The lucky dip of the CC Cohort strikes again – RoveraNotario has spotted not one but two Hillman Hunters in Peru. The Hunter, sold in North America as the Sunbeam Arrow, was the Rootes Group’s last family sized car before the Chrysler takeover. It was first launched in 1966, and was badge engineered into Singer and Humber forms, and was also the basis for the Sunbeam Rapier (Alpine GT) coupe with its Barracuda inspired looks.
Both these cars show the 1976 model year facelift, with a larger chintzy grille and on the saloon a complimentary full with trim panel. But as the 1966 Ford Cortina had been replaced twice by then, I guess even cash strapped Chrysler UK had to do something, anything.
At one time this car accounted for 7% of the UK car market; the UK stock of Hunters in now down to a few hundred and when I was preparing a Rootes reminiscence two years ago I had to use a photo of a car from an old auction listing. But I was contacted by the lady who bought it subsequently, so that one’s probably doing OK.
Best get a ticket to Peru?
Related –
1967 Hillman Minx – Britain’s Second Longest Lived Nameplate Reaches Its Peak
1973 Sunbeam Rapier H120 – The Car I Wanted My Dad to Want
On my drive home from work last evening, I was just thinking about how time changes the mix of cars you see on the roads. Some cars of a particular age range that were quite popular just disappear, while others that may have been less popular are seen with more frequency due to their hardy natures.
This site is the only place I ever get to see old Rootes cars, something I enjoy.
Theres one parked outside my appartment block JP, actually I drive it quite often
Around about 2010 or thereabouts, a white Hunter (from memory a 1972-4 version) parked in a small village in Essex. It was quite a surprise then.
Nice-looking car. Chrysler should have licensed or copied this as its answer to Pinto and Vega. It would have been seen as the smaller Valiant without any restyling.
They did with another car, the Hillman Avenger aka Plymouth Cricket and it wasn’t successeful.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/ebay-classic-1973-hillman-avenger-1500-super-estate-after-optimism-exile/
It has been almost twenty years likely since I saw a 1970 Sunbeam Arrow. Its was rusty with super high mileage (for the era) on it.
I did see a Sunbeam Alpine GT coupe last month as there is one locally.
I can’t remember when I last saw an Arrow in the US. In LA in the mid-late 70s, I assume?
It remained in production in Iran until 2005 as the Pakyan.
And there was a pickup/Ute version as well. About ‘78 or so Paykan switched to an Iranian made Peugeot 504 engine.
Ppaykan still used the Hillman engine till the end of the 20th century and Isuzu were still using modified Hillman engines well into the 80s running on diesel
Thanks for the correction, KB! I guess I misunderstood my Iranian friend. There certainly were scads of Paykans with visible smoky exhausts running around Tehran’s high-altitude streets.
My family had a Hunter when we lived briefly in New Zealand in the late 70s. In that era NZ still had a lot of British cars that had already disappeared from Australia. Peppy, fun little car. Much nostalgia.
The Hunter (and its various brand-cousins) were very popular here, as was the Avenger, but I haven’t seen one in use for 4 or 5 years – although they’re still around in disuse in back yards and farm paddocks. Always a few Hunters/Avengers for sale on line, and a quick check on Trade Me just now shows one Hunter and two Avengers currently listed for sale – as well as possibly the last Talbot Alpine in NZ.
Plenty about if you know where to look and they sell ok on trademe one club members listing for a tidy 67 Hunter sold in 13 minutes at asking price.
But there are probably more surviving Hillmans in NZ than the UK they sold here until 79/80.