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.” 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.

Van Tongeren credited his father for setting Ferris Coffee & Nut up for success. The company’s aspirations moving forward include maintaining a positive cash flow and preserving long-standing relationships with manufacturers in West Michigan, he added. 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. Looking forward, we are laser focused on continuing to build on our on-premise business with our food service distributors, cafe and restaurant partners,” Van Tongeren said. “We’re aligned, and we are all considerably focused on the health of our team.” The HC was a mild rehash of the HB: praised at its launch for improved spaciousness and refinement. Suspension: front wishbones, transverse leaf spring (HA) or coil springs (HB/C), anti-roll bar (GT/HC) rear live axle, torque tube and semi-elliptic springs (HA) or four links and coil springs (HB/C), Panhard rod (GT), anti-roll bar (Firenza 2000); telescopics f/rThe 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.” 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.

Engine all-iron, ohv 1057/1159/1256cc or ohc 1599/1759/1975/2279cc ‘four’, single Solex, Zenith or Stromberg or twin Stromberg carbs An excellent family car, it gave Vauxhall a useful slice of the small-saloon market – one it hadn’t entered before.

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The base engines are fine for pottering around and quite economical, with great practicality. The overhead-cam engines brought a new world of performance, especially in GT and 2300 form with good handling, though they can be thirsty. You have to have a set of agreed upon and followed rules for how decisions are made and how disagreements happen,” Van Tongeren said. “Prioritizing the family relationships first and making sure those are strong is key to a successful family business.” 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. 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. Growing up and watching his father run Ferris is a continued source of inspiration for Van Tongeren.