HC-series Vauxhall Vivas were a common sight when I was growing up in the 1970s, although I don't recall anyone in our road ever owning one. Ian kindly sent over these two photos of a Viva HC he owned in 1980ish, UHN 78S. Not just any Viva, but a 1300 GLS no less, one of the plusher models as I recall. Features such as the Rostyle wheels and quad headlamp set-up, differentiate the GLS from more lowly variants. Ian's car sports a radio aerial on its rear wing, suggesting in-car entertainment. Elsewhere on Old Classic Car, namely here, the options list for the HC Viva at its launch in 1970 is explained, while this page specifically looks at the radio and stereo cassette player options that Vauxhall listed at the time. Groovy.
The first of Ian's photos is a front-view of the recently-washed Viva, a four-door example. Estate versions of the HC were also offered, as were the performance-oriented Firenza coupes. Lovers of the obscure may well be interested in this hearse conversion, as performed by Dormobile using a four-door Viva saloon as a basis for an overseas customer - weird!
Look carefully through the Vauxhall's windows and the rear of a Mk4 Ford Cortina can just be made out, parked across the road.
(Please click the thumbnail to view the full-size image.)
Here we have a rear view of Ian's car.
Vauxhall roped-in 1976 Formula 1 World Champion James Hunt, to promote the Viva in the late 1970s.
