1970 Hillman Hunter DeLuxe

[bob3]

Well I've been away for quite some time from this forum and I have just put a few posts whilst here earlier in the year, but decided I needed to remedy now. This car is the last addition, however its been in my posession for over 4 years now and in those 4 years progress has been quite slow but you can judge for yourself, here's some pics;

This is how it looked when I took it over from my father in law, forgot to say this was his car almost from new, was less than a year old when he bought it from a lady who felt it was too big for her to drive around.










This is the (sort of) finished product, made the mistake of not taking the engine apart, but it is in need of a rebuilt sooner rather then later!!!
Wish I'd stumble on a holbay 1725 but not much chance of that happening unfortunately!!

[Onne]

Very nice! Out of curiosity, where are you based? Can't for the life remember what the M on your plate stands for

[bob3]

Well I am in sunny (not this wkend though ) Malta

[ewokracing]

cool, I found a wagon in someone's driveway last week. Looks like it hasn't moved in years.

[bob3]

An estate would be nice, even better with the extra luggage space.
While posting the pics above have realized that its been a year since I put the hunter on the road and I've not even taken a photo of it out in the sun!! shame!!

[Seth]

That looks super!

[bob3]

Thanks seth, I really love your estate!!
To tell you the truth it was quite inspirational for me cause I was about to sell the car a multitude of times throughout the restoration!
Would like to lower it a bit and leave the rest as is but I got it with sunday outings in mind. On sundays I like to go for picnics, bbqs and even some long walks with my family in the countryside and it is ideal to haul the stuff we take along and makes a refreshing change from driving the modernish daily.
Previously I ever only had minis to play with. (still have 2 mind you and I love them to bits)

[akku]

Thats lovely. Nice work

[bob3]

Have taken some pics of it in the sunshine finally, here's a couple;





Might be able to take it out for a spin this weekend, undecided whether it or my green mini!!
we'll see.

[PaykanHunter]

Looks Absolutely Brilliant Mate!!!... What a marvelous transformation!... I am going to make a post about your car in my Blog very soon!...

Couple of questions:

1. It is a 1970 MKII Hunter, but I think they started using that DL badge on the rear on the MKIII Hunters, didn't they?

2. That Malta badge, you have on the C-Pillar, that was used on the locally assembled cars correct? But Hunters were never built in Malta they were imported from UK correct?

[bob3]

Hi shahin I have sent you both a pm and an email.
Don't know on the DL badge but found it at a local used auto parts dealer and bought it and with regards to the malta badges, yes these were fitted from new, it is a maltese assembled hunter.
there were quite a lot about but sadly numbers are diminishing rapidly with them getting older and people opting to scrap such cars and get modern replacements.

[PaykanHunter]

I have made a post about your Hunter! ;D Check it out here: www.paykanhunter.com/2012/01/maltas-preservation.html

On the DL badge I believe that Rootes only started using them on the Hunter MKIII, cause they dropped the "Minx" name and therefore Hunter DLs were basically in "Minx" specification with the 1500cc engines. So I don't believe that the DL is a correct badge for your car.

Maltese Assembled Hunters?!!!!!!..... WHAT?!!!... I did not know that! Do you have more information about the location of the factory, years of production and the total umber produced?!!... Thanks Again and congratulations on your restoration, it looks absolutely beautiful!...

[MK2VR6]

Malta is an amazing place with some fantastic retro motors. Yours looks mint after your hard work! Are there any mk1 escorts left at all, or have they all been exported here?!

[bob3]

Hi shahin actually my model was the one that replaced the minx, it is a 1500 with cast iron head same engine as seth's minx estate, and my father in law remembers that it had the dl badge but was nicked together with most of the other badges one day when they left it parked at cirkewwa and they took the ferry to Gozo. It was his car almost from new, then I took it over and restored it!
With regards to the hunters built in malta, rootes never had a plant over here, cars were sent in CKD form and were assembled in a factory in Marsa together with other makes, for instance, triumphs, minis, 1100's (ADO16), marinas and allegros , alfas, rover p6s too if I'm not mistaken.
Unfortunately not much records survive as most were destroyed I beleive.

Gsi2000, Malta WAS a treasure trove of old cars, unfortunately many have been destroyed forever, altough you still see some languishing in fields but even those are being destroyed because environmentalists claim they are an eyesore in the (very little) countryside we've got.
Regarding escorts mark 1 they are still plentiful on the island although a lot went to england but it was always a sought after car over here so a lot have survived, not my type of car but I still love to see some driving around. I love minis the most.

[bob3]

Oh btw shahin thanks for the link mate, I'll have a look right now!!

[bob3]

Not that its relevant to you guys in UK but this is now for sale!!