Member of the

Vauxhall Bedford Opel Association


Pages

Who are we?

The Vauxhall Viva Owners Club, here to promote, maintain and continue the survival of the Vauxhall Viva, old or new, standard or custom, mint or poor, all are welcome.


HC trim options:
HC chassis code:
HC general option codes:



Lots of people ask about tax free status, the date for tax exemption has recently changed. Now all cars built before 1 January 1974 are eligible for ‘historic vehicle class’ and therefore exempt from paying road tax in the UK. The VVOC does not hold records of when a specific chassis number off a vehicle was made. All we can do is point you at the information below to find out the official year of manufacturer for your vehicle. Additional help may come from Vauxhall themselves and its best you contact them directly.


Chassis numbers (VIN) become a lot more complicated on the Viva HC due to the many different models, engine sizes and names other than Viva.



There are essentially two VIN systems used on HC’s the early ones used the same VIN Number system as the later HB’s as explained below, the later HC’s changed the system and is explained lower down on the page.


This can be explained thus:


The Early VIN Plates:


1st Digit 9 = VAUXHALL (ALL Vauxhall cars start with a 9)


2nd Digit 3 = VIVA HC


3rd Digit 5 = Model such as SL, DeLuxe or Standard


4th/5th Digit 11 = 2 door 69 = 4 door, 15 = estate, 37 = Coupe


6th Digit 8 =YEAR letter (0=1970,1=1971, 2 = 1972, C = 1973, D = 1974, E = 1975 etc.)


7th Digit E = Factory where made E = Ellesmore Port, V = Luton.




The Later VIN Plates:


Ist Digit 9 = Vauxhall


2nd Digit 3 = Vauxhall HC (early).


This digit later changed to give more information:


C = Viva E,
D, = Viva L or Firenza
E = Viva SL, GLS, Firenza or Magnum (single carb)
F = Firenza Sport SL, Magnum (sports twin carb)
F = Firenza High Performance (HP) Droopsnoot


3rd/4th Digit


11 = 2 door saloon,
15 = 2 door estate,
69 = 4 door saloon,
37 = 2 door coupe.


5th Digit Next came engine identification codes:


D =1256cc,
C =1256cc low compression (overseas)
J = 1759cc,
H = 1759cc low compression (commercial)
K = 2279 single carb,
P = 2279 twin carb.
R = HP Firenza


6th Digit Year Letter


C = 1973,
D = 1974,
E = 1975,
F = 1976,
G = 1977,
H = 1978,
J = 1979.


7th Digit Factory Code


‘Y’= LUTON (Viva HCs and ALL HA vans)
‘X’ = ELLESMERE PORT (Viva HCs).


Note:
Droopsnoot Firenzas were coupé body, so chassis number would read 9F37R.
Early Droopsnoot Sportshatch estates were 2279cc single carb with automatic choke, so the chassis number would start 9F15N Later Droopsnoot Sportshatch estates were 2279cc twin carb, so chassis number would read 9F15P. (Webmaster edit; I am pending confirmation of the twin carb chassis number)

Lots of people ask about tax free status, the date for tax exemption has recently changed. Now all cars built before 1 January 1974 are eligible for ‘historic vehicle class’ and therefore exempt from paying road tax in the UK. The VVOC does not hold records of when a specific chassis number of a vehicle was made. All we can do is point you at the above information to find out the official year of manufacturer for your vehicle. Additional help may come from Vauxhall themselves and its best you contact them directly.