1966 VAUXHALL VIVA

This is no ordinary Vauxhall Viva.

MGW 414D is a 1966 Viva HA 90 Deluxe now showing just 28,946 miles, with a fascinating history and a superb collection of genuine period performance modifications.

Long-term owner Mike Dodson developed the car with the involvement of legendary Vauxhall tuning specialist Bill Blydenstein. At its heart is a Blydenstein-modified engine featuring an 11.5:1 compression ratio cylinder head, camshaft and balancing work, twin-branch exhaust manifold and Abarth free-flow exhaust.

The chassis was also upgraded with Koni dampers, modified front wishbones and front and rear anti-roll bars, while inside you'll find Contour Microcell reclining seats, a motorsport steering wheel, roll bar, mahogany trim and even electric windows.

The finished car was featured in Custom Car magazine in June 1974, providing some fantastic period provenance. (Copy available).

Featured on Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars in 2022 (Series 6, Episode 3), Drew Pritchard and Paul Cowland, sympathetically recommissioned the Viva while retaining the modifications and character that make it so special.

The Blydenstein engine was removed and rebuilt by Vauxhall specialist Adrian Miller, with the engine bay subsequently detailed and refinished. The original Dunlop D1 alloy wheels were refurbished, the Koni dampers rebuilt, the dashboard and door cappings re-veneered and a new headlining fitted, alongside extensive mechanical and cosmetic recommissioning.

Importantly, the team resisted the temptation to fully restore the car. Much of the original bodywork, paint and period patina was retained, leaving MGW 414D looking and feeling like the genuine period-modified car it is rather than a modern recreation.

Today it remains a wonderfully authentic example of the British modified-car scene of the 1960s and 1970s. This isn't a modern recreation of a period-modified Viva – it is the real thing.

With its Blydenstein connection, period magazine history and television appearance, MGW 414D is a particularly special surviving Viva HA.

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