vauxhallviva.com

This months Total Vauxhall mag, good article on Baby Bertha, and a meet on Teesside of Vauxhalls, that despite taking place 10 mins walk from my house I missed!! Did you know there was a prototype 4wd Manta built with a Ferguson box, got shelved.

This months Retro Cars mag. Lock Up feature has John Sharp and his many HB's Firenza and others. Also 3 small photos from the show at Manchester of our club stand, although we dont get a mention in the write up.

Peter

A pic is better than nothing... Sometimes we are lucky to get that.

Dan

Very good write up for John and his fleets of Vivas. Very cleaver man and very fortunate to have such a lush "garage" all 24 meters of it !!!

In the June 2012 issue of PC mag, Rust In Peace.In a scrapyard in Sweden. Near a place called Ryd. The owner of the yard died a few years ago aged 92, and the 140 cars in the yard was handed to the Swedish Heritage Trust who have opened the yard to the public. Why carnt we do that over here!! In case you were wondering, its a HA.

Peter

The guy died at 92 ! - so he had plenty of time to get that HA back on the road - some people hey , just wasting time !

Jon

June Classic Car Mart mag.

Advert for the HC when it first came out.

It states in the advert, carnt really read it on that copy, that the HC is available with 3 engine options. The first, 1159, 59bhp, second, 1159, 72bhp, third, 1600, 80bhp.

I always thought the HC was available at launch with the 1159 '90' engine, didnt know it had 2 power levels available.

Peter

Classic Car Mart, July 2012.

Comparision test with BMC 1100 v Viva HA.

HA supplied by Vauxhall Heritage, (39 YYA). Bit unfair as the ADO16 is a Vanden Plas Princess version with 70bhp 1300 engine, the VIva a basic Deluxe model with 44BHP. Quite a good write up, but no surprise the bloke prefers the BMC car at the end.

Also in the same mag.Peter

Ok so where did they get the picture with the 1964 date from
We know that the 1st of the production line at E P was in 1963!!!!!!!

Little bit more information now I have found the books I lost (dont ask)

Vauxhall cars 1945-1964

page 36:

"September 1963 was to see Vauxhall launch its first small saloon car in nearly 30 years, with the introduction of the Vauxhall Viva HA. ........ Luton turned out the 2-millionth Vauxhall, and there was literally no capacity for a small car.
To address the problem of capacity, and given the incentive of selective financial assistance, the company announced it was to open a new plant at Hooton, Near Ellesmere Port....... and it was decided that it would be the base for the manufacture of the new 'H' Concept car. Construction began in August 1960, and the first Viva rolled off the specially-built Ellesmere Port in August 1964. However, the success of the small BMC and Ford saloons (especially the Mini), prompted Vauxhall to commence the production of some Viva Saloons at Luton in September 1963, just in time for the forthcoming motor show."

Body shells were produced prior of these dates, indeed shell production at Ellesmere port was up and running very successfully prior to August 1964, these body's were shipped by train to Luton for assembly into complete cars.





Conversely once the production line was up and running at Ellesemere Port but manufacture of its own running gear was still being developed, running gear from Luton used. Then on 1st June 1964 first fully assembled car using its own parts was assembled. This is the photo we see in one of the earlier posts.

Its easy to get all mixed up with dates, But 1963 was the first year of production not 1964. the exact date varies from production line to production line...

Below for you super anoraks is a prototype car (note the front end and rear windows) being tested circa 1961-2 at Chaul End test track, Bedfordshire.