THE KNOWLEDGE
TIMELINE
1963 Oct 1057cc HA Viva (std and de luxe)
1964 Apr Lawrencetune Viva GT: 87.5mph
1964 Aug Bedford 6/8cwt vans launched, plus Martin Walter Beagle estate conversion
1965 Jun Viva SL added, with more trim
1965 Oct 60bhp de luxe 90 and SL90 added
1966 Sept Bigger 1159cc HB launched
1967 Feb Borg-warner auto option on 90; Brabham Viva added: 78bhp, 92mph
1967 Jun Three-door Estate body arrives
1968 Feb Viva GT replaces Brabham: 2-litre, ohc, 104bhp Mar Crayford convertible added
1968 May Viva 1600, with ohc slant-four
1968 Oct Four-door body option
1970 Oct HC replaces HB: std, 90 & 1600
1971 May Firenza coupé added; 2000 option
1971 Sep Base unit up to 1256cc; ‘90’ ends
1972 Feb 1600 up to 1800, 2000 to 2300
1973 Sep 1800/2300 renamed Magnum; Firenza gets ‘droopsnoot’ and ZF five-speed
1979 Production ends; last HA vans built ’85
FACTFILE
Sold/number built 1963-’79/1,516,792
Construction steel monocoque
Engine all-iron, ohv 1057/1159/1256cc or ohc 1599/1759/1975/2279cc ‘four,’ single Solex, Zenith or Stromberg or twin Stromberg carbs Max power 44bhp @ 5000rpm-110bhp @ 5200rpm Max torque 59lb ft @ 3000rpm140lb ft @ 3000rpm Transmission fourspeed manual or three-speed auto, RWD
Suspension: front wishbones, transverse leaf spring (HA) or coil springs (HB/C), antiroll bar (GT/HC) rear live axle, torque tube and semi-elliptic springs (HA) or four links and coil springs (HB/C), Panhard rod (GT), anti-roll bar (Firenza 2000); telescopics f/r Steering rack and pinion Brakes drums, optional front discs and servo (standard on GT/2300) Length 12ft 11in-13ft 63/4in (3937-4134mm) Width 4ft 111/2 in-5ft 43/4in (1511-1645mm) Height 4ft 61/2 in-4ft 7in (1384-1397mm) Wheelbase 7ft 71/2 in-8ft 11/4in (2324-2470mm) Weight 1568-2251lb (713-1023kg) 0-60mph 20.6-10.7 secs
Top speed 78-100mph Mpg 20-40
Price new £658-1063 (1968)
CLUBS
Vauxhall Viva Owners’ Club vauxhallviva.com
The Viva Outlaws Club vivaoutlaws.co.uk
SPECIALISTS
MEV Spares mevspares.co.uk Vauxhall Green Parts vauxhallgreenparts.co.uk