Tuesday 20th July 1971

The 1,000,000th Vauxhall Viva rolled off the production line at Vauxhalls’ Luton plant. The Viva was introduced in 1963, a year after Vauxhall’s sister company Opel launched the Opel Kadett A. Visually the two cars’ kinship was obvious. A van version was also produced, as the Bedford HA. In the UK the Viva’s principal competitors at the time of its launch included the well-established Ford Anglia and Morris Minor. The third generation HC series was the last solely Vauxhall designed passenger car when it ceased production in 1979, since all future Vauxhalls would be badge engineered Opel models.