The Viva was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors in a variety of models from 1963 to 1979. The models were known as the HA, the HB and the HC series. Vauxhall Motors is a UK car company. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). ...

HA Viva

HA Viva shown in original 1964 brochure

The Viva HA (1963-1966) was Vauxhall's first serious step into the compact car market. It had a 1057cc overhead valve engine. The 4 cylinder front mounted engine drove the rear wheels. brouchure scan of Vauxhall Viva HA model (1963) - This work is copyrighted. ... brouchure scan of Vauxhall Viva HA model (1963) - This work is copyrighted. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... A cylinder head containing two overhead camshafts, one above each of the two valves In automotive engineering, an overhead valve internal combustion engine is one in which the intake and exhaust valves and ports are contained in the cylinder head. ...

There are no 4 door or estate versions of the HA Viva made available. A limited-production estate car conversion by Martin Walter Ltd. of Folkestone was known as the Bedford Beagle. Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... Folkestone Harbour, picture taken from the golf court Folkestone (pronounced fōkstun) is a coastal resort town in the Shepway district of Kent, England. ... The Bedford Beagle was a dormobile-type estate car conversion of the Bedford HA 8cwt van, which itself was based on the Vauxhall Viva HA. The conversions were undertaken by Martin Walter Ltd. ...

There was a van version of the Viva HA, which was known as the Bedford HA Van, this remained in production until 1983. Thousands of these vehicles were owned by the GPO (later British Telecom) and the bright yellow vans were a common sight. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British General Post Office (GPO) was officially established in 1660 by Charles II and it eventually grew to combine the functions of both the state postal system and telecommunications carrier. ... BT Group plc (which trades as just BT, and is commonly known by its former name, British Telecom) is the privatised former British state telecommunications operator. ...

These differed from the HA Viva in being taller. As the HA Van continued in production after the HA Viva had been replaced by the HB and HC models, the engine was uprated as were other items on it over the course of its production run.

A van version of the Viva HB was developed, but it never got beyond the prototype/mock-up stage. The HA Van was eventually replaced by the Chevanne.

The HA set new standards in its day for lightweight, easy to operate controls, a slick short gearchange, lightweight steering and clutch pedal, good all-round visibility and relatively nippy performance. It was one of the first cars to be actively marketed towards women, perhaps as a result of these perceived benefits for them.

The front crossmember (steering, suspension and engine mounting) assembly from the HA became a very popular item for DIY hot rod builders in the UK, due to its simple self-contained mechanics, similar to older designs such as those from the 1930s, and ability to accommodate much larger engines within its span. The assembly featured a double wishbone suspension design and the entire unit could be removed and adapted to another vehicle as a complete unit. (For similar reasons the Jaguar IRS assembly was often used at the rear of these custom cars). T-Bucket hot rod Hot rods are older, often historical, cars. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A double wishbone suspension is an automobile independent suspension design using two parallel wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. ... Jaguar Cars Limited is a British luxury car manufacturer, with headquarters in Browns Lane, Coventry, England. ... An Independent Suspension is an automobile suspension system that allows the wheels on an axle to move independent of each other. ...

In Canada, the HA was sold as the Vauxhall Viva by Pontiac/Buick dealers and also as the Envoy Epic by Chevrolet/Oldsmobile dealers, and was second in sales to the Volkswagen Beetle amongst imported compact cars. The Volkswagen Type 1, more commonly known as the Beetle, Fusca, Coccinelle or Cox, Vocho(Spanish), Bug, Volky or Käfer (German), Escarabajo (beetle in (Spanish) is an economy car produced by the German automaker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003. ...

Launched in just base and Deluxe trim, a more luxurious SL (for Super Luxury) variant came in late 1965. Engines were available in two states of tune - normal and hotter 90, giving Vauxhall up to six Viva variants in some markets. 90 models came with front disc brakes, while SLs featured contrasting bodyside flashes, a criss-cross grill element, full wheel covers, three round element tail lights and better cabin trim. 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... On automobiles, disc brakes are located within the wheel The disc brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel. ...

The HA chalked up over 306,000 sales in its run, giving Vauxhall a successful return to the small car market, which they had abandoned following World War Two. Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead...

The HA, however, suffered severely from corrosion problems along with other Vauxhall models of the time and very few of this model remain.

HB Viva

Viva HB SL model, from about 1967

The Viva HB (1966-1970) was a larger car than the HA, featuring a distinctive coke-bottle waistline, modelled after American General Motors (GM) models such as the Chevrolet Impala/Caprice of the time. It featured the same basic engine as the HA, but enlarged to 1159cc. Image File history File links Vivahb. ... Image File history File links Vivahb. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is an American automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Vauxhall. ... The Chevrolet Impala is an automobile built for the Chevrolet division by General Motors. ...

This time, apart from the standard and 90 stages of tune, there was also, for a brief time, a Brabham SL/90 HB that was purported to have been developed with the aid of world racing champion Jack Brabham. Brabham models were marked out externally by distinctive black stripes at the front of the bonnet that curved round to the fenders and then headed back to end in a taper at the front doors. This model is almost impossible to find today. This model, like the Viva GT are the two most sought after models made. The Brabham model differed from the standard Viva SL/90 in having a different cam-shaft, uprated suspension with anti-roll bars, different exhaust manifolds, and a unique twin-carb manifold, as well as differing interior trim. Sir John Arthur Jack Brabham, OBE (born April 2, 1926) is an Australian racing driver who was Formula One champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966. ...

Two larger overhead camshaft engines from the larger Vauxhall Victor were also offered - a twin carb 1,975 cc in the Viva GT from Feb 1968 and a 1,599cc making up the Viva 1600 from May 1968. A cylinder head sliced in half shows two overhead camshafts—one above each of the two valves. ... The Vauxhall Victor was a medium/large model of automobile produced by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors from 1957 to 1976, when it was renamed as the VX Series and continued until 1978, when it was replaced by the Carlton, which was based on the German Opel... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

The Viva GT had substantially different engine and running gear and interior to the standard Viva HB models. It was distinguished by having a black bonnet with twin louves and being all over white. Later GTs came in different colours.

With the expanded engine programme, the HB saw numerous permutations of model offerings, with base, deluxe and SL trims offered with a choice of standard 1.2, tuned 90 1.2, Brabham 90 1.2 and the aforementioned overhead cam units offered during its run. The Brabham was effectively replaced by the 1600, although many complained of high fuel consumption with this engine. Front disc brakes came with the 90 and overhead cam engine models, while a larger 12 gallon fuel tank was also part of the 1600 and GT package.

Originally offered as just a 2 door saloon, an attractive 3 door estate joined the HB range in late 1967, but the advent of the 4 door in late 1968 saw the HB bursting sales records worldwide. 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ...

Aftermarket conversion specialists, Crayford, also ran off some convertibles based on the 2-door Viva. Very few of these conversions exist still, only 2 GT model HBs were converted, but both are known to survive, and will likely be on the show scene in the coming years.

The HB Viva was also built and sold in Australia as the first Holden Torana. This article is about the Australian car manufacturer. ... The Holden Torana was a car produced by General Motors Holden (GMH), the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. ...

Canadian Chevrolet/Oldsmobile dealers continued to sell a rebadged HB as the Envoy Epic through 1970. Chevrolet Logo Chevrolet (IPA: ʃɛv. ... Oldsmobile was a brand of automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ...

The HB's handsome lines and peppy performance made it a sales hit, with close to 560,000 units sold. Body treatment improved greatly after Vauxhall's poor reputation with corrosion on previous models and the HB onwards had well protected body finishes.

Today HB 2 door Vivas are very sought after, 4 door variants are rather rare (in contrast to the HC, where 2 door varients are rarer), and the HB estate models are very sought after too, and rarer still.

HC Viva

Viva HC

The Viva HC (1970-1979) was mechanically the same as the HB but had more modern styling and greater interior space due to redesigned seating and positioning of bulkheads. It offered 2 and 4 door saloons and a fastback estate with the choice of either standard 1159cc, 90 tuned 1159cc or 1600cc overhead cam power. No 2.0 GT version was offered with the new range, although the 2.0 became the sole engine offering for Canada, where the HC became the Firenza, marketed without the Vauxhall name. The cloned Envoy Epic was dropped as Chevrolet dealers now carried the domestic Chevrolet Vega. The HC was pulled from the Canadian market after two model years amidst consumer anger over corrosion and reliability issues. A class action lawsuit launched against General Motors of Canada by dissatisfied owners was not settled until the early 1980s. Image File history File linksMetadata Vivahc. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Vivahc. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). ... The Chevrolet Vega was a subcompact car sold from 1971 through 1977. ...

The American influence was still obvious on the design, with narrow horizontal rear lamp clusters, flat dashboard with a "letterbox" style speedometer, and a pronounced mid bonnet hump that was echoed in the front bumper.

A coupe version called the Firenza was introduced in spring 1971 to compete with the Ford Capri and forthcoming Morris Marina Coupe. It was available in deluxe and SL forms, with the latter sporting four headlights and finally resurrecting the missing 2.0 twin carb engine from the HB Viva GT. 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Ford Capri Mk III 1. ... The Marina was a car manufactured by the Morris division of British Leyland throughout the 1970s, a period of great turbulence and difficulty for the British car industry. ...

The basic 1,159 cc engine was enlarged to 1256 cc in late 1971 and with this the 90 version was deleted.

The overhead cam engines were upgraded in spring 1972, the 1.6 becoming a 1.8 (1,759 cc) and the 2.0 (1,975 cc) twin carb became a 2.3 (2,279 cc). At this time, the Viva 2300 SL and Firenza Sport SL did away with the letter-box speedometer and substituted an attractive seven dial instrument pack. Firenza SLs had a two round dial pack, though all other Vivas and Firenzas stuck with the original presentation. 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

In September 1973, the Viva range was divided, the entry 1256cc models staying as Vivas, with optional 1.8 power if automatic transmission was chosen. 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

The 1.8 and 2.3 L models took on more luxurious trim and were rebadged as the Magnum. At the same time, the Firenza coupe was given a radical makeover with an aerodynamic nose and beefed up 2.3 L twin carb engine mated to a ZF five speed gearbox, turning it into the HP (High Performance) Firenza. Vauxhall Magnum The Magnum was a car manufactured by Vauxhall Motors from 1973 to 1978. ... The Firenza was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors between 1970 and 1976. ...

The Viva was again revised in 1975, with trim levels becoming the E (for Economy), L and SL. The E was Vauxhall's answer to the Ford Popular and was first offered as a promotional edition two-door coupe using surplus Firenza body shells, before becoming a permanent Viva model in two-door saloon form. It was the only Viva to still have the strip speedometer after this as the L and SL adopted the Firenza SL's two round dial set up. 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1956 Ford Popular The Ford Popular is a car from Ford built in England between 1953 and 1959. ...

In New Zealand, the Viva was re-named as the Magnum 1300 in 1975. This had the four headlight Magnum frontage and improved trim and equipment in a bid to overcome the Viva's basic car image and slowing sales.

A version of the Viva HC, called the Chevrolet Firenza, was produced in South Africa, where it offered the British 1.3 or a Chevrolet 2.5 L engine. The UK Firenza coupe was also offered in South Africa, with a special batch even having the small block Chevrolet V8 stuffed in to make for a veritable wolf in sheep's clothing. Chevrolet Logo Chevrolet (IPA: ʃɛv. ... Chevrolet Logo Chevrolet (IPA: ʃɛv. ...

Vauxhall Viva production was scaled down after the beginning of 1975, when General Motors introduced the new Vauxhall Chevette range of hatchbacks, saloons and estates - the hatchback version of which was also sold as the Opel Kadett City. But the Viva remained in production until the end of 1979 when the new Vauxhall Astra went on sale. By that time it was feeling very dated in comparison with more modern rivals like the Volkswagen Golf. Production ceased at a time when European manufacturers were making the transition from rear-wheel drive saloons to front-wheel drive hatchbacks in the family car market. The Chevette is a model of car manufactured by Vauxhall in the UK from 1975 to 1983. ... The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992. ... Vauxhall Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors (GM), on their small family car ranges since 1979. ... The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in North America) is a compact car / small family car manufactured by Volkswagen. ...

The passing of the Viva in 1979 marked a significant moment for Vauxhall, as it was the last car to be completely designed by the Luton-based company. All future Vauxhalls would be simply badge-engineered Opels, or in the case of the 2004 Vauxhall Monaro, a rebadged Holden. For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). ... Town crest Luton is a large town and local government district in England, located 51 km (32 miles) north of London. ... This article is about the European car manufacturer. ... The Monaro is a car produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors. ... This article is about the Australian car manufacturer. ...

Total HC sales ran to about 640,000 units, making combined Viva production top the 1.5 million mark. The millionth Viva was a gold HC produced in August 1971.

ɖThe HC Viva has been less popular till recently with classic car enthusiasts, as until recently 1970s cars weren't really sought after or considered true classics. This attitude is slowly changing, with HC Vivas changing hands for quite comparitively exorbitant prices on such places as eBay.

Viva Contemporaries

• Morris Marina
• Ford Escort
• Hillman Avenger
• Ford Cortina
• Morris Minor
• Ford Capri

The Marina was a car manufactured by the Morris division of British Leyland throughout the 1970s, a period of great turbulence and difficulty for the British car industry. ... The Ford Escort was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... The Hillman Avenger is a sub-compact car manufactured by the Rootes Group, and latterly Chrysler Europe. ... The Ford Cortina was a medium family car sold by Ford of Britain. ... The revolutionary Morris Minor was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show on 20 September 1948, and attracted immediate attention. ... Ford Capri Mk III 1. ...

Name revival

The Viva name would not appear on a General Motors car for another 25 years. In 2004, in cooperation with Lada manufacturer AutoVAZ, General Motors launched the Chevrolet Viva in Russia. This was essentially a four-door Opel Astra B. The name will also be used by Holden in Australia and New Zealand on versions of the Daewoo Lacetti and Nubira General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is an American automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Vauxhall. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lada logo Lada is the trademark of AutoVAZ, a Russian car manufacturer. ... This page is about a car manufacturer. ... The Astra is a General Motors (GM) small family car, badged as an Opel in continental Europe, a Vauxhall in the United Kingdom, a Holden in Australasia, and a Chevrolet in Latin America. ... This article is about the Australian car manufacturer. ... The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car available as a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback or a 4-door station wagon. ... 2004 Suzuki Forenza The Chevrolet Nubira is a lineup of compact sedans and station wagons made by South Korean GM Daewoo. ...

External links

• The Vauxhall Viva Owner's Club (Owner's Club catering for all Viva models)
• DroopSnoot Group (Owners' Club catering for Vauxhall's 'droopsnoot' model cars, including the Firenza, Magnum and Chevette HS/R)
• Vauxhall Heritage (Suppliers of Heritage Vauxhall Spare Parts, closing down soon, apparently)
• VBOA (Vauxhall, Bedford and Opel Association)
• Viva Outlaws (Owners Club catering for modified and racing Vivas, owners of the Viva GT Register)
• Viva Drivers Club (Owners Club catering for all Viva models, for owners who wish to drive their Vivas)
• Automobile Association of Singapore on the Viva