Hillman Avengers - Yay or Nay?.

[trigger]

I'm possibly going on Saturday (If it doesn't sell before) to have a look at a Hillman Avenger that I saw for sale at a show on Sunday, Trouble is I can't decide if it's for me or not?.

I know every little about them about from that they are a pretty cool car, My dad had one and everyone that I've spoke to at work have told me that I'm mad as they are curse word and rust buckets !, Are they really that bad?.

This one is a very early Apr 1970 on a H reg 1500 GL with the twin headlights, It's 81 year old owner is retiring from driving after owning it since 1975 and it's still only done 60000 miles.

It's very straight with only service rust on the sills and back panels, the underfloor is spotless, No dirt or oil just some light scabs, It even has a years ticket and is of course tax free.

I don't really know what it's worth, I've been told a price that he wants for it but interested to hear what you guys think it's worth, Oh and it's still running a dynamo and it's possibly on drum brakes and disc brakes was a option in 1970 I need to check on this.

Here's a couple of photos of it, So what you you guys think, Go for it for or for something else?.

[Davenger]

The 1250 had drums, that should have disks up front.
That looks really clean compared to mine.
Probably worth £700-£1000 if it's as solid as you think it is

[BenzBoy]

Is this a trick question? Yay! A thousand times yay. ;D Very cool alternative to a Mk1/2 Escort. I don't know what they're like to own / drive.

[trigger]

Jul 7, 2010 22:09:16 GMT Davenger said:

The 1250 had drums, that should have disks up front.
That looks really clean compared to mine.
Probably worth £700-£1000 if it's as solid as you think it is

Oh Disc's would be good, He wants a little more then that and his wife (who wears the boots) has stated that they would not go any lower.

It's had a new pair of wings and front panel recently but other then that it's never been touched, not even had a patch.

Jul 7, 2010 22:13:11 GMT BenzBoy said:

I don't know what they're like to own / drive.

Nore do I hence the question, I've still the 1602 to sell which doesn't help!

[retrolegends]

Looks in good nick,the 1500 is a good engine and very tuneable, the Avenger handles well due to the rear end set up (some may say better than an escort).
don't read too much into rust stories as all brit tin from this era rotted well so it was probably Ziebarted from an early age to have survived.A Grand seems a fair price as they will surely start to rise in value soon.

[Davenger]

A mint one would go for about £1500, depends on how good it is.
They drive really nicely, handle better than anything ford had going at the time, due to having a coil sprung 4 link rear end.
1500 engine is a good little lump, pulls well, gearboxes can be a bit delicate on high mileage cars.
Early ones like mine and the one you're interested were made of pretty thick steel, so they don't rot as bad as everyone thinks. Certainly no worse than any other 40 year old car.

[trigger]

Well this one is £1250 Dave, It's been garaged all it's life but the paintwork has lots of little spidery type scab marks on it, Mainly noticeable because it's white which is a shame.

Interesting that it handles well, Looking at the tiny tires I was expecting lots of body roll.

If I do get it, We'd be like the Ipswich Avenger massive innit! ;D

[retrolegends]

Black and Silver number plates and Rostyles. Sorted!

[Davenger]

That'd be cool.
The skinny tyres aren't great for handling, but the suspension set up rocks.
There's a reason they won BTTC 3 times.
Grab a copy of practical classics, show them the price guide in the back and see if you can get the price down.
I've seen them go for more than £1500, but I won't tell them ;D

[trigger]

Forgot about PC mag, I have this months in front of me, 3 = £200 2 = £600 3 = £1500 so maybe £1250 isn't far off? £1100 be nicer.

[Davenger]

Could be useful leverage, especially with the blemishes in the paint

[Seth]

I don't know Avengers particularly and while that is obviously a tidy looking car I don't think you're looking at an absolute bargain. Its gott be a cool ride to smoke about in for a while though

[jbeenz]

Having owned a Mk2 escort 1600 and an Avenger 1500, Go the avenger! wonderfull cars, Oh and they Drift !

[maskedavenger]

ive got one with a 2.0 zetec in and regularly track day it its a blast
there is a few pics in the readers rides section if you do a search

[Ray Singh]

Yay everytime, my Dad had a 1600 Deluxe i think. Excellent for playing about in.

Are you selling your 1602 then?

[swollen]

Oh Yay! from me. on my want list... would look good with some height adjustment on some 15" ford steels and a some low profile tyres with a hint of stretch...

[griffo20022]

Avengers are the b*lloks! I love them! Don't know anything about them as i've never really researched into them. They just look immense though! I'd rock one all day long!

The purple one above that Seth posted on the Slots is nigh on perfection for me!

[autohausdolby]

I've never understood people's desire to change lovely old yellow and white 3d plates for cheap black and silver ones. It makes cars look wierd when they should have some nice Charles Wright ones. There's nothing finer than a good old dealer plate IMHO

[Stiff]

I'd have one tommorow. Sidepipes, slots and flames FTW!



Although it's probably worth it I don't think I'd like to pay that much for one though as there's other cars out there I'd rather have for that wedge.

[alolympic]

This is all about personal opinion, no right or wrong.
I'll express mine because it seems to be away from most others.
I have never wanted an Avenger. Simple as. They may be a good drive, but for me they just don't look desirable, and this is coming from someone who likes a lot of 70's saloons.
The particular car looks okay. It's a 4 door, when I think the 2 door looks much better.
Those scabs will need sorting, and it will take some money to get to a good finish.
From what I remember the interiors were nothing special either, especially in that spec.
The car looks very under wheeled. It would need new wheels, tyres and some suspension changes to look anywhere near approaching 'Tiger' looks.
So, for the money, would I go for it? nope.
Not sure if you still have your BMW 02 but for me that car has uber potential. They look great and can be made to go great. So, for the cost of the Avenger and the cost of the parts to make it look right you could make the Beemer an absolute stormer.
Just my opinion, if you can see the potential, do it, but I suspect you don't really......
Good luck either way