THE RAREST VAUXHALL VIVA HA IN THE WORLD? – THE BRABHAM GT

I wrote a blog about a Brabham-converted Vauxhall Viva HA in Australia a few years ago. At that time, there were believed to be only two in the world, with the other residing in the UK. So, imagine my surprise and delight when I saw this Italian-based Viva Brabham offered for sale.

The raison d'etre behind the Viva Brabham GT was a sporting saloon to rival the Mini Cooper and the Lotus Cortina. The great Australian driver established Jack Brabham Conversions Ltd. in Woking, which converted the Vivas between races.

According to the sales publicity:

The Brabham GT conversion consists of a fully modified engine to Brabham specification, giving 60 bhp at 5,800 rpm. This is coupled to a new exhaust system and straight through silencer. The rear suspension is lowered and fitted with heavy duty adjustable shock absorbers whilst the front suspension has been ingeniously lowered and at the same time fitted with an anti-roll bar. Complete instrumentation is supplied with a rev. counter, speedometer, oil pressure, water temperature and fuel gauges in a new instrument panel. The whole car is finished with contrasting body flash and Brabham GT badges.

The cost of GT conversion was £169, and buyers of the Terry-Thomas/Leslie Phillips School of Driving could also specify a wooden rimmed steering wheel with a matching gear knob for £10 10s. Should passengers crave to muffle the engine note, Brabam could install the “Interior Silent Travel” kit for another £11 15s. A 1965 advertisement boasted: “The Brabham GT conversion can be carried out on NEW Vivas or customers’ existing cars”, while the claimed top speed was 90 mph.

The Sunday Express found the GT a splendid car “with a character of its own”. In 1966, John Bolster tested a Braham HA for Autosport. His Viva was the even more potent GTO trim, with an engine enlarged to 1,190cc and 80bhp at 6,000 rpm power output. The great writer was impressed, saying it “goes and handles like a sports car, though it is ‘soft’ enough for auntie’s shopping jaunts”, and concluded:

Jack Brabham has made a genuine 100 mph car out of the Viva and he has done it in the proper way with a completely balanced bottom end as a basis. Unlike many ‘hot cars’, one feels that this is built to last, and that the fairly substantial price is moderate in view of the quality of the work.

After such a review, what keen driver could resist calling Mayfield 63001 and asking Brabham to give their Viva the GT or GTO treatments? The in-house magazine Vauxhall Motorist claimed a production figure of 500 GTs, but in reality, 25 appears more likely as the GT/GTO had several challenges.

One, as Bolster pointed out, was price. The GTO tested by Autosport added £259 5s to the cost of a new Viva. Meanwhile, The Sunday Express may have reported, “Vauxhall say they are quite happy about the Viva’s ability to take the extra burden Brabham have put on it,” but the GT/GTO was not covered by a factory warranty.

The “Coke Bottle”-shaped HB replaced the HA in 1966, and there was to be a new Brabham Viva, this time a Vauxhall-backed dealer conversion. The earlier models soon passed from memory, which is why this HA GT is such a fascinating machine. And who could resist the lure of that wooden steering wheel?