In the mid 2000s, I had a 39k-mile Vixen 21 motorhome and loved it. Very small, 21-foot diesel pusher with a 2.4L BMW turbodiesel and 5-speed manual trans.

Weird as it gets!

I'm looking for another one.

History: The engineer responsible for Pontiac Super-Duty, the GTO, "Radial Tuned Suspension", and Delorian engineering came back to the US and made almost 600 of these little motorhomes. Same Renault rear transaxle as the Delorian BTW.

Story: I looked up the one I used to have and the guy I sold it to in 2005 never drove it but just parked it outside in Maryland for 10 summers and winters which trashed its perfect interior. Not running anymore, the guy sold it to someone else who dragged it home where it's been sitting for another seven years. At least it's inside now but it's mechanically derelict and the interior is toast. It still has 39k miles, having only been driven 100 miles at the front end of a 17 year sleep. No doubt the brakes, tires, batteries, injection pump, and entire interior must all be renewed. In other words it has been rendered trash by neglect.

Leads:
If you have any leads I could follow, I'm all ears. I'm watching the Vixen owner's site, FB Vixen group, and generally googling every few days. Likely this is going to be found by knowing somebody who knows somebody.

Thanks in advance!

Just for fun, I'll attach a few pictures of the one I used to have.

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
65 Canadian Monza 4dr 110/PG 40k
66 Sprint Corsa convt - First car! Re-purchased 43 years later
2+2 gnatsuM 5691

+17 Tons of parts

@ Phil: You are a weirdo! (As am I)

I also like Cortez and have owned two! My first was a '69 that started with a 302/4sp and I later converted to 455/AT.

The cool Cortez are the 1st gen units with the Slant Six engines. Because they have an all-steel body without any corrosion protection, rust is their undoing.

I started this shopping exercise looking for another Cortez but somehow slid over the Vixen along the way.

Here's our first Cortez somewhere along the California coastline:

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
65 Canadian Monza 4dr 110/PG 40k
66 Sprint Corsa convt - First car! Re-purchased 43 years later
2+2 gnatsuM 5691

+17 Tons of parts

I just saw one a day ago on Craigslist in Vancouver BC

[vancouver.craigslist.org]

brentc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just saw one a day ago on Craigslist in Vancouver BC
>
> [vancouver.craigslist.org]

Thanks for the lead, Brent!

Even converting to USD that's still $41k. They seem to get really expensive once they cross the border or an ocean. Nice ones in the US seem to be priced from $15k to $25k. You (I) just need to find one ahead of the flippers.

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
65 Canadian Monza 4dr 110/PG 40k
66 Sprint Corsa convt - First car! Re-purchased 43 years later
2+2 gnatsuM 5691

+17 Tons of parts

Here's one in Phil's neighborhood:

---

Dan Davis ~ Pierce County, WA ~ CCF admin ~
CORSA +Corvairs NW + North Cascades Corvairs + Corvanatics
1966 Corsa Turbo coupe ~ ~ 1966 Corsa 140 Coupe ~ ~ 1965 Monza 140/4 Convertible Sierra Tan/Fawn ~ 1964 Monza Spyder Convertible ~ 1960 Monza Ermine White/Red PG ++ ~ 1965 Monza 140/4 CoupeEvening Orchid w/ ivory/black interior ~ 1962 Monza Wagon 102/4 ~ 1963 Rampside/Scamper ~ 1963 Red/Greenbrier ~ 1969 Ultra Van #468

Here's one down in Texas.
Sounds really nice for the price! $15K

---

Dan Davis ~ Pierce County, WA ~ CCF admin ~
CORSA +Corvairs NW + North Cascades Corvairs + Corvanatics
1966 Corsa Turbo coupe ~ ~ 1966 Corsa 140 Coupe ~ ~ 1965 Monza 140/4 Convertible Sierra Tan/Fawn ~ 1964 Monza Spyder Convertible ~ 1960 Monza Ermine White/Red PG ++ ~ 1965 Monza 140/4 CoupeEvening Orchid w/ ivory/black interior ~ 1962 Monza Wagon 102/4 ~ 1963 Rampside/Scamper ~ 1963 Red/Greenbrier ~ 1969 Ultra Van #468

Thanks for the links, Dan!

The one in San Luis Obispo had me all excited because I first saw the ad when I was in San Luis Obispo in December. It turns out that ad is a scam although I can't understand what the scam might be. I spoke with a Vixen owner in nearby Morro Bay and the photo is one he took of a long-gone unit. Why do people put up these phony ads? Might be a pay-per-click thing.

I emailed twice about the silver one in Texas with no reply. I'd buy it in a blink if the seller ever gets back to me. I suspect it's gone to Europe where flippers do nothing but mark them up double or triple cost.

I have a running list with a dozen or so that I've chased. So many ads are legacy ads from years ago. I am sorely tempted by a blue beauty in Louisiana but it's 10k over my generous max.

I appreciate the help! Keep 'em coming; one of these is going to pan-out!

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
65 Canadian Monza 4dr 110/PG 40k
66 Sprint Corsa convt - First car! Re-purchased 43 years later
2+2 gnatsuM 5691

+17 Tons of parts

Here's another in Cambria.

Sounds interesting.

---

Dan Davis ~ Pierce County, WA ~ CCF admin ~
CORSA +Corvairs NW + North Cascades Corvairs + Corvanatics
1966 Corsa Turbo coupe ~ ~ 1966 Corsa 140 Coupe ~ ~ 1965 Monza 140/4 Convertible Sierra Tan/Fawn ~ 1964 Monza Spyder Convertible ~ 1960 Monza Ermine White/Red PG ++ ~ 1965 Monza 140/4 CoupeEvening Orchid w/ ivory/black interior ~ 1962 Monza Wagon 102/4 ~ 1963 Rampside/Scamper ~ 1963 Red/Greenbrier ~ 1969 Ultra Van #468

Thanks Phil! Email sent.

That "Shopok" site is the same site with the phony ad for the purple/silver one listed in "San Luis Obispo". We'll see if any of their ads are real. I hope so!

The Morro Bay Vixen was sold and is on it's way to the Netherlands.

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
65 Canadian Monza 4dr 110/PG 40k
66 Sprint Corsa convt - First car! Re-purchased 43 years later
2+2 gnatsuM 5691

+17 Tons of parts

There is a guy not to far from my home who collects these Vixen’s, I saw two in the driveway, not sure what he has in the backyard. I will try to get some pics.

Eric
Napa, CA

NapaVair Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is a guy not to far from my home who collects these Vixen’s, I saw two in the driveway, not sure what he has in the backyard. I will try to get some pics.
>
> Eric
> Napa, CA

That sounds great! Thanks, Eric

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
65 Canadian Monza 4dr 110/PG 40k
66 Sprint Corsa convt - First car! Re-purchased 43 years later
2+2 gnatsuM 5691

+17 Tons of parts

At $5K it needs work for sure.

[sfbay.craigslist.org]

You guys are good! Phil, the one you just linked just sold! Not all bad news for me though because that was a gasser with a fixed high-roof not the folding roof.

One just popped up in Costa Mesa and it looks really good at $25k. One popped up yesterday in Texas and it looks fairly good too but way off the money at $40k.

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
65 Canadian Monza 4dr 110/PG 40k
66 Sprint Corsa convt - First car! Re-purchased 43 years later
2+2 gnatsuM 5691

+17 Tons of parts

Those are pretty cool! Craig, do you still have the camper/boat thing?

What is the towing capacity of the Vixen? Could you flat tow a Corvair?

_________________________________________
Ryan Counterman (Moderator)
1965 Corsa Kelmark V8 ///1965 Monza Sedan 110/PG /// Ultimate Corvair Hauler/// Don Eichstaedt's 1965 Corsa Racecar
West Michigan Corvair Club /// 1966 Corsa GTP Convertible Mid Engine 3.8L Supercharged

Not sure if website is actually active.

But there is an email and phone number.

They're right around the corner...Montana!

[www.vixenrv.com]

Vixen Owners Association.

[vixenrv.org]

VairKing Wrote:
Those are pretty cool! Craig, do you still have the camper/boat thing?
What is the towing capacity of the Vixen? Could you flat tow a Corvair?

Craig replies: Towing capacity is minimal. The BMW 2.4L 115hp diesel is pretty well occupied just moving the motorhome and one has to keep an eye on EGT when going up hills. You could probably get away with limited towing on flat ground. An additional issue is the factory-spec first gear is pretty tall. Many people modify the transmission with a lower first gear.

Phil Wrote:
Not sure if website is actually active.
But there is an email and phone number.
They're right around the corner...Montana!

Craig replies: I've seen the Vixens at the Belgrade MT vendor and I wasn't impressed for the money being asked.
I'm a member at VixenRV.org and have been asking for and chasing leads there. At the moment there's a great Vixen in Costa Mesa at $25k and I'm really tempted to make the jump. Projects rigs are cheaper but maybe not in the long run.

Thanks again for all the leads and eyeballs swiveling out there for this quest!

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
65 Canadian Monza 4dr 110/PG 40k
66 Sprint Corsa convt - First car! Re-purchased 43 years later
2+2 gnatsuM 5691

+17 Tons of parts

MB diesel and a pop-up roof...kinda right!!!

[bringatrailer.com]