Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Hi all,

Do you have any experiences of owning and/or driving Vauxhall's compact HA model, either in car or small van form?

Survivors must be very thin on the ground now, although a very original example does pop up at local meetings from time to time.



RJ
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Rick - Admin
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[Ellis]

[img]

I have written of the van version of the Bedford HA previously in the commercial vehicles section and of my admiration for the vehicle - a delightful van to drive.

I have not driven o the Vauxhall Viva HA car but my cousin bought one as a second car in 1978. It was a 40k mile light blue example. DEY 161D, which cost her £160 and served her well for three years.

Our art teacher at school bought a new SL version in 1966.[/img]
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[47p2]

Passed my test in this when I was 17, cost me £25 and I received a fiver back because the clutch was slipping



It was originally white and my father brush painted it

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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

[MikeEdwards]

I haven't driven any Viva variant earlier than a HC, but there are a number of HAs in the Viva Owners Club, some of which turn up at Tatton Park and other local shows. In August we had two of the fifty pick-up versions on the stand.

[52classic]

I remember buying one of these, same colour as the lead pic, from Cardiff branch of BCA. One owner, Pembroke Port Authority, full main dealer service history, recent MOT but as sad looking as you could imagine any car.

Flat paintwork, filthy inside. No wonder my bid of 50 quid was accepted.

I contacted the docks for a bit of history and they said it had been bought solely to transport the pilots from one side of the Cleddau to the other, abiding the construction of the Cleddau bridge. The car had been maintained regardless of cost but never ever cleaned.

What a pleasure that was!! Looked like a year old car when I had finished.

[Rick]

Plenty of period "mods" on your car there P2! good stuff

RJ
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Rick - Admin
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Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
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[exbmc]

Worked on a few Viva's but as in the 60's, the Vauxhall distributer was next door, so most went there. They were certainly much nicer to drive than the minor 1000 which we were selling. Not as nice as the 1100 though.
One memorable regular HA we maintained, was a van in green and cream and was the Lake and Elliot rep / service van. It had a half bottle jack mounted on the side panels, and was sign written. Wonder if any pictures of it exist.
My cousin drove a HA van, painted in Trent bus livery. He started there too young to do his PSV, so had the task of driving ticket inspectors around. He learned the routes, and followed the buses while the inspector checked tickets etc.

[Dipster]

Two things stick in my mind about these cars. I found the steering delightfully light and the gearchange to be a pleasure to use. Never owned one but drove a good few at work. Shame they rusted.......