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Feb 21, 2007 10:53:07 GMT
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Been a Vauxhall fan for a long while now and seeing some on the `Reader`s Rides` section has stirred up a longing that I don`t think I can ignore much longer.
Fancy something `60s or `70s, any recommendations? HA Viva sounds good or possibly something a bit bigger. What sort of money would I need to shell out for something with a ticket on it and useable assuming it`s not some ultra-rare one like a Brabham Viva?
Cheers in advance,
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Corsa Apology Champion 2014.
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tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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Feb 21, 2007 11:02:45 GMT
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Vauxhalls are a lot cheaper than their ford counterpart, more exclusive and cooler IMHO, do it! If you want a bit bigger than a viva go for a victor, or perhaps a vx4/90 they rock a lot. Viva HC's are seriously cheap as well, about a third/quarter of the price of a comparative escort mk1.
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1964 Rover P5 i6
1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak
1992 Micra K10
2001 BMW E46 316i
2002 BMW E46 330Ci
2013 BMW F31 320d
2018 BMW G31 530d
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Feb 21, 2007 11:04:14 GMT
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Look at this picture:  Your mind is now made up. HB Viva FTW.  |
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Feb 21, 2007 11:05:58 GMT
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Do it an apply some London style mods to it. Old Vauxhalls need to stop going unloved!
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80mojo
Part of things
Posts: 753
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Feb 21, 2007 11:37:58 GMT
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"Tell me about old Vauxhalls?" They rust faster than most folk can weld!!!  There's loads to have a look round, something for everyone and the old victors etc are uber cool! As Tigs says, they are a bargain compared to Ford prices. General work and Mods are easy and well documented and there is a following for virtually every Vaux going. If you don't believe me get to Billing Aquadrome for the weekend of 7-8 July. Some 5000 old Vaux/Opel's will be there!  |
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'71 Opel GT
'72 Manta A
'79 Dodge Autosleeper
'83 Monza & a half
'86 Manta GT/E V6
'91 Astra SXi
'94 Carlton Diamond Estate 24v
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Feb 21, 2007 11:42:44 GMT
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HA Viva - small. Very small. But surprisingly roomy and a big boot. 1057cc and they rot like curse word. But they drive nice. Much nicer than a Minor or A40 etc. Fairly revy little engines and a really nice little gearbox. Worth next to nothing. Shame. Rare as fook now.
HB Viva - bigger than HA. Slightly less rot prone. 2d and 4d models. Mostly overlooked by people still. Get the Rodney Bewes vibe. 1159cc pushrod or 1599cc slant 4 OHC. Brabham and GT expensive, everything else cheap. Estate version rather stylish. A V8 goes in! Still able to pick a good one for a few hundred quid.
HC Viva - Probably the longest lived and most popular model. Initially 1159 and 1975cc engines (pushrod and OHC slant 4) quickly replaced by 1256cc and a choice of 1800 and 2300cc slant 4. 2d 4d and an "Avante" like estate 3d only. Various trim and other options and names such as Firenza, Magnum, GLS, Viva-E, etc. and a rare fastback coupe body which is cool. Not as rusty as earlier Vivas but still rot is an issue.
F Victor - 1500cc pushrod, slow, ill handling but looks cool as anything. Incredible rot issues. Most trim, panels, major parts completely unavailable. Shame. A grand upwards for something worth doing. A basket case is a spares only car due to unavailable parts.
FB Victor - 1500cc and later 1600cc pushrod. Sleeker looking car, about Cortina sized. Nice tuff mechanicals but still have rot issues. Parts a little easier to get than F type. Until recently had no value at all. I remember seeing people struggle to sell one with MOT and decent runner for like £300. Got quite rare now. A little uncivilised at any speed IMO but a good base for a modification... VX4/90 version has twin carbs, leather, walnut and 5 lug hubs.
FC / 101 Victor - FTW. Nobody likes these cars. I remember at Billing the 101 Owners Club was only able to turn out two cars! VX4/90 edition has all the same goodies as the FB except the 5 lug hubs. Rot like fury. All are 1600c pushrod
FD Victor - slant 4 powered, 1599 or 1975cc. coil sprung all round. Drive and ride great. Early 1600s are nosiy at speed. Optional overdrive is great on a 2000. Won car of the year and the Don Safety Trophy back in 1968. There is also the Ventora version with the 3.3 straight 6 and there was a 3300 Victor for export. There was no Ventora estate but there was a 3300 Estate sold in the UK. VX4/90 version didn't come out until the facelift in 1969 and has the same vinyl inteiror and dash as the Ventora.
FE Victor / VX series. "The Transcontinental" was based partially on Opel floor pan and the rear of the unibody is the same as Opel Rekord and later Mk1 Carlton. First Vauxhall to use metric. Uses 100mm PCD as well. 1800 and 2300cc slant 4, also a Ventora version until 1974. Ventora estate replaced Victor 3300SL estate after a year or so. Revised model lineup is called VX instead of Victor after 1975 models. Vx1800, VX2300 etc, Ventora is replaced by VX2300GLS. VX4/90 replaced by VX490 which has 5 speed Getrag gearbox.
Then theres the big cars - Velox, Wyvern, Cresta, Viscount...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Feb 21, 2007 11:49:30 GMT
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"Tell me about old Vauxhalls?" They rust faster than most folk can weld!!! IME unles you are looking at a PA Cresta, F Type Victor or HA Viva Vauixhalls rust the same or in some cases less than other makes and models. In fact Vauxhall had such a bad rep for rot after the PA/F-type that they actually had some of the most advanced rot protectiion in the market by the later 60s early 70s. Having seen how bad Triumphs and Fords of that era rot then I don;t think its at all to cast Vauxhall as having any exclusivity on the problem. Unlike ALfasuds and Ladas and those other cars like some later fords which use reconstituted steel Vauxhalls were all virgin rolled steel and are easy to weld and if looked after will not rot unlike many cars which rot out no matter what you do because the steel stock used is compromised before you even look at the car! Vauxhalls problems are mostly down to mud and water traps. Keep them clean and waxoil them and its not a problem. EDIT: my spelling/typing sucks. |
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Last Edit: Feb 21, 2007 12:23:04 GMT by akku
1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,542
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Feb 21, 2007 12:04:08 GMT
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A classic Vauxhall, yesterday.   I actually agree with AK but it had to be done  |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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80mojo
Part of things
Posts: 753
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Feb 21, 2007 12:52:12 GMT
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I don't think they're the worst by any stretch of the imagination. But when I'm looking for a Vaux/Opel bodywork is the primary concern for me. Followed by interior, trim etc. The engine & transmission are last as these are usually tough and are easy to fix/replace anyway.
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'71 Opel GT
'72 Manta A
'79 Dodge Autosleeper
'83 Monza & a half
'86 Manta GT/E V6
'91 Astra SXi
'94 Carlton Diamond Estate 24v
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tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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Feb 21, 2007 13:18:58 GMT
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price is the primary concern for me. Followed by interior, trim etc. The engine & transmission are last as these are usually tough and are easy to fix/replace anyway. Be honest ye tight northener. |
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1964 Rover P5 i6
1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak
1992 Micra K10
2001 BMW E46 316i
2002 BMW E46 330Ci
2013 BMW F31 320d
2018 BMW G31 530d
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Feb 21, 2007 13:53:29 GMT
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i love old vauxhalls, i really like vivas, victor and ventora's. i hope to have one some day.
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street
Posted a lot
6.2 ft/lbs of talk
Posts: 4,662
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Feb 21, 2007 14:32:48 GMT
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Who's the fella that used to have that fantastic ratty Viscount lowrider?
I know he's a member, but can't remeber who.......
We need pics of it, STAT!
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Feb 21, 2007 15:13:51 GMT
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Wow, thanks folks for some interesting replies. Pog, that HB Viva is gorgeous mate, really tempted to get one once I have the finances. I don`t care about how slow some maybe, I don`t think you need to prove anything in an old car though at some point an XE or SRi130 motor would be nice.
The VX4/90`s were Vauxhall`s sporting saloons iirc? I`m assuming 4 cylinders and 90bhp?
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Corsa Apology Champion 2014.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Feb 21, 2007 15:28:41 GMT
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The 2.08v SEH engine from the SRi130 is a good compromise of cost vs power. The XE's do tend to fetch a premium and don't seem to pull as well lower down the revs, they sound great with an open air filter on too.
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Feb 21, 2007 16:00:03 GMT
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VX 4/90 is a sporty version of the Victor. 4 standfs for 4 cyl and 90 was for 90 MPH which was quite a lick for a family saloon back in 1962.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Feb 21, 2007 16:15:28 GMT
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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Feb 21, 2007 16:21:51 GMT
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Look at what you get at that white & gold FB was real VFM at £561
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Feb 21, 2007 22:22:59 GMT
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The 2.08v SEH engine from the SRi130 is a good compromise of cost vs power. The XE's do tend to fetch a premium and don't seem to pull as well lower down the revs, they sound great with an open air filter on too. I had an 8v Cav with a Council Estate Induction Kit (drilled airbox), probably did it no performance favours whatsoever but MAN, did she bark or what ;D |
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Feb 21, 2007 22:27:14 GMT
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I love the PA Crestas myself. HB Vivas are ace though - never liked the HC as much. Viva GT had the two litre lump in it - also available with a matt black bonnet!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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they're like any other 30-40 year old car as far as rust issues go but you can still find them for pennies compared to their ford counterparts. and i'm not knocking the fords - far from it - me being a regular subscriber to 'classic ford' i'd love a nice mk1 escort 2 dr but the prices ? jesus...... if you look at any of the trade ads in classic or retro ford you can just about rebuild a ford from the ground up but it just isn't the case with the vauxhalls so be carefull which model you go for in the first place...the later the car (hc viva or even chevette??) then in theory the more plentiful the spares will be. i know the viva owners club do get a lot of spares remanufactured but they're one of those clubs who only deal with members ... most issues of the club magazine there's probably a dozen or so cars for sale (from ha through to hc) and some are really cheap , and on the odd occasion some of them are literally given away . you know the sort of thing - old boy snuffs it , his good lady wants the car to go to a good home so contacts the club??? and i have seen some spares or repair stuff being offered in exchange for a bottle of booze .. good luck whatever you decide to get  |
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I actually agree with AK but it had to be done 
