1971 Viva HC Estate - Big Update time....

nice one

build thread sounds cool

Cool colour

Thanks Guys!

The colour is just - odd.... The original colour was a nice period metallic Green, still in evidence on the inner wings, the inner door frames etc, the green that is on it is more 1950's Austin A35 to me, and matched nothing in my local paint suppliers, it's synthetic and looks like it's a 'bottom of the tin special'.

The whole car is rough enough to play with, I.e. it's not cost effective to restore to classic 'show' standard, and besides I'm not a lover of following the herd, so the plan is to tidy it up, maintain and run it as a weekend toy, and tune and modify to suit.... me!!

It looks stunning in the work car park, and since I started driving it to work, an email has been issued about parking private cars behind the offices, out of the view of the road, make of that what you will....

oli8925 - Your HC looks stunning, loving the wheel choice!
Coggers - Also stunning, much inspiration from you too!

Thanks folks, I managed to get the old girl out for a blast, and a few more photo's this morning, hope you likes 'em!






Lovely shot of a tailgate with lots of filler.....


The rear window seal, and a lovely run in the paint (one of many!)


The drivers side seatbelt mount, rudimentary but it works!


General Grot Shot, lovely 90's Escort seats...... Not!


Under the 'Hood'... You have to love the knots tied in the HT leads to make up for the excessive length!

Yeah man..i likey a lot..estates are quite rare here in New Zealand..mind..so are unadulterated saloons..I'm the only HC in this town..there are a couple of awesum racing HBs..but I'm quite happy with our granny spec version.. good luck with it..Viva la Revoluccion!

Sweet Viva, love the colour. Aways room for more vivas around here :-)

;D pbottomley - Oh wow!! That's made my day that has!! I'll be stealing those for my Facebook, if that's ok? Do you know the owner from old then, or do you just save pictures of random Viva's?

It looked quite a nice car in the original colour too, better than the Stevie Wonder spray job it has now!!

B-8-D - No Retro Gathering for me, too much on....

Anyhow - two new pics of it as it is now, and a broken bit.....





The handrake lost interest last week, and an inspection this morning revealed a broken lever, does anyone have any ideas on finding a new one?

Oooh! I think you may have become my new best friend!! ;D PM to follow.....

Time to update the situation with the Viva, The MOT runs out today and as I still need to get around to sorting a few bits on it..... it's time to bite the bullet and SORN the old girl.

There's not too much to sort out, a front spring, handbrake is still in need of attention, as it turns out there's two types (lockheed or girling) fitted and although B-8-D Si , went out of his way sending me a part from his motor it was different from my ol' Viva.... The alternator is dead, and there appears to be nothing similar catalogued for it, with the only remotely similar unit leading to a now obsolete part number....

Add to this that I'm skint and also impatient, I've not really tackled the larger jobs as I never wanted to have it off the road for long, so a lack of MOT will force me to sort it!

So a quick photo, taken this morning as a pre SORN - minus alternator blast 'round the block...



So the plans are,

1) Consider joining the Viva owners club, so silly little bits won't lay it up, hopefully.

2) A pair of front springs (Corsa rears could fit) and lower the rear too.

3) Fully carpet the car, including removal of the rear seat.

4) Dashboard out - re trimmed, tidied and given a new lease of life.

5) Decent tunes install

6) The rear axle bangs on the exhaust, and unlikely to improve after lowering, so an exhaust mod required there...

7) While I'm messing around with lengths of pipe, build a nice half roll cage for it, and paint in the same colour as....

8) The bright blue bits on the lairy modern bucket seats, to replace the mid-nineties Ford seats currently fitted...

9) Replace the dodgy seat belts with some nice 4 point harnesses..

10) Replace the alternator too I suppose,

11) New Ht leads, to replace the ones with knots tied in them to take up the excessive length....

12) Continue with the whole "Race Retro" feel to the car.... with accessories as I see fit.....

I think that about covers it...... ;D