Vauxhall Viva HA
Vauxhall's first small car in a generation, light and easy to drive.
The story
The boxy Viva took on the Ford Anglia and Morris Minor with light controls, a big boot and a slick gearchange. It was aimed squarely at new drivers, and Vauxhall advertised it to women as well as men.
Inside
Plain painted metal, a strip speedometer and thin seats. Everything is light to the touch.
In period colours
Tap a colour to respray the drawing.
Its van version, the Bedford HA, stayed in production until 1983 and was a familiar sight in Post Office and British Telecom colours.
Meanwhile, in 1963
The Great Train Robbery made headlines, Beatlemania took hold and Doctor Who began.
Best-selling single of 1963: She Loves You by The Beatles
Before you buy a 1960s car
- Check the sills, floorpans, wheel arches and the bottom of the doors for rust.
- Ask for any old MOT certificates, service records and bills.
- Parts for popular cars are often available from specialists, but trim and body panels can be hard to find.
General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.
Rivals of its day
Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.
See the real thing
These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.
Today's money: the launch price adjusted for inflation to 2026, using the Office for National Statistics price index.