Description
HERE is a delightful Viva HA SL, the up-market version of the ever popular small family saloon. You will notice the totally different rear light arrangement as well as an improved radiator grille and improved interior. SLs are very thin on the ground and, working on the theory that sixties retro is very much in vogue these days, I would say that the once boxy looking HA has gone full circle and now looks so cute with those tiny rear fins and all that glass that offers the occupants such a huge amount of visibility compared to many other vehicles of the day.
The Viva was - and actually still is - a sprightly and highly useable little performer. They were hugely popular with UK driving schools and were always simple and neat to drive with that crisp gear change offered by the sporty small lever.
This lovely old girl - and yes the registration number stays with the car - is a UK vehicle and until I purchased her, she had spent her entire life in Northern Ireland. She had just two owners from new and hence the 34, 000 miles which I would imagine are correct. Judging by the paperwork, I would think that she was taken off the road around the Millennium and then dry stored.
She now has a full MoT with no advisories and, among the re-commissioning work done, she has been treated to all new wheel cylinders, brake pipes, hand brake cable, brake shoes, brake master cylinder, front outer wheel bearings and water pump.
She's a willing and tight performer on the road and drives as well as her mileage reading would suggest. Body-wise she is extremely straight and certainly stands out from the crowd in an impressive looking shade of white. Her interior is in excellent order, save for some minor damage to the very rear of the headlining and her engine bay is equally as clean.
The Viva HA, and especially this SL version, offers a welcome change from the more readily available classics of the era such as Morris Minor, Morris 1100, Austin A40 etc and is a much punchier drive. Indeed the Viva HA is the perfect example of a classic which, once such a common site on the roads that no-one gave them a second glance, has now become a stand out sixties car!
All my classic cars are treated as the equivalent of motoring antiques. This one, for example, is 53-years-old. They cannot be compared to the wife's six-month-old Chelsea tractor and they are bound to come with imperfections, quirks and bits and pieces that will need attention even if it is some time in the future. They do however come with oodles of charm, appeal and are there to be loved like a family pet. If you are new to the classic car scene, then please bear all this in mind. Most examples have clearly had work over the decades and I cannot predict how much or how little they will need in the future. That, I am afraid, is the nature of the beast in the world of classic cars. Motoring antiques is what they are. I love my Georgian dining table, but I can see all the scars and signs of previous woodworm. Had I wanted a brand new table, I would have gone to Oak Furniture Land. Well perhaps Maybe. Demand is outstripping supply these days and they don't make the old girls any more. So, make some allowances and drive away with a smile on your face!
I accept all major debit/ credit cards and a ten per cent deposit is required at the point of sale with the balance due within three days. I can also assist with delivery and so please ask for a quote. Thanks for reading, Martin. the details below).
