▁popular ▁models , ▁including ▁the ▁entry - level ▁V iva ▁and ▁larger ▁Victor . ▁▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 0 , ▁the ▁H C ▁V iva ▁was ▁launched , ▁which ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁become ▁V aux hall ' s ▁best - s elling ▁car ▁of ▁the ▁de cade , ▁featuring ▁among ▁the ▁ 1 0 ▁best - s elling ▁cars ▁in ▁Britain ▁each ▁year ▁until ▁after ▁ 1 9 7 6 , ▁with ▁production ▁not ▁finishing ▁until ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁when ▁the ▁V iva ▁name plate ▁was ▁finally ▁dis cont in ued ▁after ▁ 1 6 ▁years ▁and ▁three ▁gener ations . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁the ▁V aux hall ▁Fir enza ▁" D ro ops no ot " ▁cou pe ▁was ▁un ve iled ▁at ▁the ▁Ear ls ▁Court ▁Motor ▁Show , ▁introdu cing ▁the ▁public ▁to ▁V aux hall ' s ▁new ▁aer od ynamic ▁look ▁for ▁all ▁of ▁its ▁subsequent ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁models . ▁ ▁By ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁the ▁Victor ▁was ▁losing ▁sales ▁in ▁a ▁market ▁that ▁was ▁becoming ▁increasing ly ▁domin ated ▁by ▁the ▁Ford ▁Cort ina . ▁This ▁was ▁not ▁enough ▁to ▁keep ▁V aux hall ▁from ▁being ▁well ▁behind ▁market ▁leaders ▁Ford ▁and ▁British ▁Ley land ▁in ▁sales , ▁and ▁most ▁of ▁its ▁range ▁was ▁struggling ▁even ▁to ▁keep ▁pace ▁with ▁Ch rys ler ▁UK ▁( former ly ▁the ▁Ro otes ▁Group