Viva, ride with a gentleman!

[Jussi]

Those were the words in a Viva advertisement in Finland in 1965, probably aimed to remind the potential buyer of the British origin of the car. I got my first HA in 1972 as a first year engineering student. Maybe "ready and willing" would have been a better phrase than "gentleman" in my case.
Now that I am a 61 year old engineer, I have bought my second Viva, a '65 Deluxe in Pacific Blue. In 1974 I impressed my girl friend with the Viva, now I can impress the same lady with a Viva again.

[Icedmunkie]

Excellent Story

[hbpeter]

Hello and welcome. Very nice car. Do you have any photos of the original one you bought?

Peter

[Jussi]

This is the original as I bought it for 2500 euros in June. I haven't done anything to it. Cars in the Veteran car registry (like this one) need to visit the MoT equivalent every two years and that is due next time by the end of June 2014.

I plan to clean and zinc paint the floors and sills during the winter. Although they are original and there are no holes, there are rusty areas that need attention.

[hbpeter]

Sorry, I meant any photos of the one you bought in 1972!

Peter

[Jussi]

OK, get it.

Actually, I didn't buy that one, I got it from my mother who was infuriated by the local Vauxhall dealer's trade-in offer of 2500 marks for a HC costing 11000 marks (in 1971). "That's the price of my handbag" she said and walked out. So she bought a new VW Beetle and gave the Viva to me.

Here are two pictures of it. The first one shows the Viva in August 1966, one month old. My sister and her boyfriend are about to get in and drive away.

The third picture is from 1973. Note the padded radiator grille cover, studded winter tyres and rear window heating panel. And somehow I think 19 year old youngsters dress differently these days!

The second picture is of our first Viva, a HAS from 1963. I am giving it a wash. The picture was taken with a Polaroid camera. You pulled the picture out and it was ready in a minute, but needed to be wiped with a lacquer. After 50 years, the lacquer wipe is what shows best in the picture.

It is often said that it is sad there are people in front of cars in photos, spoiling what would be a good picture of the car. But maybe the pictures would never have been taken, had the people not been there.

August 1966

[hbpeter]

Brilliant, can you remember the reg number of the first Viva? I would like to add these pictures to our register, need to be a member of the Owners Club to view it.

Peter

[Jussi]

Sure.

The first one: Reg. no GH-826, chassis no 4001852
The second one: Reg. no GBG-85, chassis no 6229079, engine no 324032
The third one (present): VGU-92, chassis no 5199655, engine no 231989

So it seems we've only had Luton built cars.

Here is an order slip that came with the GBG-85, showing that it was one of 150 shipped to Turku, Finland in June. Unfortunately I had to reduce the size to upload it so it may be a bit unclear.

[hbpeter]

Thanks for those, excellent photos and memories.

Peter

[dann01]

Lovely looking car.

Dan