The Viva HC was introduced in 1970, the last and the largest of the 3 Viva models. With styling like a smaller version of a 1970 chevrolet, the HC sold 600,000 units until 1979. As well as 2-door and 4-door saloons, plus a 3-door Estate. At launch the Viva had a choice of the old 1159cc engine or a 1599cc ohc engine, but by 1972 these had become 1256cc and 1759cc plus a a 2279cc unit at the top of the range. In 1973 the Viva was restricted to the 1256cc engine, or 1759cc for the automatic model. In 1975 there was a new 'E' economy model, and a new plush GLS model that had the trim of a Magnum but the mechanics of a Viva. With the launch of the Vauxhall Chevette in 1975 sales of the Viva declined until it was killed off in 1979 and the front wheel drive Vauxhall Astra appeared in the showrooms. The Viva HC was partly designed for the Canadian market and that is why it had transatlantic looks and was bigger than European competitors. Going on sale at Pontiac dealers for 1971 as the Firenza, regardless of bodystyle, the poor car was emasculated with crude emmissions equipment and struggled to run at all. Warranty claims were enormous and at the end of 1972 the small Vauxhall was pulled out of North America and the new Victor FE turned away. This failure and loss of the transatlantic market forced the cancellation of the British Viva HD project and threw British Vauxhall into the arms of German Opel for future new models.