Vans Men's Ferris Trainer

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There’s a world of difference between a 1057cc HA and a 2279cc HC (though the last HCs reverted to round instruments after many years with a strip speedo), but all Vivas have their own charm. Engine all-iron, ohv 1057/1159/1256cc or ohc 1599/1759/1975/2279cc ‘four’, single Solex, Zenith or Stromberg or twin Stromberg carbs The 2-litre, overhead-cam Viva GT wasn’t the boy-racer bolide it was dressed up to be, but was a great touring car that in HB form was the only production Viva to (just) top the ton – 100mph was a mere 1mph out of reach for the HC GT and 2300SL – and it was the only one to better 11 secs to 60mph. The time presented itself this year,” Mark Van Tongeren said. “We attempted to do this over the past couple of years and the clarity just wasn’t there.”

An excellent family car, it gave Vauxhall a useful slice of the small-saloon market – one it hadn’t entered before. The HA Vauxhall Viva looks like a small vehicle today, but it was considered large and spacious for a 1-litre car in 1963, with good economy and performance for the time but a rather poor ride and finish. It was therefore a little surprising that the Viva grew significantly in size for both its second and third incarnations: the HB was almost a completely new car, with all-new shell and suspension, 4in extra wheelbase and a 6in longer body. Today, the performance models are coveted but they still barely justify restoration costs, and the union of rust and low values has left just a few hundred survivors from the 1.5 million built. It’s only right that values are at last rising.Its ‘Coke bottle’ styling was attractive and complemented by a much-improved interior. Quiet and smooth, it was equipped with a particularly well-located rear axle, which finally turned the Vauxhall into a driver’s car. Not surprisingly, it’s the most sought-after and valuable production Viva now, though specials such as the Brabham, Crayford convertible and Lawrencetune GT will inevitably command more.

Worn carbs are the usual cause of poor running but parts are available, as are components to rebuild engines if needed. The extra weight of the 2in wider body with 1.5in longer wheelbase killed the performance and economy of the base model, however, and bigger engines were needed to make it go: the base HC was actually a second slower to 60mph than the base HA, with the same top speed.

The HC was a mild rehash of the HB: praised at its launch for improved spaciousness and refinement. Ferris Coffee & Nut is among the minority of family-owned businesses historically with a clear succession plan, according to recent surveys and studies. A 2021 PricewaterhouseCoopers survey found that just 34 percent of family businesses nationally have a “robust, documented and communicated succession plan in place.” Work ethic was instilled in our house at a pretty young age,” he said. “Seeing the amount of effort that it takes to run a business has certainly been something that I’ve always appreciated from him.”