Vauxhall Viva HC (Vauxhall Viva)

Member Name: danny03

Product:	Vauxhall Viva
Date:	30/11/03 (1633 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Versatile, Cheap, Basic

Disadvantages: Old, Maintenance, reliability

Vauxhall Viva HC
Manufactured between 1971 and 1978
Varients include: Viva - 2 and 4 door saloon, 1159cc and 1256cc engines. Larger engines were fitted. Viva E - 2 door coupe. Viva SL - 2 and 4 door saloon. Viva GLS - 4 door saloon. Firenza - 2 door coupe, 1800cc and 2300cc engines used. Magnum - 4 door saloon, 1800cc and 2300cc engines used.

Was as popular as it's HA and HC predecesors both as a family and fleet car, but rightly or wrongly earned a reputation for being unreliable. It also suffered badly from rust, thought to be due to the poor steel purchased from the continent because of stopages and disputes in the UK at the time of manufacture.

Some good examples of the Viva are still to be found, but most if not all have seen body repairs and panel replacements. Those that have not are best avoided by the novice DIY car enthusiast as a purchase of a 'modest classic'

Handling of the origional model was poor, but could be improved modertely with the modification of the suspension and wider road wheels and tyres. The larger engines seemed to long outlast their smaller cousines, but there seems to be fewer of these engines to hand, despite the use Vauxhall slant 4 engine in early Frontera 4X4 vehicles.

Spares for the ngines are still widely available, as the 1256cc engine was also used in the later Chevette. Body panels and windscreen are more difficult to obtain. Various Viva owners clubs can be found and the web.

Examples can still be purchased from around 100 pounds for a car neeing major work, to 500 or more for a reasonable if not road worthy vehicle.

Summary: