vauxhallviva.com

A couple weeks ago, I came into possession of a 1969 Epic. I think it hasn't been on the road since the early 1980's and spent most of the time since then in a farmer's barn here on Quadra Island. It was being hauled away, likely to meet its doom, but it's such a rare and intact car I offered to take it home and see if it can be saved.

The seats are in good shape, (just one small rip) but the rubber floor covering has cracked in several places. The odometer shows just over 40,000 miles. Small holes have rusted through here and there on the body (the worst is behind the handle inside the trunk lid) but it seems pretty solid overall and I'm hoping nothing structural is compromised. The underside is mostly covered with thick undercoating.

I got the engine to run a couple days ago and it sounds lovely so that's motivated me to carry on towards making it roadworthy again. A Haynes manual is on its way from England to help take some of the mystery out of this new-to-me car.

I also have an MGBGT and an Austin 1800 so I must have a soft spot for old British cars.

Here's a picture of it coming out of the barn for the first time in who knows how long.

Well done for saving the Epic - does not sound too bad from what you say. Keep us up to date on your progress.
Maybe consider becoming a paid up member.

Hello there and welcome in, i have to say that is one of the best introductory posts ive seen in a long time, and what a cracking looking car, what a find, well done, it will be interesting to see how you get on.

Hi, lovely car you've found there, keep us posted

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I'll submit the application for the club sometime this week. Was just looking for the engine number for the form... a little sanding revealed 22GB3488 stamped below spark plug #2. Other engine numbers I've found reference to on this forum seem to be just numbers. I'll take the alternator bracket off tomorrow and see if there are more numbers hiding under there.

That will be ok to put down on the for membership application - good luck with your restoration

A quick hello from one of the very few other Canadians on the board - I'm in Toronto. Looks like a great project! welcome

There's also Nick out on Prince Edward Island, with a Viva, so maybe you guys should set up the Canada Viva section?
If you do, I'm on my way for the first Annual General meeting, ( as soon as this other problem recedes )!!

Good luck lads.

Bob perry wrote:There's also Nick out on Prince Edward Island, with a Viva, so maybe you guys should set up the Canada Viva section?
If you do, I'm on my way for the first Annual General meeting, ( as soon as this other problem recedes )!!

Good luck lads.

Sounds like a plan! Sadly it is a bit of a drive to get to the meetings. JDC1 and his GT is the other Canadian member I am aware of and he at least is just a couple hours away. After that I know of another GT in Calgary, an HB in Thunder Bay, 2 in Manitoba and one on the Niagara Escarpment sort of near Niagara Falls. Oh and a very heavily modified HB just north of Toronto.

How does such trivia make its way to my brain?

At any rate, welcome again!

Application submitted. Didn't find any more numbers behind the alternator bracket... but it is pretty rusty there.

Nice to hear from a fellow Canadian! I like how you're keeping track of the others here. I have a similar list of the half a dozen other Austin 1800's I'm aware of in Canada.