Vixen GT: The Lost British Sports Car That Came Back After Decades

Roar Back - There are countless sports cars from the past that many have never heard of—and the Vixen GT is one of them. A rare gem of British engineering, the Vixen GT is a remarkable example of a forgotten sports car that history nearly left behind. Built in the 1960s by a former British racer and talented engineer, this unique vehicle competed in several racing events before vanishing from the scene—only to be rediscovered decades later and restored to its former glory.

The Vixen GT was one-of-a-kind sports car made by Ian Stronach, a former British racer who was also a gifted engineer back in the 1960s. (Picture from: Otomotif-OkeZone)

The Vixen GT was the brainchild of Ian Stronach, a former racing driver from Manchester, England. Active throughout the 1960s and 70s, Stronach competed in various racing series including Formula 2, Formula Libre, and Formula 5000. It was during his racing career that he developed the vision of building his own race car—one that would embody innovation, performance, and his personal touch.

The Vixen GT was built on a tubular steel frame with the front part of the car taken from the Cooper-Jaguar MkII car. (Picture from: Otomotif-OkeZone)

Ian Stronach, the British racing
driver and creator of the Vixen GT.
(Picture from: Octane).

In 1962, he began work on the project, crafting a tubular steel chassis. The front suspension setup was borrowed from the Cooper-Jaguar MkII, a well-respected car of the era. Since Stronach completed almost all the work himself, the car took two years to finish and was finally completed in 1964.

 

Stronach initially planned to build three Vixen GTs and even constructed the chassis for two additional units. However, the other two were never completed. The prototype, however, stood out for its forward-thinking design. Notably, the Vixen GT featured a rear mid-engine layout—placing the engine just in front of the rear axle—an advanced configuration for its time. 

The Vixen GT car project began in 1962 by building a tubular steel frame with the front part of the car taken from the Cooper-Jaguar MkII car. (Picture from: Drive-My.com)

Another innovative feature was its integrated rear spoiler, seamlessly blended into the bodywork. This made it one of the first sports cars to use such a design element. Though Stronach originally intended to equip the car with a 3.5-liter GM V8, he ultimately chose a 1.6-liter Ford Kent turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produced 157 horsepower, a respectable figure for its class.

Originally, the Vixen GT powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine of Ford Kent that produced 157 ponies. (Picture from: Drive-My.com)

Over the years, the Vixen GT was campaigned in races across Europe, passing through several owners. In 1980, it was acquired by French racer Lionel Laglave. Eventually, it was left abandoned on a farm in Strasbourg, France, where it deteriorated for decades.

Meanwhile, in the cabin the potentially knee-crushing crossmember under the dashboard has been replaced with a safer, higher-mounted reinforcement. (Picture from: Drive-My.com)

Fast forward to 2012, Belgian car enthusiast Didier van der Linden was searching for a restoration project when he stumbled upon the Vixen GT listed for sale on a classic car website. The car was in poor condition—rust-covered, missing its engine, stripped of paint, and with a dusty, neglected interior. 

After restoration, the Vixen GT powered by a a 3.5 liter V8 engine from Buick which is capable of producing 280 hp @ 6,500 rpm and torque of 385 Nm @ 3,800 rpm. (Picture from: Drive-My.com)

Recognizing its historic value, Didier purchased the car and embarked on a meticulous restoration, enlisting none other than Ian Stronach, then 81 years old, to assist. Despite his age, Stronach’s memory remained sharp. With the help of old sketches, photographs, and Stronach’s guidance, the restoration took three and a half years of hard work and dedication.

The Vixen GT comes with a rear spoiler design that blends with the body, making it the first sports car was implemented such design at that time. (Picture from: Otomotif-OkeZone)

Today, the Vixen GT is reborn. It now features a 3.5 liter V8 engine from Buick, producing 280 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 385 Nm of torque at 3,800 rpm, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox from a Renault Alpine. With its stunning new bodywork and revitalized mechanicals, the Vixen GT has returned to the racing world and is often seen at events at Circuit Jules Tacheny in Mettet, Belgium.

Once a forgotten relic, the Vixen GT now stands not only as a fully restored 1960s sports car, but also as a powerful tribute to innovation, determination, and the relentless passion of those who refuse to let automotive history be lost to time. From a rusted frame in a forgotten farmyard to roaring once more on European tracks, it embodies the spirit of revival and the enduring legacy of a dream brought back to life. *** [EKA [02032023] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DIDIER VAN DER LINDEN | DRIVE-MY.COM | OCTANE ]

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