I was driven around all over Britain in one of these (1963 Safari Beige Deluxe reg no 992 UNN) between 1965 and 1968. It got passed to my mum who ran it for a few years as a 2nd car. It was an epic little family car - bright, clean and my Dad serviced it himself as he was a trained mechanical engineer. That is just so lovely - if I had the space to cover it up and occasionally drive it - I would in a heartbeat. It brings back so many, many happy memories. Lovely example.
I'm 54 years old, I was a car mad kid in the 70's so I remember these being everywhere but even in the mid 70's I don't remember ever seeing one as tidy as this. A couple of weekend's work and it'll be like brand new. It's so close to perfect, you'd just have to do the few remaining minor jobs and that car would be an absolute text book minter!
I bought a new Viva in 1965 -It was definitely a late Friday car ! Very shoddily put together .The clutch cable had a lovely habit of disconnecting itself on a regular daily basis .The left right turn switch was flimsy and wobbly-and many other problems .I was happy to get rid of it within 6 months.
There was a short time when these cars were imported into Canada, by GM I believe. If I recall correctly they sold for just under $2000 Cdn. As someone who could afford little else, I took one out for a test spin on a cold winter's day. I became suspicious when the glue holding the foam padded dash failed in the cold and it fell to the floor. Needless to say the test drive was short. Like other English cars, they couldn't handle Canadian winters (or summers either for that matter). Even my Dad who was a transplanted Brit, gave up on his Hillmans, Consuls and Zephyrs. GM also quickly lost patience and only sold Vivas for one or two model years and then immediately dropped parts support. Sadly, virtually all British cars failed to compete with Japanese cars and Volkswagens. Now and then you see a coddled Brit sports car but nothing else.
The Viva was sold as a Vauxhall through Pontiac and Buick sales channels and a differentiated variant called the Envoy Epic through Chevrolet and Oldsmobile outlets. Contrary to your post, these sold well in Canada and were the second best selling import behind VW. They were sold from 1964 till 1967, when the more shapely HB Viva and Epic took over and ran till 1970. In 1971, GM phased out both Vauxhall and Envoy branding for what was the HC Viva in other markets and went with Firenza, sold through all its sales arms. This car was so shoddily built that it led to the first ever class action lawsuit in Canada. The final Firenza was sold in 1973, being carryover stock from 1972.
@@ck270 Thank you for your more complete and accurate history. I will say that over the years GM has shown little respect for the the car buying public and these cars were a prime example.
I had the same model as my first car but mine was blue. As a student I drove it all over the country. I used to sleep in it by removing the passenger seat and standing it on top of the driver's seat then moving the back seat to lengthways on the passenger side. I slept in it like this at the Glastonbury Festival in 1972 in front of the first pyramid stage.
My dad had an Australian 1966 HA Vauxhall Viva. The slick four speed floor shift and rack and pinion steering encouraged spirited driving. The center bolt in the transverse front springs kept breaking with the result the leaves would move to one side making one side harder than the other and the car would lean on the soft side. As a city car okay but on long hauls on the expanse of Australia? Sadly lacking.
It never fails to amaze me that there's hardly any early receipts on older vehicles like this with dates , work done and mileage . Things you would normally keep for the life of the vehicle . And where are the 1960s MOTs ?. They would have a detailed verifiable record of the mileage , if they'd been kept.
I'm 78 and one of these was my second car, after a Hillman Husky. It was my pride and joy but a total rust bucket - an example of the worst of British car manufacturing. I sold it and got Sunbeam Alpine Series 5 GT, best car for a young lad about town 😜😜
I was driven around all over Britain in one of these (1963 Safari Beige Deluxe reg no 992 UNN) between 1965 and 1968. It got passed to my mum who ran it for a few years as a 2nd car. It was an epic little family car - bright, clean and my Dad serviced it himself as he was a trained mechanical engineer. That is just so lovely - if I had the space to cover it up and occasionally drive it - I would in a heartbeat. It brings back so many, many happy memories. Lovely example.
The trim that you call "chrome" trim is actually made of stainless steel. I have a red Vauxhall Viva Deluxe like this from 1965.
I owned same model same colour in the 90s loved it am a fan
I'm 54 years old, I was a car mad kid in the 70's so I remember these being everywhere but even in the mid 70's I don't remember ever seeing one as tidy as this. A couple of weekend's work and it'll be like brand new. It's so close to perfect, you'd just have to do the few remaining minor jobs and that car would be an absolute text book minter!
I bought a new Viva in 1965 -It was definitely a late Friday car ! Very shoddily put together .The clutch cable had a lovely habit of disconnecting itself on a regular daily basis .The left right turn switch was flimsy and wobbly-and many other problems .I was happy to get rid of it within 6 months.
There was a short time when these cars were imported into Canada, by GM I believe. If I recall correctly they sold for just under $2000 Cdn. As someone who could afford little else, I took one out for a test spin on a cold winter's day. I became suspicious when the glue holding the foam padded dash failed in the cold and it fell to the floor. Needless to say the test drive was short. Like other English cars, they couldn't handle Canadian winters (or summers either for that matter). Even my Dad who was a transplanted Brit, gave up on his Hillmans, Consuls and Zephyrs.
GM also quickly lost patience and only sold Vivas for one or two model years and then immediately dropped parts support. Sadly, virtually all British cars failed to compete with Japanese cars and Volkswagens. Now and then you see a coddled Brit sports car but nothing else.
The Viva was sold as a Vauxhall through Pontiac and Buick sales channels and a differentiated variant called the Envoy Epic through Chevrolet and Oldsmobile outlets.
Contrary to your post, these sold well in Canada and were the second best selling import behind VW.
They were sold from 1964 till 1967, when the more shapely HB Viva and Epic took over and ran till 1970.
In 1971, GM phased out both Vauxhall and Envoy branding for what was the HC Viva in other markets and went with Firenza, sold through all its sales arms.
This car was so shoddily built that it led to the first ever class action lawsuit in Canada. The final Firenza was sold in 1973, being carryover stock from 1972.
@@ck270 Thank you for your more complete and accurate history. I will say that over the years GM has shown little respect for the the car buying public and these cars were a prime example.
I had the same model as my first car but mine was blue. As a student I drove it all over the country. I used to sleep in it by removing the passenger seat and standing it on top of the driver's seat then moving the back seat to lengthways on the passenger side. I slept in it like this at the Glastonbury Festival in 1972 in front of the first pyramid stage.
I owned one gearbox sycro went. In gearbox blew head gasket. Bought brand new
incredibly nice, my Viva Deluxe is almost in the same condition 🇸🇪
What a stunner! Beautiful!
My dad had an Australian 1966 HA Vauxhall Viva. The slick four speed floor shift and rack and pinion steering encouraged spirited driving. The center bolt in the transverse front springs kept breaking with the result the leaves would move to one side making one side harder than the other and the car would lean on the soft side. As a city car okay but on long hauls on the expanse of Australia? Sadly lacking.
Seems to be the UK version of the Opel Kadett.
It never fails to amaze me that there's hardly any early receipts on older vehicles like this with dates , work done and mileage . Things you would normally keep for the life of the vehicle . And where are the 1960s MOTs ?. They would have a detailed verifiable record of the mileage , if they'd been kept.
This car comes with original service book, owners diary of use and servicing, previous MOT certificates etc
Beautiful! 😍😍😍😍
Styled by a milk carton designer, the HB was a massive improvement
One a quiet night, put your ear on the bodywork and hear it slowly rotting away. Surprised one has lasted so long.
No. Vauxhall Viva. You can only go up😂
I'm 78 and one of these was my second car, after a Hillman Husky. It was my pride and joy but a total rust bucket - an example of the worst of British car manufacturing. I sold it and got Sunbeam Alpine Series 5 GT, best car for a young lad about town 😜😜
Saw this today. It’s a beauty.