1973 Vauxhall Viva… untouched since ‘93 - worth it?

[sierraman]

52 minutes ago, cobblers said:

I dug one of those speedos out of my uncles allotment in 1993, and as I kept going we kept finding more and bits of viva including doors, seats, wheels and an engine. All just buried.

I hope this garage find viva is better than the one I found.

Hmm the plot thickens...

[High Jetter]

24 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Hmm the plot thickens...

I see what you did there!

[andy18s]

12 hours ago, meggersdog said:

Beer and sex and chips n gravy

Northern version of Sex and Drugs and Rock n Roll...

[billy_bunter]

I was the custodian of this for a while. Pinto engine on a single dellorto when I had it. Now getting a turbo mazda iirc

 

[Matty]

I'll say it again. A better looking car than the escort

[artdjones]

11 hours ago, Matty said:

I'll say it again. A better looking car than the escort

And a much more refined one. The 1.1 & 1.3 Escorts were pretty rough. They did a 950 Escort in Germany, which must have been great fun.

[garbaldy]

16 hours ago, Matty said:

I'll say it again. A better looking car than the escort

I would have to disagree here as the mk1 escort is equally as good looking as the viva, one day I will try and take a picture of them both together.  Back suspension is definitely more refined on the viva.

[junkyarddog]

14 minutes ago, garbaldy said:

I would have to disagree here as the mk1 escort is equally as good looking as the viva, one day I will try and take a picture of them both together.  Back suspension is definitely more refined on the viva.

Yes,but the mk1 escort was in production when the HB Viva was current,and I think the Viva still edges it.

That had the coke bottle styling before Ford too.

I think the GM Styling studio was ahead of Fomoco during this period. 

[Dobloseven]

1 hour ago, junkyarddog said:

Yes,but the mk1 escort was in production when the HB Viva was current,and I think the Viva still edges it.

That had the coke bottle styling before Ford too.

I think the GM Styling studio was ahead of Fomoco during this period. 

My vote is for the Viva too. And I'd include the Mk 2 Escort as well in this. To my eyes the Escort only looked really well in the sporting models. Other opinions are available! 

[JimH]

Another vote for the Viva here.

[horriblemercedes]

I have always preferred the Viva. Seems to really annoy people when you say that, for some reason

 

Edit:

I'm referring to the HB and HC. I'd have an Escort over the HA

[AnnoyingPentium]

Aye I prefer the Viva as well.

[Datsuncog]

You can probably guess my sentiments on the matter...

[eddyramrod]

Another vote for the HC here.  I don't think the HA was a patch on the Anglia that was already established when the Viva was launched, but then the van version lasted forever, unlike Ford's which died with the saloon.

[junkyarddog]

42 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

don't think the HA was a patch on the Anglia

Agree with that,the HA certainly wasn't a stylish car at all,considering the Vauxhalls of the same era.

Looked like a car a junior was allowed to style during lunch.😂

[vaughant]

On 10/27/2022 at 8:58 AM, garbaldy said:

@Datsuncog all these years and only now have i noticed that 🙄 some car man i am.

mine is single letter as just had to check and wasn't sure as just thought they all where.

Cor that's nice 😍😍😍

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, junkyarddog said:

Agree with that,the HA certainly wasn't a stylish car at all,considering the Vauxhalls of the same era.

Looked like a car a junior was allowed to style during lunch.😂

Maybe, but I loved the boxy shape. My Uncle had one and I loved the space inside, my recollection is roomier than an Anglia. Like the Minor, production of the vans seemed to last forever! The HB was very distinctive for its time and yes, the HC is gorgeous. I've never been a Ford fanboy but I do like the MK1 Escort shape.

[Mally]

I've had a few Vivas back in the day. They were cheap and no one wanted them.

My wife backed one into a Sunbeam Talbot once. The Talbot fell in bits. Viva had a very slight dent.

Beware the rear axle bottom arm breaking in half though!

[garbaldy]

21 minutes ago, Mally said:

 

Beware the rear axle bottom arm breaking in half though!

Believe it or not I've scrapped vivas due to that but thankfully now I'm older and wiser and can make new ones these days 😉 

[garbaldy]

5 hours ago, junkyarddog said:

Yes,but the mk1 escort was in production when the HB Viva was current,and I think the Viva still edges it. 

Mk1 escrote was 1968 so nearing the end of the hbs rein I'm sure it ran to 1969.

The droopsnoot firenza was twice the car of an rs2000 in my eyes.

[artdjones]

The last car developed under David Jones as chief designer. He's one of the great stylists most people haven't heard of, being chief stylist for Vauxhall from 1937-71.

[junkyarddog]

7 minutes ago, garbaldy said:

Mk1 escrote was 1968 so nearing the end of the hbs rein I'm sure it ran to 1969.

HB was '66-'70 so slap bang in the middle really.

HC wasn't released until very late 1970.

[Matty]

4 hours ago, garbaldy said:

I would have to disagree here as the mk1 escort is equally as good looking as the viva, one day I will try and take a picture of them both together.  Back suspension is definitely more refined on the viva.

A mk 1 is a good looking car no doubt. The difference in relative values however bears no resemblance to the differences in the cars. I like a Ford, I've still got one, but ford tax is obscene.

[AnnoyingPentium]

My Granda had an HA Viva as his first car. Went through quite a few colour changes when he was bored enough.

[garbaldy]

4 minutes ago, Matty said:

A mk 1 is a good looking car no doubt. The difference in relative values however bears no resemblance to the differences in the cars. I like a Ford, I've still got one, but ford tax is obscene.

It sure is and I would say all down to rally success however I'm fortunate that my 68 mk1 was exactly one third of the price of the viva.

[Matty]

Just now, garbaldy said:

It sure is and I would say all down to rally success however I'm fortunate that my 68 mk1 was exactly one third of the price of the viva.

Bloody hell, you've a mk1 and a HC? Do you need someone to house sit for you next time you're on holiday??

[AnnoyingPentium]

6 minutes ago, Matty said:

Bloody hell, you've a mk1 and a HC? Do you need someone to house sit for you next time you're on holiday??

Not if I beat you to it!

[garbaldy]

10 minutes ago, Matty said:

Bloody hell, you've a mk1 and a HC? Do you need someone to house sit for you next time you're on holiday??

Haha there's also the starlet and the colts all 70s motors. Plus other modernish motors which i use to block the oldies in 👍

[Matty]

Just now, garbaldy said:

Haha there's also the starlet and the colts all 70s motors. Plus other modernish motors which i use to block the oldies in 👍

To be fair the only thing that holds me back is space. Now I'm a bit older with a bit more disposable, I'd be buying everything I could afford if I had the room.

[garbaldy]

3 minutes ago, Matty said:

To be fair the only thing that holds me back is space. Now I'm a bit older with a bit more disposable, I'd be buying everything I could afford if I had the room.

You don't need to tell me 🙄 but to be honest 14 cars here and now 7 stored elsewhere is a bit stupid really.