1964 Vauxhall Viva HA
Vauxhall’s return to the compact car segment after 27 years resulted from a parallel development program with Opel, sharing a basic floorpan concept and engine layout with the German Kadett A.
An unusual engineering footnote reveals that while the cars appeared similar, Vauxhall designed its components using imperial measurements while Opel worked in metric, rendering few parts interchangeable between the two models despite their common GM parentage.
Introduced in September 1963, the HA represented Vauxhall’s entry into direct competition with the Ford Anglia and Austin 1100. Initial production at Luton transitioned to the new Ellesmere Port facility in June 1964, where the model achieved remarkable market acceptance. The 100,000th example rolled off the line within just ten months of introduction.
Compact dimensions (155 inches long, weighing approximately 1,560 pounds) housed a 1,057cc overhead-valve four-cylinder engine producing 45 horsepower at 5,200 rpm, paired with a four-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels.
Deluxe models featured enhanced trim and equipment rather than mechanical upgrades. Between 1963 and 1966, total HA production exceeded 300,000 units before the model transitioned to the larger HB series.
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