Vauxhall Viva?

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Discussion

Mk3Spitfire

Original Poster:

2,921 posts

127 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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So after a couple of years of Classic car motoring (only a Spitfire, granted) I am looking to source a second classic car. I do not want to spend a fortune as my money will be better spent elsewhere, but I have fallen in love with classic car driving.

So...I have been looking for my second classic. Main priorities were something that looked classic, and was pre tax (or soon to be). Looked at Moggies, Triumph 2000/2500, Rover P6's etc and liked all of them really. Then I looked at Viva's, Victor's and even Ventora's.

I dont know why, but the Viva just seems to jump out at me. It has the very faintest hint of a baby muscle car (use your imagination), and yes...I am fully aware that it is far from such. If I had the disposable income I would go for an early Capri or a Mk3/4 Cortina....or, in a perfect world a Celica GT2000. That's the kind of look I want.

Anyway, what are your opinions on Viva's. I know rust will be an issue, but prices seem to be modest enough that a better example wont break the bank.

I have had a couple of beers tonight, so please don't link any classifieds (at least not until the morning), or I will do something silly, and we will fall out.

MarshPhantom

9,658 posts

136 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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I like them. Nearly bought a 1800 Magnum Coupe in bright yellow as my first car, still kick myself for not getting one. Not a bad looking car with the twin round headlamps.

Engines range from 1.3 to 2.3 litre. Available as 2/4dr saloon, coupe and rather cool 3dr estate.

Edited by MarshPhantom on Saturday 16th August 08:00



Looks quite nice.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/151378626826?clk_rvr_id=68...

Edited by MarshPhantom on Saturday 16th August 08:01

52classic

2,445 posts

209 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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Phantom's find looks very nice and I agree that there are some undiscovered charms in the Vauxhall range.

Of the Vivas it would be an HB or even an HA for me. Even back in the day I never quite took to the big arches on the HC, which I felt to be out of proportion with the wheels. Strangely, the Viva was considered quite a rot box in its early days but those that have survived seem pretty sound.

Amongst other Vauxhalls catching my fancy at the moment would be a 101! Pretty much unloved even in their day I have started to notice the retro American styling and above all the crazy low prices they seem to fetch these days.


Mk3Spitfire

Original Poster:

2,921 posts

127 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks both. I'd seen that one in the bay, and a few other nice looking ones on a classic car site. The more I look at them, the more I like what I see.
Haven't seen any 101's, but I'll have a look.
Funny, I wouldn't dream of owning a today's vauxhall, but these ones I'm quite liking!
The engine won't be too important as I don't plan to hoon round in it anyway.

dbdb

4,311 posts

172 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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I loved the rear lights on the Viva as a child and incorporated them into a lot of my car doodles.

MarkwG

4,812 posts

188 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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We must have had 10+ in the family back in the 60's & 70's: the 1256 engine (often badged as 1300) was a bit gutless to be honest, but the bigger engined cars were ok. The best was my mums which was a Gold Riband in Garnet Starmist, with beige interior, Rostyles, gold pin stripes, even a radio I think: smashing old bus, although had a bh of a flat spot which caught me out quite dramatically early in my driving career...
For the time, the handling & braking was ok, what held them back was probably the lack of image compared to the equivalent Fords, the confusing badging & naming policy & the relative lack of sporting achievement. Although they were raced & rallied very successfully, they didn't benefit from factory support as Ford did. The blue car above looks very tidy. As mentioned, they could rot, but not as badly as previous Vauxhalls; they were badly bitten by the F Type victors, which could hold water like a fish tank.
Although all of mine were HCs, I prefer the coke bottle look of the HB: inside the HC was much better specced, though. The HA is really a 50's car, really antiquated inside compared to the HB & HC. If I was in the market & couldn't reach a Droopsnoot Firenza, I'd probably be looking towards a Magnum 2300, perhaps an estate or a 2 door, or maybe an HB GT, lovely car, much prettier than an Escort!

Flatinfourth

591 posts

137 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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I have been asked to help sell a dark green 1967 HB Viva SL90. it is in superb condition, I put a headlining in it only a few weeks ago, and retrimmed the parcel shelf. PM me if interested.

Mk3Spitfire

Original Poster:

2,921 posts

127 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
MarkwG said:
We must have had 10+ in the family back in the 60's & 70's: the 1256 engine (often badged as 1300) was a bit gutless to be honest, but the bigger engined cars were ok. The best was my mums which was a Gold Riband in Garnet Starmist, with beige interior, Rostyles, gold pin stripes, even a radio I think: smashing old bus, although had a bh of a flat spot which caught me out quite dramatically early in my driving career...
For the time, the handling & braking was ok, what held them back was probably the lack of image compared to the equivalent Fords, the confusing badging & naming policy & the relative lack of sporting achievement. Although they were raced & rallied very successfully, they didn't benefit from factory support as Ford did. The blue car above looks very tidy. As mentioned, they could rot, but not as badly as previous Vauxhalls; they were badly bitten by the F Type victors, which could hold water like a fish tank.
Although all of mine were HCs, I prefer the coke bottle look of the HB: inside the HC was much better specced, though. The HA is really a 50's car, really antiquated inside compared to the HB & HC. If I was in the market & couldn't reach a Droopsnoot Firenza, I'd probably be looking towards a Magnum 2300, perhaps an estate or a 2 door, or maybe an HB GT, lovely car, much prettier than an Escort!
Thanks for that. If I had the money I would go for the Ford equivalent, but I cant justify spending that much. I would guess that Viva's although rather unlikely to hit super-classic status, must have hit the bottom as far as price goes, so if ever, now would be the time to buy one. I still havent managed to find a Magnum but will keep an eye out. Failing that then, it seems the HB or HC are the ones. Yes that blue one is lovely.

MarshPhantom

9,658 posts

136 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
What's your budget, this is very cool, 2.3 Magnum Estate.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/281408921253?clk_rvr_id=68...


Mk3Spitfire

Original Poster:

2,921 posts

127 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
MarshPhantom said:
What's your budget, this is very cool, 2.3 Magnum Estate.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/281408921253?clk_rvr_id=68...
That would probably be at the very top end of my budget, and realistically, if I want to retain my marital status, is beyond it.
However...Wow. That is a stunning car. That colour is amazing.

kev b

2,708 posts

165 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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I used to work on Vivas when they were still being made, the pushrod 1256cc type engine was a dog of the first order.
Rattly, underpowered, plagued with misfires due to the dreadful carb and distributor which was built so badly you could not set them up properly when brand new.

The distributor cam lobes were so out of tolerance you could not set the points gap/dwell equally on all four cylinders at the same time so had to go for an average.

Whining diffs, growling gearboxes and problems caused by shoddy quality such as the intermittent cutting out due to poorly made ignition switches, pedals falling off because of bad bushes, I remember them as truly dreadful cars.

The belt driven OHC versions were a bit better though.

Markgenesis

536 posts

131 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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Had loads of classics always fancied a Viva, this one caught my eye last night, love the colour, Rostyle wheels and it's a two door.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Viva-X14-Specia...


Mk3Spitfire

Original Poster:

2,921 posts

127 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Markgenesis said:
Had loads of classics always fancied a Viva, this one caught my eye last night, love the colour, Rostyle wheels and it's a two door.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Viva-X14-Specia...
Yea, its a beauty, and a pretty good price at the moment. They have a certain look about them. It's either a Viva or a P6 i think.

Jonnas

1,004 posts

162 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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I'd take the stickers off but otherwise I'm loving this......

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C516102#

Mk3Spitfire

Original Poster:

2,921 posts

127 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Jonnas said:
I'd take the stickers off but otherwise I'm loving this......

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C516102#
That was one of the very few Magnums I could find.
I also am not a fan of lairy stickers and those oversized rally lights.

droopsnoot

11,810 posts

241 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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It might be worthwhile getting onto the forum at the Viva Owners Club site (www.vauxhallviva.com) as you do see cars for sale on there from time to time as well as on ebay and carandclassic sites.

Values do seem to be going up for decent cars, a recent low-mileage HC went for £6700 at auction which I think is as high as I've seen. I must admit that as I'm not in the market for a car I don't really pay that much attention to prices.


cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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As a previous poster already stated try to avoid the 1159 and 1256cc versions, they are slow and quite unrefined, the 1800cc is a torquey unit and has a great 'snick-snick' gearchange as does the 2300 which puts out 110bhp, weighs just under a ton and gets along very well.

At the amount of money the 'good' Viva's seem to be advertised for would you consider a 2.0 E Ascona B, 2.0 Cavalier Coupe or Opel Manta GTE? They're good lookers with punchy motors and fine driving manners.

grumpy52

5,565 posts

165 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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Big engined Vivas , either HB or HC are pretty potent in standard form ,2ltrs max for the HB or 2.3 for the HC .
We used to wind the ford boys up about how much money they had to spend to get the bhp we got as standard , for the same money we could get a 2.3 ltr up to 170bhp.
One nice motor would be a FD Victor VX4/90 .

Mk3Spitfire

Original Poster:

2,921 posts

127 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
cheddar said:
At the amount of money the 'good' Viva's seem to be advertised for would you consider a 2.0 E Ascona B, 2.0 Cavalier Coupe or Opel Manta GTE? They're good lookers with punchy motors and fine driving manners.
I very much like the look of those early manta's. Very few from the pre tax era though. And Ascona and Cav dont seem to have any. I dont like the 80's look, but those manta's from the 70's...just right.

Mk3Spitfire

Original Poster:

2,921 posts

127 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Opel Kadet fastback's seem to have that look too.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C491803

That one is nice looking. Except for the rust. And the mechanics. And the LHD. And the fact that it's in Portugal.
But the look....the look is spot on.