For anyone who skips adverts before videos - just know if you give 30 seconds of your life to watch them on the channels like this that you actually enjoy you are in turn financially supporting them...for free!! Just a thought.
@@sruk mate I'm sure your doing alright with the motors but if everyone knew this you would get your just deserts for the work you put in entertaining random people for shits and giggles...and if you feel like doing and video of how to fit a ac compressor would be much appreciated for a novice 😂 have a good Xmas fella 👍
If you subscribe to RUclips Premium you don't get ads so how does that affect those who make their living on RUclips? The more who subscribe to Premium the more it must adversely affect the channel.
This was the first car I remember. I'm from '66 and my dad got one of these. I remember how pleased he was with it... and standing between the seats as he drove. It broke down fairly regularly, once on the ramp of the calais-dover ferry.. We blocked the exit. That's when I learned all the swear words I still use today.
Steve Richmond The HA was my first car in 1974. Bought it off my mum who had it since new from 1965 here in Tasmania. Chief vices with this car were weak diffs and piston pins wearing prematurely. Best bit was the gearbox. Great little shifter. Car was always garaged, so rust never an issue. Seeing the points and feeler gauge really takes me back. Enjoying all the varied posts on this video. Thanks for the memories. Marcus
My first ever car. It was 1966 model but I didnt get it until 1975 when I just turned 19 but I loved it. Who wouldst be proud of their first car. Really enjoyed watching.
Our first car was a 1965 Viva. Dad upgraded to a Ford Corsair and the power difference felt immense. That said, the Viva started every time, unlike the Ford Corsair p o s. Even with the plugs in the oven, damp days were a nightmare, the car hardly ever started. Viva la Viva. It's a good un.
Love your videos from here in New Zealand. I was born in England 1965 and all these old English cars bring back so many good memories, keep up the good work guys.
A Vauxhall Viva HA was my first car I ever owned, I served my time as an Auto Electrician for a main Vauxhall dealership in Sunderland, Adams & Gibbon. Very easy cars to work on with the exception of the front suspension leaf spring which were a pain in the arse, Happy memories.
Had one of these as my first car . They were notoriously unreliable but all was needed was a vice grips and pliers. Watching Chris a proper old fashioned mechanic set the points brought back fond memories. Only softies wasted money on garages back then
We see so many of this type of video from the US, but hardly ever see any from the UK. I suppose that nearly any car left lying around for that long here would have just disintegrated from rust. The HA has done so well not to have fallen apart, even if it does have some corrosion issues. What a great video, I was just so willing for her to start! I know that she is beyond economic restoration, but please try to find someone willing to take her on. More please!
Rob and Chris thank you so much for this one , I had. a HA van .brings back memory's. And the days of plugs and points and setting up the dwell angle . Stood for 19 years and with a bit of work it starts and runs , you would not get that with a modern car that's been sat for 19 years .. One word for this upload " brilliant "! Keep thease coming All the best Paul .
Dwell angle you tell em that t day there think your of your rocker that's another thing setting the rocker gaps + timing 8%,BTDC. AHHH THOSE WERE T DAYS WHEN YOU COULD DO T TICKOVER WIT SPANNER AND SCREW DRIVER NONE OF THIS GOING ON T. TINTERNET AND CONNECTING A LAPDANCER TO IT AYE SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE
Great work lads defiantly more of the same. We’re all never to old to learn. There’s only one thing for it now you’ve woken her up from a deep sleep you’ve gotta restore it to some sort of usable level would be ashame not to. My old dad had one in the early 70’s a grey one with a white stripe I always remember him saying how well it drove and what a slick little gearbox it had. In the end it went rotten he had to scrap it off I’m sure I saw a tear in his eye that long off day in 74. Keep up the good work there’s plenty of us out here who love this stuff👍👍
I had one 50years ago in Canada. They were badged as the Envoy Epic. It was my first car. Great video it has brought back many fond memories. Thanks boys.
pdbbqpope : it was my first car as well . I had a 1967 Epic bought it for $35.00 from My Dads friend . My brother and I pooled our money together....lol
My first ever car was a blue (light blue with dark blue side stripe) 1965 Viva (HA) SL. The SL was a little posher than your car with a nicer grille, fancier hubcaps and two-tone paint. It was a great car to drive. I owned it for a few years before it failed the MOT due to rust. It broke my heart to drive it to the scrapyard, it was still running beautifully.
My Grandad had one of these! It was twenty years old when it was scrapped with only 14,000 mile on the clock!. Unfortunately it was so rusty underneath it couldn’t be saved. And my first car was a HA van ( ex British Telecom) so it was brilliant to see under the bonnet of this great old classic as I spent many hour fixing my van, usually a sticky starter motor or leaky thermostat housing...cheers guys, keep up the hard work, it’s much appreciated. Mike.
This is my era, right up my street got so involved with the engine checks that my hands were covered in oil and greese once it got started ...The point setting brought tears to me eyes!!!! more please Patrick
Ahh bless it’s little heart...really enjoyed that! Never occurred to me that there are car people out there who genuinely don’t know how to Change/gap points! Essential road-side maintenance b in the d!
Evening guys What a video Loved the section on points Chris just seems to have everything just sitting about In my opinion use need to be snapped up by at channel and give us a show 7 days a week Who needs the soaps when we have these class videos
Guys I have to add a second comment When chris actually moved that old girl it put a smile on my face. Videos like this are pure classic content and I love it You men need a beer
Very good video. Refreshing to watch as you just get on with the job, no music, no clowning around just an informative and relevant watch. Well done! Good to see the HA running and as smooth as a sewing machine.
Brilliant! All took me back to the late 70s watching my dad working on Vivas, Cortinas and Escorts etc. Scraping the rotor arm on the concrete floor to clean it, using cigarette papers to set the gap on the points and holding a lead with a plug in it against the metal bodywork to check for a spark!!
As annoying as these old cars where I think they was better any one with abit of knollage could get stuck in and repair it unlike know where u need a a level in it 😂
Brings back fond memories This was my first car The short gear stick was awesome The biggest issue was it used a clutch cable that after about a years use would snap because the clutch is mechanical with a metal fork that the cable would sit in so that each time you pressed the clutch pedal, the cable would rub slightly against the metal fork that was holding the inner clutch cable in a sleeve with a crimped on ball joint. After time this would wear through the clutch cable and it would snap You had to remove the parcel tray to get enough room to get at the clutch cable and to be able to feed it through from the inside to the outside engine bay. I used to be able to replace the clutch cable in about 15 mins because I got so good at it after owning the car for years The seat belts were fixed, with a pull tighten system, none of the good auto tensioners you have today It used to accelerate quickly and was a great car for speeding off against others at the lights, even beating the 850 mini gt if you drove it hard :-) The other issue was electrical faults, mostly traced back to the interior light in the front, the housing for the light would break resulting in the metal bracket touching the roof and shorting The engine bay had so much space it was easy to work on The front window was sealed in by a black tar like substance which would dry and crack over the years. Easy to replace It had the worst body roll though and cornered like a pig. The steering wheel was huge, somewhat oversized Heater was excellent and front screen viability was ok, not great but one trick you could do was turn the little triangle mirrors in the front windows right around as far as they could go which then directed the air towards the from sunscreen. They were not obviously designed to turn at that extreme angle but they could so it made for a cheap man's windscreen demister Great memories were had in that car and there was heaps of room in the back for you and the girlfriend 😁 It had a bit of a hum in the bum as they say, which was differential whine when the mileage and age of the vehicle increased but it never failed and the old wives tale was you fixed it using bananas! Fond memories indeed and thanks for uploading the video
Definitely! This was one of the first post-F/PA Vauxhalls that didn't dissolve before teatime. They were good honest, unpretentious cars and don't get enough recognition.
Fantastic. My first car was a 1965 Viva HA. I drove it for 3 years until 1978 when I had to scrap it. I paid £85 having negotiated down from the £100 asking price. The starter motor used to jam so I frequently put the car in 4th gear then had to rock it to free the motor. Bit embarrassing when this happened at traffic lights in city centre. Some great memories of this car. Huge thanks gents.
Rob, your laugh when it started and then when Chris drove it out of its resting place was priceless, I've got man flu but that cheered me up no end. My Mrs thinks I've gone daft sat here laughing at you two. Great vid. Mick
Sitting watching this and having flashbacks to the late 70s. Spent many an hour setting up points, changing condensers etc only to have to redo it all a few days later. Thanks for the memories Rob and Chris.
Well done boys. Kia ora from Kiwi Land, New Zealand. This brought back some great memories of my childhood, as this model Viva was the first shopping basket my dad allowed my mum to buy for herself (and us kids) back in the 60s. The good old days! Keep up the awesome vids gentlemen, they are reaching us here at the 'ends of the earth.'
We did the same with a Bedford HA. Dad fettled a Folding Back Seat - But you had to be careful of the Screw-Heads! I learned to drive in it, so did my brother and my mum! Parts were cheap and everything could be maintained with a screwdriver and a spanner. They were used everywhere by the Post Office, BT, and British Rail but sadly there are now very few left.
The genius of Chris and your admiration of him is beyond belief Rob, loved every minute of this whole journey with the Viva!! My wife's fisrt car was a Viva, it brings back memories, her's wasn't anything like this car wiil end up! Keep up the good work guys from down under.
Brilliant. My Dad had one of these. Same colour too. As a family of four we drove from Sussex down to the south of France in it in September 1964 on a belated summer holiday. It never gave us a problem. What memories this video brings back. Thanks loads.
@@ianstubbs1170 Those sixties cars - you could almost climb inside the engine bay to fix them! Imagine, by comparison, changing a starter motor on most modern cars...
I have an HC Viva and a Chevette. Both have the same engine unit. They go well if you soup them up a bit. Short-stroke engine, so they can be made to rev well. ;)
@Tony Matthews Go ask banger racers who seem to by pass ECUs Ignition modules and immobilisers with very basic wiring, the clue is go ask them how they do it..
This took me back more than 45 years to my first car - a 1964 Vauxhall Viva HA 1057cc. There were days when it didn't start as easily as yours! Thanks for the memories.
Spent my youth keeping cars going ( this was when you COULD work on cars) Had a HA and a HB.. Hearing the engine turn I knew it was a starter. Made cars simple and to last back in the day.. Well done guys, brought back quite a few memories.
Enjoyed that! My Dad had a 1966 HA Viva De Luxe, the only car he bought new. I learned to drive and passed my test in it then bought it off him later. Sold it in around 1979 and I'm sure it had more rust than yours :) Main problem we had was that one of the carb jet kept getting blocked. A quick side of the road job to sort, but a nuisance.
Bloody awesome... I'm sat here watching you two operating on the engine and I'm willing old dads car to live again! And she's alive!! Cost and time would probably prohibit a full restoration but wouldn't she be an absolute corker looking all shiny as new again...brought back memories of watching my own dad tinkering under bonnets when I was a kid.... Brilliant! 👍👍👍👍
I had a chance to buy one of these HA’s in 1977, for £15. I was only an apprentice then and just couldn’t afford it. One of life’s regrets for me. Keep up the good work guys. Enjoyable.
Great to see the work on the HA Viva. It was my first ever car and I remember doing all the little jobs on it. Points, Plugs, Dist Cap , Brakes, Rocker Cover Gasket, Choke cable etc. Mine was 1966 and I got it in 1974.
Blimey, this has brought memories flooding back. I had a 1969 Viva HB in 1971, and loved it. loads of holidays of Wales, and commuted from London to Norfolk for three months before moving to Norfolk. Never missed a beat. It would trot along really nice at 60 all day. Have a great Christmas
Thanks Guys, this one cracked me up. Takes me back to our backyard when I was a kid helping my Uncle work on cars for our family and people we knew, only 7 at the time so could offer a lot of insight into the proceedings . 😀😀
I had an H.A. Van and H.A. Viva car back in the seventies, both we’re very reliable with this simple but robust engine. Providing you kept the plugs, points, rotor arm etc in good condition. Being young, I thrashed the guts out of them but they never let me down. Happy days.
Thank you for the video. I throughly enjoyed every minute. My first car I bought in 1974 was a viva ha. Reg YBF188D. Cost me £140 from a local car dealership. Also got me a girl and we went to Rhyl Wales in it in May 1975. I’m still with that girl some 45 years later. So many memories seeing that car. Amazing that it ran after standing there for so long. Thanks again guys, great video. Thank you.
Enjoyed watching the HA start again. Back in the sixties, this car was advertised to hit 70 MPH in 3rd gear! I am also surprised with the amount of rust - but very little around the battery Box! Greetings from Australia. There is a few of those cars here, in better nick of course.
Brilliant, that engine sounds good & there is no breather fumes which means there's a lot of life left in it yet. I took my driving test in an HA Viva in 1967. Great memories, thank yo so much for posting.
Great video thanks, this was my first car after passing my test over 50 years ago now. I bought it second hand and have great memories of driving it around and tinkering under the bonnet, and doing the brakes. It was my pride and joy for two years.
What a brilliant video,I learned to drive in a viva h.a. Just like this one,but failed my test,had two more lessons and the instructor bought a new viva hub,I then passed my test,what memories,well done,
For anyone who skips adverts before videos - just know if you give 30 seconds of your life to watch them on the channels like this that you actually enjoy you are in turn financially supporting them...for free!! Just a thought.
@@sruk mate I'm sure your doing alright with the motors but if everyone knew this you would get your just deserts for the work you put in entertaining random people for shits and giggles...and if you feel like doing and video of how to fit a ac compressor would be much appreciated for a novice 😂 have a good Xmas fella 👍
If you subscribe to RUclips Premium you don't get ads so how does that affect those who make their living on RUclips? The more who subscribe to Premium the more it must adversely affect the channel.
@@sruk unrelated but what affordable obd/code reader/etc would you recommend for universal models?
Never thought of it like that before
Alright calm down mate.
This was the first car I remember. I'm from '66 and my dad got one of these. I remember how pleased he was with it... and standing between the seats as he drove. It broke down fairly regularly, once on the ramp of the calais-dover ferry.. We blocked the exit. That's when I learned all the swear words I still use today.
leuvenlife 😂😂😂 great comment 🍻👍
Who is here over 50 because this vid brings back old memories?
I can remember these like it was yesterday
My Dad owned one as well. Brings back memories of being travel sick in the back 🤮
I wish more mechanics were like Chris, they are a dying breed these days. Fantastic stuff!
After all that time the HA sounds really sweet, well done both on another miracle!
Steve Richmond 🍻👍
Steve Richmond The HA was my first car in 1974. Bought it off my mum who had it since new from 1965 here in Tasmania. Chief vices with this car were weak diffs and piston pins wearing prematurely. Best bit was the gearbox. Great little shifter. Car was always garaged, so rust never an issue. Seeing the points and feeler gauge really takes me back. Enjoying all the varied posts on this video. Thanks for the memories. Marcus
Marcus Mcewan 👍
My first ever car. It was 1966 model but I didnt get it until 1975 when I just turned 19 but I loved it. Who wouldst be proud of their first car. Really enjoyed watching.
Our first car was a 1965 Viva. Dad upgraded to a Ford Corsair and the power difference felt immense. That said, the Viva started every time, unlike the Ford Corsair p o s. Even with the plugs in the oven, damp days were a nightmare, the car hardly ever started.
Viva la Viva. It's a good un.
The most satisfaction I get from restoring cars is hearing them run for the first time, well done guys 👍
Pau61 C70 🍻👍
From a time when most people could and did fix their own cars. Very enjoyable
Ady Wild 👌🍻👍
I still fix my own cars. (retired bloke in late 60's) Latest 1999 Merc' 230 Komp' CLK. Just to reassure you.
Love your videos from here in New Zealand. I was born in England 1965 and all these old English cars bring back so many good memories, keep up the good work guys.
A Vauxhall Viva HA was my first car I ever owned, I served my time as an Auto Electrician for a main Vauxhall dealership in Sunderland, Adams & Gibbon.
Very easy cars to work on with the exception of the front suspension leaf spring which were a pain in the arse,
Happy memories.
Had one of these as my first car . They were notoriously unreliable but all was needed was a vice grips and pliers. Watching Chris a proper old fashioned mechanic set the points brought back fond memories. Only softies wasted money on garages back then
We see so many of this type of video from the US, but hardly ever see any from the UK. I suppose that nearly any car left lying around for that long here would have just disintegrated from rust. The HA has done so well not to have fallen apart, even if it does have some corrosion issues. What a great video, I was just so willing for her to start! I know that she is beyond economic restoration, but please try to find someone willing to take her on. More please!
Robbie Robson 👍🍻
Theres a nice Scottish guy, Rod Curry, does motorcycle vids, mostly japanese bikes, knows his stuff.
Rob and Chris thank you so much for this one , I had. a HA van .brings back memory's.
And the days of plugs and points and setting up the dwell angle .
Stood for 19 years and with a bit of work it starts and runs , you would not get that with a modern car that's been sat for 19 years ..
One word for this upload " brilliant "!
Keep thease coming
All the best
Paul .
Mr Omlette thank you mate glad you enjoyed it 👍
Had a HA van as well many many years ago. Wouldn't now even dream of trying to fix a modern vehicle.
I had a Bedford cargo green HA van as my first car
Dwell angle you tell em that t day there think your of your rocker that's another thing setting the rocker gaps + timing 8%,BTDC. AHHH THOSE WERE T DAYS WHEN YOU COULD DO T TICKOVER WIT SPANNER AND SCREW DRIVER NONE OF THIS GOING ON T. TINTERNET AND CONNECTING A LAPDANCER TO IT AYE SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE
Love it! She wants to live!!
Trucker Jay In the UK 👌👍
Jay what you doing here....small world buddy.
Top vid mate that mechanic has great knowledge of the older cars
cars of this era were so simple to fix, you really have to restore this girl to her former glory guys, good luck from Canada,
Great work lads defiantly more of the same. We’re all never to old to learn. There’s only one thing for it now you’ve woken her up from a deep sleep you’ve gotta restore it to some sort of usable level would be ashame not to. My old dad had one in the early 70’s a grey one with a white stripe I always remember him saying how well it drove and what a slick little gearbox it had. In the end it went rotten he had to scrap it off I’m sure I saw a tear in his eye that long off day in 74. Keep up the good work there’s plenty of us out here who love this stuff👍👍
essex v6 v6 🍻👍
Here's to your old dad god bless him; wherever he may be, he cheered as his old car rolled forward! And so did I!
Mark Cheverton 👌🍻👍
That body will buff out.
Well done lads, very nostalgic.
Paul Simpson thank you 👍
David M I think he’s just joking 👍
My father had a Vauxhall viva 1966 same colour too, had many years of holidays in it too. I though it was a lovely car at the age of 9 years old...😍😍☺
Good cars I had one of these in 1987 never missed a beat. Went for a 600 km trip up and back . not fast but made it no dramas.
Really enjoyed watching that come to life again. Your doing great things.
I had one 50years ago in Canada. They were badged as the Envoy Epic. It was my first car.
Great video it has brought back many fond memories. Thanks boys.
pdbbqpope 👌👍
pdbbqpope : it was my first car as well . I had a 1967 Epic bought it for $35.00 from
My Dads friend . My brother and I pooled our money together....lol
Rust bucket on the seals.
My first ever car was a blue (light blue with dark blue side stripe) 1965 Viva (HA) SL. The SL was a little posher than your car with a nicer grille, fancier hubcaps and two-tone paint. It was a great car to drive. I owned it for a few years before it failed the MOT due to rust. It broke my heart to drive it to the scrapyard, it was still running beautifully.
David M 👌👍
Full restoration PLEASE! I drove one of these for work many years ago. You revived a lot of good memories. Thank you.
fantastic video and lovely memories as i used to have a H A van and worked on them in the post office over 40 yrs ago many thanks
The HA viva was my first car, nice to see the engine bay again, brings back memories, great to see you get it started
roy harding 👌🍻👍
We did this sort of thing in our sleep years ago.Today's cars, I wouldn't know where to start.
Well done guys.
Bashnja1 👍
When it came to fitting the spark plug leads I'm thinking "1-3-4-2 ... 1-3-4-2 .... c'mon, 1-3-4-2 ... YESSSS!!!"
My Grandad had one of these! It was twenty years old when it was scrapped with only 14,000 mile on the clock!. Unfortunately it was so rusty underneath it couldn’t be saved. And my first car was a HA van ( ex British Telecom) so it was brilliant to see under the bonnet of this great old classic as I spent many hour fixing my van, usually a sticky starter motor or leaky thermostat housing...cheers guys, keep up the hard work, it’s much appreciated. Mike.
byeckfella thank you 👍
This is my era, right up my street got so involved with the engine checks that my hands were covered in oil and greese once it got started ...The point setting brought tears to me eyes!!!! more please Patrick
Bloody brilliant! It does make me think how ancient I am but there you go.
Wow this brought back memories I passed my test in a HA in 1972 ps lesson price was£1.50 test I think was around £3.00 well done lads .
Ahh bless it’s little heart...really enjoyed that! Never occurred to me that there are car people out there who genuinely don’t know how to Change/gap points! Essential road-side maintenance b in the d!
Jack Carter 👌🍻👍
Yeah, it sounds all kinds of scary at first, but it's one of the easiest things to fix on a car!
Evening guys
What a video
Loved the section on points
Chris just seems to have everything just sitting about
In my opinion use need to be snapped up by at channel and give us a show 7 days a week
Who needs the soaps when we have these class videos
Guys I have to add a second comment
When chris actually moved that old girl it put a smile on my face.
Videos like this are pure classic content and I love it
You men need a beer
Acorn Clothes lol thank you mate appreciate the comment glad you enjoyed the video 🍻👍
Acorn Clothes thank you 🍻👍
If only cars were that simple now! Very entertaining. Thanks for doing it.
Very good video. Refreshing to watch as you just get on with the job, no music, no clowning around just an informative and relevant watch. Well done! Good to see the HA running and as smooth as a sewing machine.
beaufighter245 👌🍻👍
Excellent effort - especially since many parts missing.
Really enjoyed
James Dunbar thank you 👍
That was absolutely wonderful - well done to both of you for getting that working.
L A 👌🍻👍🎄
Brilliant!
All took me back to the late 70s watching my dad working on Vivas, Cortinas and Escorts etc.
Scraping the rotor arm on the concrete floor to clean it, using cigarette papers to set the gap on the points and holding a lead with a plug in it against the metal bodywork to check for a spark!!
GT Thompson lol 👌👍 you can’t buy beautiful memories like that 👍
As annoying as these old cars where I think they was better any one with abit of knollage could get stuck in and repair it unlike know where u need a a level in it 😂
Anthony Thomas 👌👍
1964HA Viva first start after 19yrs awesome
Father in law had one of these. amazing old creature. I remember well the days of points and plugs. Thanks guys for the memories.
Rob and Chris RUclipsrs of the year 2019. Go on the lads
John Ives thank you
Brings back fond memories
This was my first car
The short gear stick was awesome
The biggest issue was it used a clutch cable that after about a years use would snap because the clutch is mechanical with a metal fork that the cable would sit in so that each time you pressed the clutch pedal, the cable would rub slightly against the metal fork that was holding the inner clutch cable in a sleeve with a crimped on ball joint. After time this would wear through the clutch cable and it would snap
You had to remove the parcel tray to get enough room to get at the clutch cable and to be able to feed it through from the inside to the outside engine bay. I used to be able to replace the clutch cable in about 15 mins because I got so good at it after owning the car for years
The seat belts were fixed, with a pull tighten system, none of the good auto tensioners you have today
It used to accelerate quickly and was a great car for speeding off against others at the lights, even beating the 850 mini gt if you drove it hard :-)
The other issue was electrical faults, mostly traced back to the interior light in the front, the housing for the light would break resulting in the metal bracket touching the roof and shorting
The engine bay had so much space it was easy to work on
The front window was sealed in by a black tar like substance which would dry and crack over the years. Easy to replace
It had the worst body roll though and cornered like a pig.
The steering wheel was huge, somewhat oversized
Heater was excellent and front screen viability was ok, not great but one trick you could do was turn the little triangle mirrors in the front windows right around as far as they could go which then directed the air towards the from sunscreen. They were not obviously designed to turn at that extreme angle but they could so it made for a cheap man's windscreen demister
Great memories were had in that car and there was heaps of room in the back for you and the girlfriend 😁
It had a bit of a hum in the bum as they say, which was differential whine when the mileage and age of the vehicle increased but it never failed and the old wives tale was you fixed it using bananas!
Fond memories indeed and thanks for uploading the video
Amazing sitting 19yrs and she sounds brilliant Restore build after the range rover
Hi Guys, a gutsy little car for sure! Well done and thanks for uploading.
Absolutely fantastic. It was fabulous to watch. Excellent work Gentlemen.
I remember when they were still on the road many years ago , would be good to see it restored to original, well done
geo752 👍
Yes BT used these vans
@@Brian-nj7oj I think the post office still do.
Runs & drives, sold as seen!
I was laughing too when Chris stalled it but he put the revs on and she pulled forward 😂
Dan Oliver lol 👍
Give it a full restoration. Not many about now.
Definitely! This was one of the first post-F/PA Vauxhalls that didn't dissolve before teatime. They were good honest, unpretentious cars and don't get enough recognition.
@@mikaelabowen5781 I imagine that a lot of new sheet metal parts would need to be fabricated. New Windscreen pillars for one.
Guys I don’t want to put a spanner in the works but it would be worth about 4K restored it would cost 6-7k to get there I’m afraid it’s scrap 👍
@@sruk sounds pretty standard for a classic Vauxhall, they're almost never worth how much it costs to restore them.
@@sruk Sell her on, Someone may love her
This video took me down memory lane to the year 1966 when our dad brought this wonderful machine home.
Fantastic. My first car was a 1965 Viva HA. I drove it for 3 years until 1978 when I had to scrap it. I paid £85 having negotiated down from the £100 asking price. The starter motor used to jam so I frequently put the car in 4th gear then had to rock it to free the motor. Bit embarrassing when this happened at traffic lights in city centre. Some great memories of this car. Huge thanks gents.
Than you for all the vlogs in 2019 - Merry Christmas.
L A you to 👌🍻🔥🎄
Not an ecu in sight love it! Good old points.
My friend had a V reg Vectra with a faulty ecu. A new one cost more than the bloody car!
Rob, your laugh when it started and then when Chris drove it out of its resting place was priceless, I've got man flu but that cheered me up no end. My Mrs thinks I've gone daft sat here laughing at you two. Great vid.
Mick
Mick Repairs Cars cheers Mick it was the smile on chrises face it made me chuckle we really enjoyed doing this one . Hope you feel better soon 🍻👍
Man flu no2😢😢😢😢😢😢
s get well soon mate
Sitting watching this and having flashbacks to the late 70s. Spent many an hour setting up points, changing condensers etc only to have to redo it all a few days later. Thanks for the memories Rob and Chris.
Les Rogers your welcome mate 🍻👍
Well done boys. Kia ora from Kiwi Land, New Zealand. This brought back some great memories of my childhood, as this model Viva was the first shopping basket my dad allowed my mum to buy for herself (and us kids) back in the 60s. The good old days! Keep up the awesome vids gentlemen, they are reaching us here at the 'ends of the earth.'
the good old days when changing the points was part of the service
Joe Ennis 👍
Lol, I'm just old enough to remember these on the road at 53 years of age now.
paul taylor 🍻👍
😱memories my ol man had one of those and same colour 😳, quiet little engine ..... can’t believe you’ve not done points mate 🤣👍🏻
BBC Boxing I’m only 38 👍
salvage rebuilds uk ........get out of town !!😳..........only kidding mate ,wish I was 😩😩
@@sruk Im only 44 and I can remember setting points as a kid...
Well done lads really enjoyed this video 👍
More more old cars please. Really loved watching old style motor mechanics - just like the good old days. 👍
david batchelor 🍻👍
Part 2. Detailing
Carey Parker 😂😂😂
Great awnser!!!!!
Old school detailing. 1 bucket, fairy liquid, sponge from the sink and remember to throw the remaining water in the bucket over the car😉
@@jonathanbeale3978 grit and all lol
😂
Such nice content rob keep it up😊
David Kimani thank you 👍
My first “new car” was a 1969 HA 8 cwt van, no purchase tax on vans in those far off days and before VAT .
K Welton 👌👍 I hope it brought back some memories
Went down to Yuogslavia in a HA van with all the camping stuff in the back
We did the same with a Bedford HA. Dad fettled a Folding Back Seat - But you had to be careful of the Screw-Heads! I learned to drive in it, so did my brother and my mum! Parts were cheap and everything could be maintained with a screwdriver and a spanner. They were used everywhere by the Post Office, BT, and British Rail but sadly there are now very few left.
The genius of Chris and your admiration of him is beyond belief Rob, loved every minute of this whole journey with the Viva!! My wife's fisrt car was a Viva, it brings back memories, her's wasn't anything like this car wiil end up! Keep up the good work guys from down under.
Brilliant. My Dad had one of these. Same colour too. As a family of four we drove from Sussex down to the south of France in it in September 1964 on a belated summer holiday. It never gave us a problem. What memories this video brings back. Thanks loads.
nidostar2013 your welcome thank you for watching 👍
I can see the description on the for sale advert, 'runs and drives' 🤓.
Gravy Davy 😂😂😂👍
Arfur Daley would get ten grand for it easy.
Vauxhall Viva The buggers never started when they were new,!!!! Wish I knew then just to let it set for nineteen years
Kevin Wilkinson lol 👍
Worked on em for years and never had a starting problem ? you must have had a duffer. NB they are probably one of the easiest engines to work on :)
@@ianstubbs1170 Those sixties cars - you could almost climb inside the engine bay to fix them! Imagine, by comparison, changing a starter motor on most modern cars...
I have an HC Viva and a Chevette. Both have the same engine unit. They go well if you soup them up a bit. Short-stroke engine, so they can be made to rev well. ;)
ian stubbs I agree!
Imagine trying to make a quick ignition by pass on a new car just to start from the engine bay.
@Tony Matthews Go ask banger racers who seem to by pass ECUs Ignition modules and immobilisers with very basic wiring, the clue is go ask them how they do it..
@@troo_story You won't be able to hotwire a modern car with a simple peace of wire like that.
Love it! Got a HA myself and love to see them being repaired 😁😁
Get it restored and help keep another dying breed from going extinct
This took me back more than 45 years to my first car - a 1964 Vauxhall Viva HA 1057cc. There were days when it didn't start as easily as yours! Thanks for the memories.
simon king 👌🍻👍
"It's a bit stiff" Rob 2019
LeArtisan ?
@@sruk Choke....
The old girl lifted her skirt up and there she went!😂🤣
Zsoca Varga lol 👌👍
Spent my youth keeping cars going ( this was when you COULD work on cars) Had a HA and a HB.. Hearing the engine turn I knew it was a starter. Made cars simple and to last back in the day.. Well done guys, brought back quite a few memories.
Buster West 🍻👌👍
Gents this is the first video I viewed on this channel about 20 month ago and got hooked to it ever since.
These gangsters have ransacked 87% of their neighbours cars to get this running!
Kevin Chamberlain 😂😂😂🍻👍
I see this car has overriders. I’ll bet there’s a lot of younger viewers that will be wondering “what are overriders” ?
Dag Hammar absolutely lol 👌🍻👍
@@martinbulman54 Also, where is the Y? ;¬)
They were and optional extra. Maybe standard on the SL model. Wow memories from the 60s. Cheers
@Herbert Norkus Wow Renault Dauphine worked on them in the 60s I remember the adverts in the cinema
@@Rick-S-6063 My mom called them smoker's windows. I love them and wish they would come back.
Does Chris really exist or is it just you talking in a quiet voice 😂😂
Going to show this to my motor vehicle students, they never get to see old school mechanics anymore. Cheers 👍
Pleasing to follow the methodical way that Chris solves bringing this engine back to life. Everyone can learn from this.
Got the biggest smile on my face. It was my first ever car and all the great excitement came rushing back into my head. Thanks guys.
Enjoyed that! My Dad had a 1966 HA Viva De Luxe, the only car he bought new. I learned to drive and passed my test in it then bought it off him later. Sold it in around 1979 and I'm sure it had more rust than yours :) Main problem we had was that one of the carb jet kept getting blocked. A quick side of the road job to sort, but a nuisance.
Bloody awesome... I'm sat here watching you two operating on the engine and I'm willing old dads car to live again! And she's alive!! Cost and time would probably prohibit a full restoration but wouldn't she be an absolute corker looking all shiny as new again...brought back memories of watching my own dad tinkering under bonnets when I was a kid.... Brilliant! 👍👍👍👍
MrRadiorobot 👌🍻👍
Really appreciate your time getting that engine running. Enjoyed it.
Raymond Bickerton 👌🍻👍
I had a chance to buy one of these HA’s in 1977, for £15. I was only an apprentice then and just couldn’t afford it. One of life’s regrets for me. Keep up the good work guys. Enjoyable.
I used to have one of these back in 1973. They are lovely cars and so easy to work on. Congratulations on getting it running after all that time.
James Grant 👌🍻👍
For one of those heaps!,!(had one in 1966,)fabuloues works amazing.👏👏👏👏🤷♂️
Great to see the work on the HA Viva. It was my first ever car and I remember doing all the little jobs on it. Points, Plugs, Dist Cap , Brakes, Rocker Cover Gasket, Choke cable etc. Mine was 1966 and I got it in 1974.
Blimey, this has brought memories flooding back. I had a 1969 Viva HB in 1971, and loved it. loads of holidays of Wales, and commuted from London to Norfolk for three months before moving to Norfolk. Never missed a beat. It would trot along really nice at 60 all day. Have a great Christmas
hypnoray thompson you to thank you 👍
Thanks Guys, this one cracked me up. Takes me back to our backyard when I was a kid helping my Uncle work on cars for our family and people we knew, only 7 at the time so could offer a lot of insight into the proceedings . 😀😀
The HA was my first car and bought for me by my parents for 70 sobs. The video brought a tear to my eye. Great work guys!
Russell Sprout 👌🍻👍
I had an H.A. Van and H.A. Viva car back in the seventies, both we’re very reliable with this simple but robust engine. Providing you kept the plugs, points, rotor arm etc in good condition. Being young, I thrashed the guts out of them but they never let me down. Happy days.
Thank you for the video. I throughly enjoyed every minute. My first car I bought in 1974 was a viva ha. Reg YBF188D. Cost me £140 from a local car dealership. Also got me a girl and we went to Rhyl Wales in it in May 1975. I’m still with that girl some 45 years later. So many memories seeing that car. Amazing that it ran after standing there for so long. Thanks again guys, great video. Thank you.
Paul Emms 🍻👍
Enjoyed watching the HA start again. Back in the sixties, this car was advertised to hit 70 MPH in 3rd gear! I am also surprised with the amount of rust - but very little around the battery Box! Greetings from Australia. There is a few of those cars here, in better nick of course.
Brilliant, that engine sounds good & there is no breather fumes which means there's a lot of life left in it yet. I took my driving test in an HA Viva in 1967. Great memories, thank yo so much for posting.
Malc Tulloch 🍻👌👍
Great video thanks, this was my first car after passing my test over 50 years ago now. I bought it second hand and have great memories of driving it around and tinkering under the bonnet, and doing the brakes. It was my pride and joy for two years.
Well done guys for resurrecting this little classic..they were a nippy little car back in the day and very easy to work on.
Julian Caston 👍
Brilliant to see that old piece of motoring history running again! Amazing! Well done! If it’s not exempt get it going down the road!
Brian Marshall 👍
salvage rebuilds uk I meant to say ‘mot exempt’!!
What a brilliant video,I learned to drive in a viva h.a. Just like this one,but failed my test,had two more lessons and the instructor bought a new viva hub,I then passed my test,what memories,well done,
Robert Povey thank you 👍
It's nice to see other people like myself in the world, keeping old stuff alive. Restore her if your brave enough.
Bill 84 👌🍻👍