Vauxhall Viva HC Restoration

Vauxhall Viva HC Restoration This is the record of my 1973 Vauxhall Viva restoration.

After 100 miles the car is near enough finished and runs well. Fitted a nice little stripe that matches well.
01/06/2025

After 100 miles the car is near enough finished and runs well. Fitted a nice little stripe that matches well.

So 325hours labour, 112 items £1835 on new parts
03/05/2025

So 325hours labour, 112 items £1835 on new parts

New Ht leads, new fuel filter, all new Hoses, points, Air filter, coolant, battery, thermostat, waterpump and Vinni pur...
28/04/2025

New Ht leads, new fuel filter, all new Hoses, points, Air filter, coolant, battery, thermostat, waterpump and Vinni purs

Paint work needs cutting and polishing
Rear valance to paint

Car will be on the road at the weekend

Spent a little bit of time of the past few days on the car, wiring up the headlights, repairing the indicator wiring, fi...
13/04/2025

Spent a little bit of time of the past few days on the car, wiring up the headlights, repairing the indicator wiring, fitting the radiator and hoses, trimming and fitting the carpet and centre console and completely tested all the wiring under the day including fitting a few USB charging ingredients ports, all hidden out of sight along with running the power and earth for the stereo and then primed the carburettor and started vinni up for the first time in 2025

Suns out so decided to do the dashboard area and drill and rivnut the new inertia front seat belts
29/03/2025

Suns out so decided to do the dashboard area and drill and rivnut the new inertia front seat belts

Decided it was time to bring vinni out the workshop as it was just too tight in there to continue putting the car back t...
15/03/2025

Decided it was time to bring vinni out the workshop as it was just too tight in there to continue putting the car back together.

So after opening the who side of the workshop vinni saw the sun in 2025

Still need to sand and Polish the paint, plus I also need to finish the rear valance and spray the rear chassis

But overall I'm pleased with how it's turned out.
Considering the whole restoration was done in the same size old garage lockups of the 70's with literally 18 inches space on the side and front. It just shows what can be accomplished if you really want something

This car was never going to be a show winning car, this car was bought to rekindle the love I've always had for the HC Viva

This weekend i spent time repainting the dash panel, coating the floor pan ready for spray gluing the new carpet in. But...
23/02/2025

This weekend i spent time repainting the dash panel, coating the floor pan ready for spray gluing the new carpet in. But before that i started stretching and glueing the new headlining in and extending the lining down the A pillars, still needs to be steamed to shrink it tight.

One thing I'm noticing now I'm old and grey is how little energy I have compared to my younger years. After spending the...
08/02/2025

One thing I'm noticing now I'm old and grey is how little energy I have compared to my younger years. After spending the morning jacking the car up, putting the wheels back on, removing the axle stands and putting the car on skip plates both front and rear and moving the car 2 ft forward and 2 foot over to the drivers side, I just didn't have the energy to lay on the cold ground and sand the body filler on the passenger side sill, lower door skin and rear quarter panel. So I opted to paint the satin black on the rostyle wheel rims plus cover the old rusty headlights with an orange film. I have no real intention of driving the car at night so for aesthetics I continued the new colour combo. Also the new wheel centre caps and graphics have turned up so I put them together too

This weekend was spent filling, sanding, high priming and then top coating the bonnet and the front valance.I then chass...
02/02/2025

This weekend was spent filling, sanding, high priming and then top coating the bonnet and the front valance.
I then chassis blacked the drivers side chassis and inner wheel arches.
With less than 3 weeks before I need to get the car out the workshop, it's going to be a busy time, painting the passenger side and the rear of the car before hanging tge new headlining andrefitting the glass.

Been working on the steering wheel which also gives the new colour combo away
30/01/2025

Been working on the steering wheel which also gives the new colour combo away

26/01/2025

Side painted

26/01/2025

Roof painted

Address

Milton Keynes

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