Vauxhall Viva
| Vauxhall Viva | |
|---|---|
| Production period: | 1963-1979 |
| Class : | Compact class |
| Body versions : | Limousine , station wagon |
| Previous model: | Vauxhall 10 hp |
| Successor: |
Vauxhall Chevette Vauxhall Astra |
The Vauxhall Viva was a British lower middle class passenger car produced by the vehicle manufacturer Vauxhall , which was then part of General Motors . It was built in various versions from 1963 to 1979 and discontinued in 1979 in favor of its successor, the Vauxhall Astra . From mid-2015, the Opel Karl microcar was offered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland as the Vauxhall Viva.
Viva HA (1963-1966)
| Viva HA | |
|---|---|
 Vauxhall Viva HA (1965) |
|
| Production period: | 1963-1965 |
| Body versions : | limousine |
| Engines: |
Otto engines : 1.05 liters (32–44 kW) |
| Length: | 3937 mm |
| Width: | 1511 mm |
| Height: | 1353 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2324 mm |
| Empty weight : | 709-738 kg |
The Viva HA was Vauxhall's first new lower mid-range model after World War II. The car had an engine with 1057 cm³ displacement (74.3 mm bore, 60.96 mm stroke), triple bearing crankshaft and overhead valves ( OHV ). The front engine drove the rear wheels via a diaphragm spring clutch, a fully synchronized four-speed gearbox with a short center shift lever and a cardan shaft.
The panel van version was named Bedford HA and remained in production until 1983. Thousands of these vehicles have been bought by the UK General Post Office so the bright yellow vehicles were a common sight in the UK. In a limited edition, Martin Walter Ltd. in Folkestone converted the Bedford HA into a station wagon that was marketed as the Bedford Beagle .
The Viva HA, developed under the direction of David Jones and Maurice Platt, set new standards in its time for lightweight construction, ease of use, short shifting travel, smooth steering and clutch, good all-round visibility and relatively lively power delivery. It was actively marketed as a vehicle for women.
The front subframe (rack and pinion steering, wheel suspension and engine mounts) of the Viva HA were popular with hot rod manufacturers in Great Britain because its mechanics, similar to those from the 1930s, were simple and could also accommodate significantly larger engines. The subframe contains the wheel suspension on double wishbones with transverse leaf springs and can be removed from the vehicle in one piece and installed in another vehicle. The rear axle is rigid and is suspended by semi-elliptical longitudinal leaf springs and also guided by a drawbar . The service brake consists of hydraulically operated drum brakes on each wheel, with duplex brakes at the front . The parking brake acts on the rear brake drums via cables. Disc brakes on the front axle were available for an extra charge.
In Canada , the Viva HA was sold as the Vauxhall Viva by Pontiac and Buick dealers and as the Vauxhall Envoy / Epic by Chevrolet and Oldsmobile dealers. After the VW Beetle, it took second place in the import statistics for lower-middle-class cars.
In the beginning, the Viva HA was only offered as a basic and deluxe version; the better equipped SL (Super DeLuxe) variant did not appear until the end of 1965. There was the standard engine and the more powerful "90", which meant that the Vauxhall Viva was available in 6 versions in some markets. The "90" models were available with disc brakes at the front, while the SL versions had lightning-shaped applications on the side surfaces, a more elaborate radiator grille, large hubcaps (instead of axle caps), three round rear light elements and better interior fittings.
The Viva HA sold over 306,000 units, and so Vauxhall successfully returned to the lower mid-range market that they left after World War II . As with other vehicles from this time, the body of the Viva HA suffered badly from corrosion, so that today only a few copies exist.
1964–1966, the Viva HA was offered by Holden in Australia as the Holden HA .
Viva HB (1966-1970)
| Viva HB | |
|---|---|
 Vauxhall Viva HB |
|
| Production period: | 1966-1970 |
| Body versions : | Limousine , station wagon |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 1.2–2.0 liters (34.5–76.5 kW) |
| Length: | 4108 mm |
| Width: | 1600 mm |
| Height: | 1354 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2432 mm |
| Empty weight : | 770-939 kg |
The Viva HB was a larger car than the Viva HA and, like the US General Motors Chevrolet Impala / Caprice models from that period, had an accentuated Coke-Bottle beltline. As standard it had the engine of its predecessor, which had been bored out to 1159 cm³.
In addition to the standard and the "90" engine, there was also a "Brabham 90" engine for a short time, which it was said was developed together with the famous racing driver Jack Brabham . The Brabham models, which are rarely found today, had striking black stripes that ran from the front end of the bonnet over the fenders to the rear.
Two larger overhead camshaft ( OHC ) engines from the Vauxhall Victor were also offered : a twin carburetor 1975 cc engine for the Viva GT from February 1968 and a 1599 cc engine for the Viva 1600 from May 1968.
Due to the expanded engine range, there have been many changes to the different models in basic, deluxe and SL equipment, e.g. B. a standard 1.2-liter, a 1.2-liter "90" and a 1.2-liter "90 Brabham", and also combinations with the aforementioned OHC machines. The “Brabham” was actually replaced by the “Viva 1600”, but many customers complained about the high fuel consumption with this engine. Disc brakes were available on the "90" models and those with an OHC engine, while the larger 56 liter tank was reserved for the "1600" and "GT".
The GT models were initially available with pseudo-sporty equipment, such as a matt black engine hood with dummy air scoops, 4-pipe dummy exhausts, and chrome-plated hubcaps. This overly "sporty" equipment disappeared in late 1969 when the exterior and dashboard of the GT models were redesigned and the gear ratio changed, making the "GT" a more mature - if a little slower - sports model. Only 4606 units of the Viva GT were built, which is why they are very sought after and accordingly expensive.
At first the Viva HB was only available as a two-door sedan, followed by an attractive, three-door station wagon at the end of 1967, but it wasn't until the addition of a four-door sedan at the end of 1968 that sales figures skyrocketed worldwide.
The body specialist Crayford converted some two-door cars into convertibles.
The Vauxhall Viva HB was built and sold in Australia as the Holden Torana.
Canadian Chevrolet / Oldsmobile dealers sold the Viva as the Vauxhall Envoy / Epic until 1970 .
The elegant exterior and the lively power delivery made the Viva HB a bestseller; almost 560,000 units were built. After Vauxhall's bad experience with rust prevention on the predecessor, the workmanship of the body of the Viva HB was significantly improved.
Viva HC (1970–1979)
| Viva HC | |
|---|---|
 Vauxhall Viva HC |
|
| Production period: | 1970-1979 |
| Body versions : | Limousine , station wagon |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 1.2–2.3 liters (36–74 kW) |
| Length: | 4140 mm |
| Width: | 1645 mm |
| Height: | 1346 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2464 mm |
| Empty weight : | 833-1015 kg |
The mechanics of the Viva HC corresponded to its predecessor, but had a more modern styling and offered more interior space thanks to improved seats. There were two and four-door sedans and a station wagon with a hatchback. The engine range included the standard 1159 cm³, the 1159 cm³ "90" and the 1600 OHC engine. The 2.0 GT was no longer available in Europe, but was the only available engine for the vehicles offered in Canada as Firenza (without Vauxhall). Chevrolet dealers replaced the "Envoy Epic" with Chevrolet's own "Vega" model. In Canada, the Viva HC was taken off the market after customers complained about corrosion and poor reliability for two years. A class action lawsuit against General Motors was not resolved until the early 1980s.
The American influence was still noticeable in the Viva HC: it had narrow, horizontal taillights, a flat dashboard with a broadband speedometer and a pronounced elevation in the middle of the bonnet that continued in the front bumper.
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A coupe version called Vauxhall Firenza was introduced in the spring of 1971 to compete with the Ford Capri and the announced Morris Marina coupe. They were available in DeLuxe and SL equipment; the latter had twin headlights. Finally, the twin carburetor engine from the Viva GT was adopted.
The base engine was drilled out from 1159 cm³ to 1256 cm³ in the late 1971 and the "90" version was omitted.
The OHC machines were overhauled in spring 1972; the 1.6 liter got 1759 cm³, the 2.0 liter double carburetor 2279 cm³. At the same time, the Viva 2300 SL and the Firenza Sport SL lost their broadband speedometer and got an attractive, seven-part instrument. Firenza SLs had two round instruments, while all the other Vivas and Firenzas still had their original equipment.
In September 1973, the Viva range was split up: the 1256 cm³ basic versions remained Vivas, as did the 1.8-liter automatic engine. The other 1.8-liter and 2.3-liter models were given more luxurious features and were henceforth called the Vauxhall Magnum . The Vauxhall Firenza was heavily redesigned and received an aerodynamic front as well as a more powerful 2.3-liter engine with twin carburetors and a ZF 5-speed gearbox, which made it the "Firenza HP" (= High Performance).
In 1975 the Viva was revised again; the new equipment variants were called E (for Economy), L and SL. The E was Vauxhall's answer to the Ford Popular and was initially offered as a special two-door coupé with the surplus Firenza bodies before it became an official Viva model, a two-door sedan. He was the only Viva who still owned the broadband speedometer after the L and SL got the same two round instruments as the Firenza SL.
In New Zealand the Viva was renamed “Magnum 1300” in 1975. He had the twin headlights and better equipment to overcome the poor image of a Vauxhall base version and the associated deteriorating sales figures.
A "Chevrolet Firenza" named version of the Viva HC was produced in South Africa , either with the British 1.3 liter engine or with the 2.5 liter Chevrolet engine . The Firenza Coupé from Great Britain was also offered in South Africa in a special version with the powerful Chevrolet V8 "Small Bloc" (= 5.7 liter engine).
Vauxhall Viva production was shut down in early 1975 when General Motors introduced the new Vauxhall Chevette as a sedan, station wagon, and station wagon - the station wagon was also sold as the Opel Kadett City. The Vauxhall Viva remained in production until 1979 when the new Vauxhall Astra was launched. Production ended at a time when European manufacturers in the lower middle class switched from the rear-wheel drive sedan to the front-wheel drive station wagon. The discontinuation of the Viva in 1979 marked a milestone for Vauxhall as it was the last car to be designed entirely by the Luton company . All subsequent Vauxhalls were Opel with the Vauxhall emblem or, in the case of the Vauxhall Monaro from 2004, a Holden with other logos.
The Viva HC was sold approximately 640,000 times; together with its predecessors of the same name, it produced more than 1.5 million pieces. The millionth Vauxhall Viva was a gold-colored Viva HC and rolled off the assembly line in July 1971.
Contemporary competitor in the UK
The revival of the name
For the next 25 years, the name "Viva" no longer appeared in General Motors' brochures . In 2004 the GM-AvtoVAZ Chevrolet Viva appeared from a production together with the manufacturer of Lada automobiles, AwtoWAS , in Russia . In essence, however, this was a four-door Opel Astra G . The name is also used by Holden in Australia and New Zealand for versions of the Daewoo Lacetti and Daewoo Nubira .
Since 2015 the name Vauxhall Viva has been used in Great Britain for a small car built in Korea on the GM Gamma platform, which is marketed as Chevrolet Spark and in Germany as Opel Karl .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7397/12927217373_c72854d401_b.jpg
- ↑ http://vauxpedianet.uk2sitebuilder.com/vauxhall-ha---viva-brochures-advertising-road-tests
- ↑ https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2884/12927524184_b1c67c4231_b.jpg
- ^ A million Vauxhall Vivas , Autocar , July 22, 1971, Volume 134, p. 24
