Tell me about Hillman Hunters

[qwerty]

High up on my priority list of retro's to own (next to the triumph dolomite) Is the hillman hunter:




But i know little about them apart from what i've read on wiki.

I know they use a 1725cc rootes engine but what are they like as cars? I love the boxy Cortina esque styling.

Are spares available? Are engine swaps possible? and any other relevant info as well as pictures

[dollywobbler]

My dad had a metallic bronze (ok, brown!) one when I was a child. Was ok. Had squeaky wipers which were very annoying!

Only recently stopped making them in Iran as they Peykan.

[arthurbrown]

Ford stud pattern gives immense wheel choice.

Holbay 1725 engines provide some zip.

I'd rather an AvenJa, but a cool machine in my book.

[kerbsidemotors]

My old man had one too!
I've heard they are difficult to get body panels although if they made them in Iran the owners club is bound to have a source.

[Stiff]

Hmm. They can look quite nice.

Lots of pics on here..
www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/751/gallery.ehtml

[qwerty]

OOOOFFFF!!!

[qwerty]

Exactly the engine I wanna put in!!

Love this photo:

[mrabody]

I own a 1967 Minx which is the same bodystyle as the Hunter. I quite like it. Mechanical parts availability is pretty good. Speedy Spares stocks most mechanical bits, has extremely good service, and delivers next day. Also, you can get most bits on ebay either NOS or used. Keep in mind that In addition to the Hunter and Minx, Rootes also sold the Singer Gazelle, Singer Vogue, Sunbeam Vogue, and Humber Sceptre, which are all generally the same car. The fastback Sunbeam Rapier can also supply lots of parts (its based on the Estate floorpan).

Body parts are a bit harder to come by. I believe the only panels you can buy new now are the outer sills. However other pieces turn up from time to time on ebay. I was able to get a NOS front valance/headlight panel for my Minx for £70. And anyways, from what I have seen, Rootes vehicles tend not to rot too badly compared to many of their contemporaries. The only real grot spots that will cause you grief to put right are the aforementioned headlight panel - usually right around/behind the headlights - and the front wings (I'm putting fibreglass ones on mine as a permanent cure for that problem) . The front outriggers and floors can also rust, especially if you have a leaky windscreen or if the air intake plenum where the heater bolts to gets plugged up and causes water to drip onto the floor. That said, these are parts that can be found or fabricated quite easily.

Instruments clusters tend to be quite easy to come across, but other interior bits don't seem to be that easy to find. However new seals and carpets are available.

Handling is ok, probably average by 70s standards. However mine is the base model so keep in mind that higher spec models came with The brakes are good. Mine is an automatic unfortunately, but from what I have heard, the Rootes 4spd gearbox is supposed to be a first rate piece. They come i either 1496 or 1725 cc trim. The 1725 can be had in either cast iron head or alloy head version, and the latter may be found with either single or twin stromberg versions. Then there is the Holbay of course which used a unique head, pistons, cam, tubular exhaust manifold and of course twin DCOE 40s.

The 1496cc motor was only available in the Minx, Hunter, or Gazelle. So keep that in mind if you are looking at one of those.
The engines themselves seem to be pretty tough and are easy to work on. In a pinch, a Rootes 4cyl from an earlier model will bolt in. However keep in mind that the earlier engines only have three main bearings as opposed to the five in the Hunters etc, so keep that in mind if you decide to modify it.

[bstardchild]

dollywobbler said:

My dad had a metallic bronze (ok, brown!) one when I was a child. Was ok. Had squeaky wipers which were very annoying!

Only recently stopped making them in Iran as they Peykan.

I'm glad you said that cos my dad had one too

PPP 172M metalic Blue Hillman Hunter DL I think

I loved it but did the rootes group have some quality control problems or what - it spent more time in the garage than on our drive still that had advantages as I got to ride in all manner of demonstrators as a result and have a closet love for avengers now!!!

[qwerty]

mrabody said:

I own a 1967 Minx which is the same bodystyle as the Hunter........

Thanks for all that info!

[mitch]

Good cars! Bit modern for me but good anyhow. Mechanically the same as my sceptre, mechanicals are easy to get, body panels are ok from alpine west midlands. Standard 1725 was a good engine which had 91bhp (i think) buit if you can get a holbay powered one then that is far more powerful. Good practical car, look good slammed. ;D

[qwerty]

Look VERY good slammed. What suspension setup do they have? Struts at the front Leaf springs out back??
1725 would be fine until I drop a rover T series in ;D

[superden]

Must be a dad thing, my dad had one when I was little ! Lovely cars too.

[briandamaged]

Think they're strut front and leaf on the back, can't remember if they have rack and pinion steering or the good ol' box. Overdrive's helpful. There's a grey '67 Minx estate for sale by me, dare not go look at it in case I buy it!!

[akku]

kerbsidemotors said:

My old man had one too!
I've heard they are difficult to get body panels although if they made them in Iran the owners club is bound to have a source.

Don't bet on it. The FE Victor is still made in India (Hindostan Contessa Classic) and when I was in the owners club we spent two maybe three years trying to find a way to get panels or other parts from them over here.

Even if you can import the parts (which we couldn't anyway) then you have the whole business of needing to take "manufacturer level liability" on sale of new parts and this means a whack of insurance we probably couldn't have afforded or setting the club up as a Limited Liability Company so incase anyone sued we could just bail out without the members being financial liable and possibly bankrupt.

Bringing in parts from outside the EU is a legal nightmare and minefield.

A lot of people have their heads in the sand over this one. Its not just the warranty issues but if you have a ball joint or something colapse and someone dies then who ever was the first person within the EU to have handled it is liable for the legal drubbing/fine/compensation claim.

[grizz]

Got one a long time ago for the ex-Fiasco...... was a great car to drive and comfy as well.

Part of the deal buying the car was that for a silly price, we had to take two kittens..... bargin.

[akku]

A mate of mine had the Gazelle 1500cc on an E reg. I drove it a bit (more than he did in the end I think!) and it was a delightful car to drive. Everything operated smoothly and sweetly. Much more refined than something like a Mk2 Cortina or A60 Cambridge which I guess would have been its rivals when new. I keep thinking about buying one about every 3-4 months.

[Blue850]

Guess what, my Dad had one too,a Minx, first car I travelled in, home from the hospital where I was born. I'd have a Humber Sceptre Estate version please.

[Lankytim]

The wheels on the square minx are different to the hunter, the studs are much smaller meaning that the ford pattern wheels wont fit as the wheelnuts don't sit properly. The minx wheels wont fit onto a hunter as the holes are too small for the studs to pass though. Some useless trivia there for you!

They all have steering boxes. Nice cars, although they ALL seem to have serious rust issues and have a pretty lightweight construction compared to say a cortina (IMHO) They handle well too. I had one with a little tax and test on which had been bumped and was a bit rusty £30 all in, bargain. I wouldnt have one now though as any good ones seem to command a premium way over what I think they're worth. Rusty ones go begging. If you can get a nice one for a good price, get it!

[akku]

I haven't seen one make more than like £300 on eBay - and those were nice cars.