Practically Classics Forum

As I type, my dad is on his way to collect the newest addition to the family. This will be our 'runaround' classic.







Its a 1966 Viva SL90 and has had lots of new bits including tyres, brake pipes, exhaust, dynamo, and been undersealed since new. Will post more info once we get the car!

absolutley stunning....sooooooo jealous

I love old Vauxhalls, and that looks a nice honest one.

I'd take that over a Ford of the same era any day.

Mmm, that looks like a really sound little car, ideal for daily use these are, IMHO, thanks to their being blessed with a lock almost as tight as that of a kitten or Herald so parking outside your local Fine-Fare or Lipton's couldn't be easier! Love it.

Definitely comes into the category of "I haven't seen one of those for years". Known in its time as the "Rot Box Viva" most had gone by the 70's so it's really good to see such a well preserved example, especially the better specified SL90 version. Enjoy!

Here you are, Welshie, a couple of pictures of HAs (one of them an SL90) that are running about locally:

what a nice car.. im now off to ebay

suffolkpete wrote:Definitely comes into the category of "I haven't seen one of those for years". Known in its time as the "Rot Box Viva" most had gone by the 70's so it's really good to see such a well preserved example, especially the better specified SL90 version. Enjoy!

I remember the Bedford HA van version that was still kicking about when I was a teenager. Made them up to the early 80's if you believe wikipedia

Was away racing on the weekend, but put the car in the garage this morning. Dad pressed the brake pedal when he got the car home to test them, and the front n/s caliper siezed on, so it left a nice mark when dragging it through to the shed



The only 2 areas of welding that are needed are by the seatbelt mounts on the floor



Rear bumper off, and bodywork looks very tidy



Underneath has been waxoyled from new




It has new copper brake pipes and some new cylinders, but we believe this to be a leaking hub seal. Interestingly the wheels and rear hubs look to be the same as an Imp.



The front and rear window seals are leaking too, so we have ripped all the carpets out and will be replacing them after painting the floor and eliminating all the leaks. More photos as work progresses. The aim is to just tidy the car up and get it MOT'd for now.

The Imp wheels' extra half inch of rim width (4" vs 3&1/2"/later 4&1/2" vs 4") is all inset, the only other vehicles that use the HA's wheels are the Reliant Fox and Tandy Fox (motorhome). I've used Imp wheels on Rebels (with the Imp's nuts as the taper differs as anyone who ever tried fitting Imp wheels to minis will know) and found that they needed 1/4" spacers to avoid rubbing on the back springs.