Vauxhall Viva GT

[JPSmit]

Picked it up yesterday with the help of Mark (Abarth69)parts stashed everywhere!!! But I am very happy. Multipla off to a rest cure at the farm till her turn comes. here are some quck pics - recall this is an abandoned project. I am thrilled with the condition of the body! (and a pic of Luigi going)

 

[Mickey Richaud]

That's going to be one good looking car, J-P!

Congrats!

Mickey

 

[Bayless]

That is a good looker. I sure do covet the multipla though.

 

[swift6]

Those taillights look just like MkII Cortina units.

 

[abarth69]

Luigi is going to sit in my barn for the next 20 years it will be a barn find by then

Along with a Fiat 600 and 1962 Mini Cooper he will have good company to rust away with.

Great find JP

 

[JPSmit]

well, tonight was an adventure. went out to start sorting. Mark helped me move the car and that was two trips with a big trailer. There are two extra subframes, two extra steering wheels, an extra rear seat, about 6 bumpers, a big box of who knows what and the car itself was full to the windows with boxes and bags. Started through the boxes and sorted. I'm not sure I'm 1/4 done and here is what I have found.

1. you can't label enough - especially nuts and bolts.
2. It helps to have a system - perhaps cooling parts in one box, interior parts in another - all mixed up!
3. Lots of extras - four more taillights, extra sidelights, seat belts etc. etc.

Oh my the new parts. So far

Suspension ball joints
2 thermostats (each different - odd)
spark plugs
4 NOS pistons
tie rod ends
piston rings
belts - timing and fan
fuel pump
shocks
pedal rubbers
water pump
2 K&N filters
steering rack boots
Bearings
polyurethane bushings
wheel cylinders

and the list goes on - i'm running out of boxes. but I'm very happy ('cept about the unmarked stuff)

 

[AngliaGT]

JP,

I noticed that car in your "general" post,but thought that
I was imagianing that it was something interesting.
Cool car!Finish it,& go on to the Fiat.

- Doug

 

[Silverghost]

JP,

Very cool car! Even COOLER if you were to paint it yellow, red and blue, something like this....

I'm just sayin'!!

 

[JPSmit]

Not quite the same (Falcon) but, if were going to do it, let's do it. BTW, spent an hour or so this am sorting parts - the car is now empty (OK 2 brake drums and the rim for the spare)and most things are on shelves - found more and more new stuff - all the window rubbers, another set of piston rings, the list goes on. At least four fuel pumps, 3 dizzys, 2 heads, and there is still the big box in the shed that I'm not yet prepared to tackle.

First job is to get the engine on a stand and the subframes apart to decide which to use. The guy that sold it to me has (sort of) committed the extra hood and subframe to someone in Winnipeg - I don't actually mind as it makes me some space.

 

[DrEntropy]

JP, has it got the OHC 1800?!?!

 

[JPSmit]

JP, has it got the OHC 1800?!?!

OHC 1975 (victor engine slant 4)

 

[DrEntropy]

YUP!!! Twin carbs, all the go-fast stuff. Very neat!

...when can I come for a drive?

 

[JPSmit]

Not quite yet I'm afraid

BTW also came with a book by Bill Blydenstein on how to make faster (
Blydenstein ) is the Cooper of Vauxhalls

 

[Harry_Flatters]

Very nice JP, colour's not to my taste but it looks in wonderful condition. What year is it? Mk1 or Mk2?

 

[JPSmit]

Very nice JP, colour's not to my taste but it looks in wonderful condition. What year is it? Mk1 or Mk2?

You would ask. (and thanks for the PM) GT's only came to Canada in 1970 making it a Mk2. I'm told it was originally sold as an Envoy Epic. (Chevrolet in Canada marketed them as Envoys while Pontiac sold them as Vauxhalls.) All that being said the previous owner having bought it found out it was too far gone with rust so he reshelled it - the reshell is a '69 - so, now it's a 1969 Viva GT. The previous owner also stripped another Gt and another SL 1600 with GT parts - hope that all makes sense?

 

[Harry_Flatters]

That makes sense, Envoy Epic it was. You obviously only got GTs just as they stopped selling them here, then - they went to the HC Firenza in '71.

Always thought they looked better with the twin headlights, ours had the square lights. I keep thinking about trying to track down a grille & lights... Better get the rest of the car done first though!

 

[Sherlock]

Very nice JP, colour's not to my taste but it looks in wonderful condition. What year is it? Mk1 or Mk2?

You would ask. (and thanks for the PM) GT's only came to Canada in 1970 making it a Mk2. I'm told it was originally sold as an Envoy Epic. (Chevrolet in Canada marketed them as Envoys while Pontiac sold them as Vauxhalls.) All that being said the previous owner having bought it found out it was too far gone with rust so he reshelled it - the reshell is a '69 - so, now it's a 1969 Viva GT. The previous owner also stripped another Gt and another SL 1600 with GT parts - hope that all makes sense?

Saw your message in the Vauxhall group, your description here does sound like it is Cameron S's old Viva GT, if you're having trouble IDing parts, I'll bet that Roger knows how to get in touch with Cameron and he might be of help, last I heard he lived near Kingston...

 

[JPSmit]

Always thought they looked better with the twin headlights, ours had the square lights. I keep thinking about trying to track down a grille & lights... Better get the rest of the car done first though!

I agree and we should be able to arrange something as I have at least three grilles

 

[JPSmit]

Very nice JP, colour's not to my taste but it looks in wonderful condition. What year is it? Mk1 or Mk2?

You would ask. (and thanks for the PM) GT's only came to Canada in 1970 making it a Mk2. I'm told it was originally sold as an Envoy Epic. (Chevrolet in Canada marketed them as Envoys while Pontiac sold them as Vauxhalls.) All that being said the previous owner having bought it found out it was too far gone with rust so he reshelled it - the reshell is a '69 - so, now it's a 1969 Viva GT. The previous owner also stripped another Gt and another SL 1600 with GT parts - hope that all makes sense?

Saw your message in the Vauxhall group, your description here does sound like it is Cameron S's old Viva GT, if you're having trouble IDing parts, I'll bet that Roger knows how to get in touch with Cameron and he might be of help, last I heard he lived near Kingston...

Actually am already in touch with Cameron as well

 

[Harry_Flatters]

JP, are you familiar with a chap called Roger Silcox? He raced a GT, then I think a Firenza Special Saloon in Canada.