route inquiries through the registar.
Registar: Registry-Admin