David Wilkins

In 1966, the first-generation Vauxhall Viva, the HA, which provided the basis for yesterday’s Bedford HA van, was replaced by this, the slightly larger Viva HB. Unlike the HA, the HB was available ex works as an estate, as seen here at this year’s Practical Classics resto show. Logically, this car might have been made available as a Bedford-badged van but the Bedford HA was kept going instead - and long outlived the Viva HB as well.

#davidsdailycar #Vauxhall #WeirdCarMastodon

Jun 6 at 7:28amWeb
Show threadDud and Forgotten.Jun 6
@davidwilkins they didn't get rid of the ha van until the Chevette was released, iirc. The HA van outlived the whole Viva line!
Show threadDavid WilkinsJun 6
@BackFromTheDud Yes - it survived until 1983 - almost to Mk2 Astra.
Show threadMartin RundkvistJun 6
@davidwilkins
What does "ex works" mean here?
Show threadDavid WilkinsJun 6
@mrundkvist Ah - sorry if that wasn’t clear. I meant it was available directly from the factory as an estate/station wagon, rather than as an after-market conversion.