Return of the Vauxhall Viva

[RobbieGong]

Never thought Vauxhall would use the name again but it's back https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=new+vauxhall+viva&tbm=isch&imgil=knfAsXGMz3HtOM%253A%253Bhmk4yvuzEvVW5M%253Bh ttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.vauxhall.co.uk%25252Fv ehicles%25252Fvauxhall-range%25252Fcars%25252Fviva%25252Foverview.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=knfAsXGMz3HtOM%253A%252Chmk4yvuzEvVW5M%252C_&biw=1920&bih=1099&usg=__E05FDmhe52gxIVNkeQvbymevsjY%3D&ved=0ahUKEwjGrMjl3KvJAhXGbRQKHQopBOwQyjcIUw&ei=n71VVobhOsbbUYrSkOAO#imgrc=knfAsXGMz3HtOM%3A&usg=__E05FDmhe52gxIVNkeQvbymevsjY%3D
No where near as individual looking as the original which is typical of cars today. I remember the original everywhere in the '70's, alongside Cortina's, Capri's, Morris's and so on :)

[Macca]

They think it is safe to revive the Viva name as the vast majority of modern drivers are too young to remember how awful the old one was.

The Ford Capri is coming back, too. Sadly it is not as cool looking as the old one.

[Desmo]

Never thought Vauxhall would use the name again but it's back https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=new+vauxhall+viva&tbm=isch&imgil=knfAsXGMz3HtOM%253A%253Bhmk4yvuzEvVW5M%253Bh ttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.vauxhall.co.uk%25252Fv ehicles%25252Fvauxhall-range%25252Fcars%25252Fviva%25252Foverview.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=knfAsXGMz3HtOM%253A%252Chmk4yvuzEvVW5M%252C_&biw=1920&bih=1099&usg=__E05FDmhe52gxIVNkeQvbymevsjY%3D&ved=0ahUKEwjGrMjl3KvJAhXGbRQKHQopBOwQyjcIUw&ei=n71VVobhOsbbUYrSkOAO#imgrc=knfAsXGMz3HtOM%3A&usg=__E05FDmhe52gxIVNkeQvbymevsjY%3D
No where near as individual looking as the original which is typical of cars today. I remember the original everywhere in the '70's, alongside Cortina's, Capri's, Morris's and so on :)

They'll be bringing back the Chevette next - the first car I ever did an engine swap on.

[Macca]

I understand they are going to revive the Chevette name as well. I recall they were infamous for catching on fire but my uncle had one for years without a problem.

[Barry]

Would you be talking about the Vauxhall "Shove it"? Terrible cars, nobody had a good word to say about them.

[struth]

I passed my test on a viva... Better than many in the day tbf. Reliability may not have been great but neither were most motors. At least you could work on them.. Ive fond memories of the dinky gear shift

[Macca]

I recall our elderly next door neighbour bought a Toyota Corolla - this would be about 1975 when it was pretty much unheard of to buy Japanese. One of the other neighbours was taking the mick and the bloke said 'laugh all you want but it starts first time whatever the weather.'

Which was a big deal at the time as pushing a car down the road to get it started in the cold/damp was completely normal and commonplace.

[Desmo]

Would you be talking about the Vauxhall "Shove it"? Terrible cars, nobody had a good word to say about them.

The rally version with the 2.3 litre engine was pretty quick though! Jimmy McRae did quite well with one.

[walpurgis]

I understand they are going to revive the Chevette name as well. I recall they were infamous for catching on fire but my uncle had one for years without a problem.

I'd sooner have a Chevelle than a Chevette. Preferably an SS.

[CageyH]

The Chevette HSR was a pretty quick car for it's time.

[HackneyRF]

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r502/lozring/image.jpg1_42.jpg


I think this maybe sums up most of those 70's cars! 😉

[Roy S]

My second car was a Viva HC, special edition with 'Rostyle' wheels

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss68/Lodger56/viva_zpso3rh2fiu.jpg

[spm]

I learned and passed my test in a viva, it did break down on my first test though which was a bit embarrassing to say the least, I'll never forget the examiner trudging off back to the test centre. My cousin had a 2.3 magnum which I vaguely remember as being fairly nippy but I've never really been into cars so everything is relative. I also had a Capri for a while which was fun to drive.

When I was a kid my dad had a very temperamental transit which me and my two brothers were often asked to take a brake from breakfast and give a push, it was always loaded up with jack hammers and tamping machines, boy did that take the wind out of us.

[Tarzan]

Hope they do bring back the Austin ALLegro.:lol:

[walpurgis]

Hope they do bring back the Austin ALLegro.:lol:

Quite liked my Allegro. It replaced a BMW 316 and was better handling, smoother and quicker off the mark. The 1275 BL 'A' Series motor was reliable too.

[struth]

Did some of my learning in one of these or very similar...an Austin 1800 .. think it was a mk2. front wheel drive, and quite a beast(it was my Bro's)

http://www.simoncars.co.uk/ado17/slides/Austin%201800%20MkI%20front.jpg

[walpurgis]

The 1800 was a nice car. Very roomy, comfy and smooth.

I had its rare big brother briefly. The Austin 3 Litre.

http://i65.tinypic.com/fmkkt3.jpg

[RobbieGong]

There's just something about the majority of cars from that era that I just dont get with modern cars, I think it's character....

[walpurgis]

No. It's oily patches on the drive. :D

[Macca]

No. It's oily patches on the drive. :D

plus dodgy electrics, blowers that took an hour to clear the condensation from the windscreen, vinyl seats that would scorch your legs in the summer (velour seat covers were a luxury option back then although no-one would thank you for it now), manual chokes that didn't work....and so on.

My dad was a BL fan so we had the Morris 1100, Austin Maxi, Austin Allegro, Mini Clubman Estate, and the original Austin Metro. Only the 1100 was big trouble, the rest were okay. Then he had a Cortina Mk 3 then moved onto Rovers (except they were really just re-badged Hondas).

[spendorman]

Quite liked my Allegro. It replaced a BMW 316 and was better handling, smoother and quicker off the mark. The 1275 BL 'A' Series motor was reliable too.

My Dad's Allegro was the 1100 (1098cc), but it was quite nippy and gave very good fuel economy.

[spendorman]

Next they will bring back the Mini!

[struth]

Next they will bring back the Mini!

That was another heap of junk in the day...leaked like a sieve and you needed to remove the engine to change the belt if memory serves. Lol! Fun to drive. The mate and i used to bang about in a minivan....dear me those memories:doh:

[spendorman]

That was another heap of junk in the day...leaked like a sieve and you needed to remove the engine to change the belt if memory serves. Lol! Fun to drive. The mate and i used to bang about in a minivan....dear me those memories:doh:

I still have three original type Minis, including a Riley Elf version. Changing a fan belt is easy if one follows the instructions, no engine removal. I could do one in about 10 minutes. One can even change the clutch without taking the engine/ gearbox out.

Yes, leaking water was a problem, mainly on the very early ones.

[struth]

There was one of those wee motors you couldnt access the belt easily and it was quicker taking engine out. They were fun to drive..my daughters first car was a mini..it was a heap but she loved it ... Preferred bigger things myself being big...

[spendorman]

There was one of those wee motors you couldnt access the belt easily and it was quicker taking engine out. They were fun to drive..my daughters first car was a mini..it was a heap but she loved it ... Preferred bigger things myself being big...

The very first Minis,only a few I think, had a one piece radiator cowling. I have no experience of these. Later Minis and my earliest is a Jan 1962. have a two piece radiator cowling.

Yes, I generally drive an old land barge these days (old Volvo).

[struth]

Beauties the volvos.. Used to drive one myself. Also had a big old saab. That needed driving but it was really quick if you got it right... Just chug about in a biggish cmax nox..oldcstyle..very comfy motor and easy for me to get in and out of. Mileage is rubbish but i dont go far these days

[Bazil]

My second car was a Viva HC, special edition with 'Rostyle' wheels

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss68/Lodger56/viva_zpso3rh2fiu.jpg

That colour was Cedar Green metallic , I had my toolbox sprayed in it , I was an apprentice at the plant :)

[spendorman]

That colour was Cedar Green metallic , I had my toolbox sprayed in it , I was an apprentice at the plant :)
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5710/22955382319_195520d5c9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AYukpM)Clipboard01 (https://flic.kr/p/AYukpM) by A60man (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41679262@N02/), on Flickr

[Old George]

I passed my test on a viva...

Ditto, i wonder if the new one will have the rust issue of the original?:lol: