| Magnum and Viva History |
Vauxhall launched the Viva in 1963 and it survived
in various forms (HA, HB and HC) until 1979, when it was replaced by the
Chevette. The Bedford Beagle van (based on the HA Viva) stayed in production
until 1973. The HC, launched in 1970, was offered in various high performance
versions under the name Magnum from 1973 to 1977. Over 20,000 Magnums were
built but today everyone thinks a Magnum is either a gun, a big bottle of champagne,
or a delicious but over-priced ice-cream.
The HC Viva and Magnum
came in saloon, coupe and estate
versions, the coupe being a particularly memorable shape although the estate
was not totally conventional either. The Viva was a medium size car with engine options of
1159cc, 1256cc, 1759cc or 2279cc. The latter two engines, used in the Magnum
range, were variations of the 'slant four'
engine which also appeared in radically different form in a number of Lotus
cars. Rumour has it that the engine gained it's strange shape from being
a V8 that was chopped in half at an early design stage.
The Magnum
was basically a Viva with one of the larger engines, twin headlight grille,
and a few mechanical differences underneath. The Magnum also got the
seven-dial dash and the panel between the rear lights was painted black.
A similar car was later badges as the Viva GLS. There were so many different
spec levels and mechanical arrangements over the years that I don't think
Vauxhall ever made two cars the same.
My 1976 Magnum was my friend Paul's
discarded project, which he sold to me out of pity as I was the only one in
the 'gang' without a Magnum. It had the 1759cc engine and a homemade dash
made of sheet steel with every dial and gauge known to man. It was made
to look like a rally car, complete with two-up-two-down spotlights sticking out
the front and no interior trim or carpets. It had a homemade exhaust which made a great noise but banged on
the floor, and it had a half completed lowering job which meant that the back
was slightly lower than the front. The car came without its white revolution
four-spokes (I couldn't stump up the extra cash) so it sat on a set of Viva
GLS steels on spacers, providing about 50% of the necessary grip.
The
main problem with the car was that it had been washed into the sea at
Weymouth during the 1987 Hurricane, and was slowly rusting away. There was
a lot of shingle in the underpinnings, and the gearbox and rear axle were
full of water (as I found out later).
It took me about 6 months to
mess-up the Magnum, and so for a short while I enjoyed driving a half decent
looking car. Then I demolished a lamp-post and folded up the
front of the car. As luck would have it I was staying with a mate Phil - his
dad owned a garage and was away on holiday, so we powered up the air rams
and straightened the body as best we could. Thinking I would effect a proper
repair within days, I humorously wrote "OUCH" on the wing. I had to drive a
car with "OUCH" written on the wing for about 2 years.
The Magnum was
the most unreliable car I have owned. It constantly needed new bits, and the
bits were always hard to find. The list included 2 new radiators, 2
gearboxes, water pump, alternator, front and rear bearings, and many more.
The second gearbox came from a Victor and I had to cut a hole in the floor to
make it fit. Everything on the car was rusted solid and even a simple job
like the brakes would take an entire weekend. It was a great car and I really
liked it. It was also the only car I've owned which you could hold on the
brake and pull a burnout, mainly due to the skinny tyres. These
were 'borrowed' off the Allegro to save cash, and were of the no-grip
variety.
After a gritting lorry made a mess of the other side,
the Magnum was looking very sorry for itself. When the rear turrets started
rusting through the Magnum had to go. I gave it back to Paul who I believe
used the engine in another creation, and sold me a 1256cc HC Viva at a
bargain price.
The Viva was dark blue with rusty chrome eight spokes,
and needed cheering up a bit. I duly painted it yellow, red and blue in the
Vauxhall racing colours. Apart from a head gasket it gave me no trouble,
but after 6 months the sill fell off and it was scrapped.
|
| Magnum and Viva Links |
| The Droop Snoot Group |
For factory performance versions |
|
| The Classic Vauxhall Viva |
Restoration story |
|
| The Viva Owners Club |
Lots of info for all models |
|
| The Viva Outlaw Club |
Modified Vivas aplenty |
|
| Vivas and Stuff |
It is what it says |
|
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