Vauxhall Magnum

Production period:	1973 to 1978
Class:	Sports car
Body versions:	Saloon, station wagon, coupe
Engines:	Gasoline: 1.8-2.3 litres(56.5-81 kW)
Length:	4140-4305 mm
Width:	1645 mm
Height:	1350-1365 mm
Wheelbase:	2460 mm
Curb weight:	970-1030 kg

The Vauxhall Magnum was a sports verion of the Viva from the 1970s built by Vauxhall from 1973 to 1978.

History

The Vauxhall Magnum is a Vauxhall Viva HC with more powerful engines, more luxurious interior, vinyl roof, more chrome parts and dual headlights. The suspension and powertrain are still the same as the Viva. The various trim and body styles originally reserved for the Magnum were also gradually being offered to the Viva in the flagship Viva GLS, to improve the increasingly sluggish sales of this model. The Viva series was discontinued in 1979. The name Magnum was used in New Zealand.

Top models in Vauxhall's medium-range, the Magnums use the Viva structures with strengthening to accept the larger 1800 and 2300 overhead camshaft engines. In an almost be.
wildering choice of variants, the Magnums come as two or four-door saloons, two-door coupés, or three-door Estates, and all are available with either 1.8 or 2.3-
litre engines. Normal transmission is a four-speed manual, but the GM automatic is an optional extra. Magnums are notable for luxury cloth-faced seats (reclining at the front).

The basic variants had the 1.8-liter four-cylinder in-line engine and two round instrument display, while the more powerful ones had the 2279 cc four-cylinder and seven round instruments. for the Viva 1300, which was offered there with the double headlights of the British Magnum model, but with the standard interior of the Viva. The performance of the Slant-Four engine Magnum was very lively, but fuel economy was never the strength of this model.The 1800 with 4-cylinder in line; cross-flow cylinder head; single belt driven overhead camshaft; 5-bearing crankshaft;Zenith downdraught carburettor; automatic choke; mechanical fuel pump; pressurised cooling system; full flow oil filtration; Viscous fan drive; 12-volt 38-amp./hr. battery; negative-earth electrical system; heavy duty alternator; General Motors automatic transmission providing 3 forward ratios, 2.4/4.8, 1.48/2.96, 1.0/2.0, reverse 1.92/3.84; final drive ratio 3.9:1; pre-engaged starter

Fitted with rack and pinion steering; independent front suspension with Coil springs and wishbones; live rear axle positivety located by radius arms and diagonal links with coil suspension; front antiroll bar; 2-piece propeller shaft ,The dual circuit braking system with 9.4 in. (238 mm.) front disc brakes and 9.0 in. (229 mm.) , self-adjusting rear drum brakes; vacuum servo; central floor-mounted handbrake With 175 70/SR radial-ply tyres with 5.0 in. (127 mm.) styled road wheels.

3-door, 4-seater Estate with equipment including: reclining individual front seats with restraining catches; brushed nylon cloth trim; carpet floor trim; front and rear ashtrays; interior roof lamp with integral switch and door courtesy switches; fully adjustable face level vents with rear air extraction; steering column levers controlling headlamp flasher/ dip/direction indicators, horn and electric screenwash/2-speed wipers; fitted front inertia reel seat belts and rear anchorages; carpeted load compartment with rubbing strips; door mounted driver's mirror; energy absorbing steering column; anti-burst door locks and hinges; free wheeling door lock buttons; twin sun visors; knockout shatterproof dipping interior rear view mirror; double-handed steering column lock; glovebox; full width front parcel shelf; heater and demister with 2-speed booster fan; sports instrumentation comprising of rev. counter, clock, ammeter, oil pressure and water temperature gauges; trip speedo; hazard warning flashes; handbrake and fluid loss warning light; rubber bumper strips; twin headlamps; reverse lights; wheel embellishers; '1800' grille and rear door badges; Magnum rear badge; front armrests with integral grab handles; sports steering wheel; twin trumpet horns; stainless steel fuel cap; centre console; boot light; illuminated heater controls; lift-up counter-balanced tailgate with load compartment light and tailgate courtesy switch; finished in 'Magic Mirror' acrylic paint. Colour scheme: Champagne Star-fire with natural cloth trim. Overall dimensions as for basic 'Viva' except for fuel tank 12.0 Imp. gal. (54.6 litre); kerb weight 2250 total luggage capacity 54.5 cu. ft. and with rear seat raised 26.6 cu. ft.

PERFORMANCE: Magnum 1800

• max power (DIN): 77 hp at 5,200 rpm
• max torqe (DIN): 97 1b ft, 13.4 kg m at 3,000 rpm
• max engine rpm 6,250; 43.7 hp/l
• acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 18.7 sec, 0-50 mph 9.3 sec
• fuel consumption: 27 m/imp gal, 22.4 m/US gal
• power-weight ratio: 27.8 lb/hp, 12.6 kg (Magnum 2-door Saloon)
• power-weight ratio: 28.2 lb/hp, 12.8 kg/hp (Magnum 1800 4-door Saloon)
• power-weight ratio: 27.6 lb/hp, 12.5 kg/hp.(Magnum 1800 Coupé)
• power-weight ratio: 29.1 lb/hp, 13.2 kg/hp. (Magnum 1800 Estate Car)

The good-looking three-door Magnum Estate is available with 2300 or 1800 engine and is notable for above-average glass area and excellent visibility.Both variants were available as 2 and 4-door saloons with auto gearbox option this more basic series ran from 1973 to 1977, along with the 3-door estate station wagons with hatchback and 2-door coupes with only 1692 coupes built up to 1975. All versions had "Rostyle" type wheels four rather than the basic two headlights. Confusingly, there were also Viva versions with the larger engines and vinyl roof to buy. This lack of clarity in the model range was one of the biggest marketing issues for Vauxhall at the time.Factoty optional accessories the G.M. automatic transmission, hydraulic torque converter and planetary gears with 3 ratios, wing mirros and fog lamps also vinyl roof for saloons. 

PERFORMANCE: Magnum 2300

• max power (DIN): 110 hp at 5,000 rpm
• max torque (DIN): 140 1b ft, 19.3 kg m at 3,000 rpm
• max engine rpm: 5,500 47 hp/l
• 2 Zenith-Stromberg 175 CD-2 semi-downdraught carburettors.
• power-weight ratio: 19.6 lb/hp, 8.9 kg//hp
• acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 18 sec, 0-50 mph (0-80 km/h) 8.3 sec
• fuel consumption: 25 m/imp gal, 20.8 m/US gal
• power-weight ratio: 19.8 lb/hp, 9 kg/hp. (Magnum 2300 4-door Saloon)
• power-weight ratio: 20.7 lb/hp, 9.4 kg/hp. (Magnum 2300 Estate Car) 

The model Magnum then replaced the name Firenza for the coupe models; the latter was used from 1974 exclusively for the Firenza HP "Droopsnoot" models. The Magnum model series was offered until 1978.With the Viva range was finally discontinued in 1979. 

For 1976 the 1800 has a new cylinder-head and carburettor which increases the power-output some 11 bhp. The 2300 Magnum has a modified cylinder-head and a single carburettor which improve economy.

In 1976, 197 pieces of a combination model of the Magnum, called "Sportshatch", were produced this special variant of the Magnum estate, known as the Sportshatch, was produced in limited numbers in 1976. This model used the "droopsnoot" nose cone. This model had the snout of the "Droopsnoot", but the Magnum's 2.3-liter engine and a special livery as "Extra Wine Dark" with bright red stripes and glossy effects. This model has always been rare and is very sought after today by collectors.