Looked the part too, with a black grill, alloy wheels and bonnet scoops. 0-60mph was dealt with in a respectable 10 seconds and flat out it could do over 100mph. It was powered by the 1975cc engine from the Vauxhall Victor, fitted with twin cabs and given a close ratio gearbox. The Viva GT picked up where the Brabham left off in 1968. You have more chance of finding a set of gnashers on a chicken! This model was only in production for a year, and although there are still some survivors today, they are one of the rarest Viva’s around. The Brabham Viva was tuned to produce 78bhp from its 1159cc engine, it had an upgraded exhaust manifold with straight through exhaust system, twin carbs and a go faster stripe that runs across the front of the bonnet and down the sides of the car. Vauxhall Viva HB by Jaimie Wilson – Under Creative Commons Licence An automatic variant joined the range a year later. The suspension setup was totally upgraded too, now making use of a double wishbone and coil spring setup, thus giving the HB better handling and a more comfortable ride. But because it was marginally heavier than the HA, it certainly wasn’t any quicker. This gave the standard tune 47bhp and the higher compression “90” version 60bhp. It utilised the same engine as the HA, but this was enlarged to 1159cc. The style was originally taken from the Cresta and scaled down by the Viva design team. Offering a bigger boot and a roomier interior, It was more comfortable than the car it replaced.Īnd thanks to its new iconic coke bottle styling, it was more charismatic than its predecessor too. Announced in September 1966, the HB was larger and vastly superior to the outgoing model. The second generation of Viva inherited the two engines from the outgoing model, but little else. Vauxhall Viva HA by Andrew Bone – Under Creative Commons Licence The HB Viva The HA Viva sold rather well over its three-year life span, with Vauxhall managing to sell in excess of 303,000. Typical of cars at the time, the Viva had a front engine, rear wheel drive layout.Ī limited number of high-performance versions of the HA Viva were produced, these included the “Lawrence Tune Viva GT” and the “Brabham Viva GT,” but unfortunately it is believed these are now as common as the Dodo… Extinct. Branded the “90”, this engine produced a whopping 56bhp, which was enough to shave a few seconds off the 0-60mph time. In 1965, the Deluxe and SL models were offered with a highly strung version of the same basic engine.
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Standard models had a power output of 44bhp and a four-speed manual gearbox, capable of propelling the Viva from 0-60mph in an eye watering 20 seconds, and onto a top speed of 78mph. The beating heart of the Viva HA was a 1057cc four pot engine available in two states of tune. Bedford HA by The Ade – Under Creative Commons Licence
Unchanged other than receiving updated engines from time to time. Thanks to repeat fleet orders, particularly from British Telecom, British Rail and the Post Office, The HA van remained in production through to 1983. The SL models had chrome strips, a different style of grill at the front, and triple rear tail lights.Ī van version of the Viva was produced marketed as the Bedford HA.
The Deluxe model could be identified by chrome strips running along the sides of the car. A higher trim variant branded the “SL”, short for “Super Luxury” joined the range in 1965. Initially the car was available in two versions, the “Standard ” trim, making up the mainstream model, or the “Deluxe” making a more luxury offering.
The HA Viva was offered in only one body style, a two-door saloon. Vauxhall Viva HA by Andrew Bone – Under Creative Commons Licence As the design was slated by critics for being rather bland, and lacking the flair that some of its rivals possessed. Unfortunately however, this was not necessarily a good thing. Much of the styling of the Viva was inspired by the Kadett too. Both the Kadett and the Viva shared the same floor-pan, chassis, and engines. This car was brought to market just one year after its European cousin, the Opel Kadett. Launched in September 1963, the HA was the first generation of Viva. The swinging sixties, Beatles on the Radio, and Viva’s on the roads. Over its 16-year life span, three Generations of Viva were produced, branded the HA, the HB and the HC. This was Vauxhalls post-war small car, designed to compete with the likes of the Triumph Herald, Morris Minor and the already popular Ford Anglia and Ford Escort. It’s not Vive la France, Its Viva la Vauxhall.
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