Chassis numbers on Viva HA cars are very easy to read. The first three digits would be one of the following:


HAS = HA Standard saloon
HAD = HA Deluxe saloon
HAH = HA Super Luxury (SL) saloon
HAE = HA 6cwt van
HAV = HA 8cwt van.

The 6 or 7 figure number that followed was the vehicle’s own number ie HA D 4001001.


Model identification from August 1963 to July 1967 was by means of an identification plate attached to the left hand rear of the engine compartment.

From August 1967 identification is by means of the Vehicle Identification Number Plate (‘VIV’) plate which is attached to the left hand front door pillar. An example of this plate is shown below.

This can be identified as a Bedford Viva Van, four cylinder engine, de-luxe model, built in 1968 production year, at Luton, its chassis number is 700001.


The first five numeric characters on the ‘VIN’ plate identify the model, the sixth digit represents the model year and the seventh is the plant identification. The remaining six characters represent the actual chassis
number.

MODEL DESIGNATION

The new model designation featured on the ‘VIN’ plate is based on the following:

1st Digit This identifies Vauxhall Motors as a manufacturing plant and will be constant on all passenger models.

2nd Digit This identifies the particular range, a different character will be used for each range of passenger and light van models.


3rd Digit This is to identify the engine and vehicle flavour. A variety of characters will be used and as an example detailed below are those applicable to Series HA/92000

The model indications in brackets i.e. HAE/V, etc. indicate the equivalent model indication in the old type designation.


4th and 5th digit These together identify the Body style, and are as follows.

6th digit This will be a number and provides a production year code. Thus ‘8’ denotes the vehicle to be a 1968 production vehicle, ‘1’ will denote 1971, and so on.


7th digit This identifies the place of manufacture and will be as follows. ‘V’ Luton, ‘E’ Ellesmere Port, ‘T’ Dunstable

The remaining six digits form the actual chassis number, Viva Van chassis numbers commence at 700001 and are preceded by the ‘V’ because these cars are built at Luton.

Saloons:

Vans:

As a side note, Saloon produced from Knock down kits had additional letters added to the chassis numbers to denote the state in which the car was assembled:

S.A. = A
QLD = B
VIC = M
W.A. = P
N.S.W. = S