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Hillman Hunter
Manufacturer	Rootes Group Chrysler Europe
Production	1966-1979
Predecessor	Hillman Minx
Successor	none
Body style(s)	4-door saloon 5-door estate 2-door coupé 2-door pick-up (Dodge Husky, Paykan)
Engine(s)	1725 cc Straight-4
Transmission(s)	4 speed manual - 4 Speed Manual + J-type Laycock Overdrive (standard on Sceptre - Option on others) Or Borg-Warner 35/65 automatic transmission (option on all)
Wheelbase	98 in (2489 mm)
Length	171 in (4343 mm)
Width	63 in (1600 mm)
Curb weight	2100 lb (953 kg)
Related	Hillman Minx Singer Gazelle Singer Vogue Sunbeam Vogue Humber Sceptre Sunbeam Alpine Sunbeam Rapier Dodge Husky Chrysler Hunter

The Hillman Hunter was an automobile produced under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group (later Chrysler Europe) from 1966 to 1979. It is considered by many to be the last true Rootes design since it was developed with no influence from Chrysler.

The main model within the Rootes "Arrow" range, it was the Coventry-based company's entry in the mid-sized family segment. In its 13-year production run, its contemporaries were the Ford Cortina, Morris Marina and Vauxhall Victor.

Contents 1 The Arrow family 2 Development 3 The Australian range 4 Paykan 5 Trivia 6 External links

The Arrow range extended to several body styles: saloons, estate, fastback coupé and a pick-up (sold mainly in South Africa as the Dodge Husky). Depending on the model, they had two doors or four doors. In line with Rootes's fondness for badge-engineered derivatives, the car was simultaneously aimed at several slightly different market segments. The Hillman Hunter's derivatives were badged as the Hillman Minx (the cheapest model), Singer Gazelle and Singer Vogue (slightly upmarket), Sunbeam Vogue (for overseas markets), Sunbeam Arrow (North American market), Humber Sceptre (the luxury/high performance saloon version), Hillman GT (the first sports model, based on the Minx trim), and the Sunbeam Alpine and faster Sunbeam Rapier sports coupés. Within these ranges were later added various levels of specification including (for the Hunter) "DeLuxe" (which replaced the Minx), "Super", "GT" (i.e. Hillman Hunter GT, which replaced the Hillman GT) and "GLS" models.

Note that "Arrow" was also the name used for one model of the car, sold in the Australian market (see section, below.)

The "Arrow" range was conceived in 1962. Following the Imp, consideration was given to developing a larger rear engined car, but this concept was dismissed, and the engineering settled on for the new car largely followed the Audax and conventional UK practice.

With cash-strapped Rootes struggling amid continuing problems with the troubled Imp, the Hunter could break little new engineering ground, largely being based on components from the corporate parts bin, using a new 5-bearing version of the well proven 1725 cc overhead valve engine as a starting point which varied in output from 66 hp (49 kW) to 95 hp (71 kW) in the Humber Sceptre. The engine was inclined by a modest 15 degrees, to allow for a lower bonnet line. This engine was further uprated in the Sunbeam H120 to produce 107 hp (80 kW) approx A 1500 cc engine was the standard engine manual versions of the Hillman Minx and the singer Gazelle variants, and the Hillman Hunter Deluxe (which succeeded the Minx). Automatic models were powered by the 1725 cc engine.

For the first time in a Rootes car MacPherson strut suspension featured at the front, with a conventional live axle mounted on leaf springs at the rear.

Other firsts for Rootes in the new car were curved side glass and flow through ventilation.

Manual transmissions were available in 4-speed form with an optional overdrive, or Borg-Warner automatic transmission, again as an option. Initially, the Borg warner Type 35 3 speed automatic was offered, then the Type 45 4 speed automatic became available in 1973.

A mild facelift in 1970 gave new grilles to the various Hunter trim levels, and some derivatives gained a more fashionable dashboard, but the car remained fundamentally unchanged throughout its life.

The high performance "GLS" version – powered by a Holbay-tuned version of the 1725 cc engine fed by dual Weber 40DCOE carburettors – was very successful in international rallying; a Hunter won the 1968 London-Sydney competition.

The 1725 cc, 5 bearing engine is fully interchangeable between models. The only major differences being different cylinder heads and carburation / manifold treatments. This makes it easy to uprate a given model. There are many surviving examples of the Humber Sceptre for example which use the "H120" specification engine. Indeed, at one point Rootes were developing the Sceptre to take the same engine as that found in the Sunbeam Tiger, namely either a 260 cui or a 289 cui V8 engine.

Following the 1967 acquisition of Rootes by Chrysler, the Hunter derivatives were rationalised until only the Hillman version was left by 1976, when it was rebadged as a Chrysler for the last 3 years of its life. To keep the struggling factory alive, Hunter production was switched to Rootes' plant in Linwood, in 1969 from its original home of Ryton. Following the Avenger's move to Linwood in 1976, the very last European Hunters were assembled in Ireland until production ended in 1979 – but no evidence exists to suggest that the Talbot badge was applied to any production Hunter following Chrysler Europe's 1978 takeover by Peugeot.

The final Chrysler Hunter was built in September 1979 in Porirua, New Zealand, and was donated to the Southward Museum. In 2000 the Museum sold the final Chrysler to a private collector where it has remained.

Starting in 1967, Chrysler Australia Ltd assembled the Hillman Hunter from imported "complete knock down" (CKD) packs at their Port Melbourne factory, which they inherited as part of Chrysler's acquisition of Rootes.

Production commenced in 1967 with 2 models, designated as the HB series: the Arrow (with a trim level corresponding with the UK Minx, but with a front bench seat), and the Hunter.

These were replaced by the HC series in 1969. The major changes were adoption of the UK Mark II Hunter radiator grille and rectangular headlights, and the renaming of the Arrow as the Hunter, retaining the Arrow's trim specification and bench seat. At the same time came the introduction of the Safari station wagon (this model name was also used to identify the Australian Valiant station wagon model), and the addition of 2 new more "upmarket" sedan variants: the Hunter Royal (corresponding in trim level with the UK Singer Vogue, but retaining the Hunter plastic moulded dashboard, with simulated wood trim), and the Hunter GT, which corresponded with the UK Humber Sceptre in trim level, but with the standard Hunter grille. These cars featured trim parts from various UK models, including UK Humber Sceptre bonnet ornaments.

Sales received a fillip when a Hillman Hunter driven by Andrew Cowan won the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon car rally.

The Safari station wagon was a popular seller — particularly as Holden did not offer the Torana as a station wagon.

In 1971, the Australian version of the Hunter was facelifted again, with the introduction of the HE series. Marketing of the car, plus its rear badges, referred to it as the "Hunter" (rather than "Hillman").

The facelift involved a change to the radiator grille, reminiscent of the VG series Australian Valiant; this featured new and smaller rectangular headlights. Also, the appearance of the rear of the car was changed with a flush trim panel under the boot lid and new twin lens tail lights. Depending on the model, this panel was painted in the body colour or a matte grey. This facelift was unique to Australia.

Inside, the HE models received a new collapsible steering column, with the Valiant steering wheel.

The model range was modified again:

• A new cut price performance version – the Hustler – was introduced. This was similar in concept and execution to the UK Hillman GT: a sparsely trimmed car with high performance. In Australia, this formula had proven successful for Chrysler, which in 1969 had introduced the Pacer, a low cost performance version of theValiant 4 door sedan.

• The Hunter GT was renamed the Hunter Royal 660. Outside, this car gained Rostyle wheels. Inside, the car was trimmed in the same "buffalo grain" textured vinyl which also was to be found in the VG series luxury Valiant- the Regal 770. The reason for the change of model name was to focus on the luxury image of the car, and attract lower insurance rating from insurance companies: a "GT" badge meant that higher insurance premiums were charged by insurers, due to the perception of "risk".^{[citation needed]} For the same reason, in the same era, Ford renamed their Capri 1600 GT the 1600 XL.

These cars sold steadily, but they became overshadowed when Chrysler Australia commenced assembly of the Mitsubishi Galant in 1972. At this time, Japanese cars were being increasingly accepted in the Australian market.^{[citation needed]} By this time, the Mitsubishi was a conspicuously more modern car, and by 1973, the Hunter was phased out; the last Rootes car to be marketed in Australia. Chrysler Australia then closed the former Rootes factory, focussing Australian production at their Tonsley Park plant in Adelaide.

In 1966, Iran Khodro manufactured the Hunter from CKD kits. The resulting Paykan (Persian for arrow, the car's original Rootes codename) saloon, pick-up and taxi models became known as Iran's national car.

Full local production began in 1985, after the original British production lines were closed and Peugeot's contract to supply the kits was cancelled. Paykan CKD was one of Britain's biggest automotive export earners.

With Peugeot's help, a new contract was struck where Iran Khodro would manufacture the Paykan with the same body panels but Peugeot 504 engines and suspension, for six more years.

In 1991, Iran Khodro began manufacturing its own parts for the Paykan. In its ultimate incarnation, the Paykan was constructed from 98% locally-made parts.^{[citation needed]}

The Paykan saloon ceased production in May 2005, to be replaced by the Samand itself based on the Peugeot 405 platform. The pick-up version of the Paykan is still in production but will be replaced in the near future by the Bardo.

The Hunter is a member of an exclusive club of passenger cars with a production run exceeding 3 decades.

• The Aston Martin DBS used tail lights shared with the Rootes Arrow saloons (manufactured by Lucas); additionally, the vertical rear lights used on the Arrow estates were also blended into the styling of the fastback coupés on which they were also fitted.
• A yellow Hillman Hunter was used in the comedy series The adventures of Lano & Woodley.

• Association of Rootes Car Clubs
• Rootes Archive Centre Trust
• Sunbeam Rapier Owners' Club