Hillman Avenger
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- For the pre-1964 Sunbeam-Talbot or Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq cars see Sunbeam Car Company#Post-war
| Hillman Avenger | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Manufacturer | Rootes Group Chrysler Europe |
| Production | 1970–1981 Argentina until 1990 |
| Predecessor | Hillman Minx |
| Successor | none |
| Body style | 2-door and 4-door saloon 5-door estate |
| Engine | 1248 cc/1295 cc/1498 cc/1598 cc Straight-4 |
| Transmission | 4 speed manual 3-speed Automatic |
| Wheelbase | 98 inches (2489 mm) |
| Length | 161 inches (4096 mm) |
| Width | 62 inches (1587 mm) |
| Height | 53 inches (1359 mm) |
| Related | Chrysler Avenger Talbot Avenger Sunbeam Avenger Plymouth Cricket Dodge 1500 Volkswagen 1500 Dodge 1800 Dodge Polara |
The Hillman Avenger was a rear-wheel drive Small family car originally manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group between 1970 and 1976, and made by Chrysler Europe from 1976 to 1981 under the Chrysler and Talbot marques. During its 11-year production run, the Avenger came in various guises and badges. It was initially produced at Rootes' plant in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, England but was later assembled at the company's Linwood facility near Glasgow, Scotland.
[edit] 1970 - Hillman Avenger
Introduced in February 1970, the Avenger was significant as it was the first and last car to be developed by Rootes after the Chrysler takeover in 1967. Stylistically, the Avenger was undoubtedly very much in tune with its time; the American-influenced "Coke Bottle" waistline and semi-fastback rear-end being a contemporary styling cue. However, from an engineering prospective it was rather conventional, using a 4-cylinder all-iron overhead valve engine in 1250 or 1500 capacities driving a coil spring suspended live axle at the rear wheels. Unlike any previous Rootes design, there were no "badge-engineered" Humber or Singer versions in the UK market. The Avenger was immediately highly praised by the press for its good handling characteristics and generally good overall competence on the road and it was considered a significantly better car to drive than rivals like the Morris Marina.
Initially the Avenger was available as a four-door saloon in DL, Super and GL trim levels. The DL and Super could be had with either the 1250 or 1500cc engines but the GL was only available with the 1500cc engine. Since the DL was the basic model in the range, it featured little more than rubber mats and a very simple dashboard with a strip style speedometer. The Super was a bit better equipped, featuring carpets, armrests, twin horns and reversing lights, though the dashboard was carried over from the DL. The top-spec GL model featured four round headlights (which was a big improvement over the rectangular ones from the Hillman Minx that were used on the DL and Super), internal bonnet release, two-speed wipers, brushed nylon seat trim (previously never used on British cars), reclining front seats, and a round dial dashboard with extra instrumentation.
Not only was the Avenger's styling totally new, but so were the engine and transmission units, which were not at all like those used in the larger "Arrow" series Hunter. Another novelty for the Avenger was the use of a plastic radiator grille (a first in Britain!). The Avenger was a steady seller in the 1970s, in competition with the Ford Escort and Vauxhall Viva. Chrysler wanted the Avenger to be a "world car", and took the ambitious step of marketing the Avenger as the Plymouth Cricket in the United States. Poor build quality and unreliability, plus apathy towards small cars amongst buyers in the United States, saw it withdrawn from that market after only two years.
[edit] Introduction of more body & trim variations
In October 1970, the Avenger GT was added to the range. It had a twin-carburettor 1500cc engine, four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission (also optional on the 1500 DL, Super and GL). The GT featured go-faster stripes along the sides of the doors and dustbin lid wheel covers, which were not unlike those found on the various Datsuns and Toyotas of the seventies.
The basic fleet Avenger was added to the range in February 1972. It was offered with either 1250 or 1500cc engines (the later available with the automatic transmission option). Since the fleet Avenger was very basic, it did not even have a sun visor for the front passenger. In October 1972, the Avenger GT was replaced by the Avenger GLS, which came with a vinyl roof and Rostyle sports wheels.
In March 1972, the five-door estate versions were introduced, in DL and Super forms (both available with either 1250 or 1500cc engines) and basically the same specifications as the saloon versions.
The two-door saloon models were added in March 1973, with all engine and trim options of the existing four-door range. Styling of the two door was similar to the 4 door, but the side profile was more subdued.
The car was extensively marketed in continental Europe, first as a Sunbeam. It was without the Avenger name in France, where it was known as the Sunbeam 1250 and 1500; later the 1300 and 1600. Some northern European markets received the car as the Sunbeam Avenger.
Both engine sizes were upgraded in October 1973. The 1250 became the 1300, while the 1500 became the 1600, with nearly all the same previous trim levels except for the basic fleet Avenger. The GL and GT trim levels were now also offered with the 1300 engine and two-door saloon body.
[edit] International construction
Chrysler's South American operations also built and marketed the car. In Brazil it was known variously as the Dodge Polara and Dodge 1800, which utilized a larger stroke 1800 cm³ engine. In Argentina it was the Dodge 1500, while 1800 cm³ versions there were badged as the Dodge 1500M. The estate was known as the Dodge 1500 Rural. After Chrysler sold their Argentina operations, the car became the Volkswagen 1500 (not to be confused with the Volkswagen 1500 of other markets, based on their Type 3 model).
Other countries to market the car were South Africa (where it used Peugeot engines and was badged as a Dodge rather than a Hillman) and New Zealand (in 4-door and 5-door wagon form).
Versions in Denmark were 1.3, 1.3 L, 1.3 GL, 1.6 GL, 1.6 GLS, 1.6 GT. These Danish versions had two-door equivalents which were sometimes exported back to the UK, since two-door models were phased out in the UK market in 1979.
[edit] Motorsport
Despite the humble underpinnings, the Avenger was a successful car in motorsport; it was a frequent strong achiever in the British Touring Car Championship owing to the "tuneability" of its engine. The road-going version, the 4-door Avenger Tiger, is now a sought-after classic car.
[edit] The Avenger Tiger
Named to evoke memories of the Sunbeam Tiger, the Avenger Tiger concept began as a publicity exercise. Avenger Super 4-door cars were modified by the Chrysler Competitions Centre under Des O' Dell and the Tiger model was launched in March 1972. Modifications included the 1500 GT engine with an improved cylinder head with enlarged valves, twin Weber carburettors and a compression ratio of 9.4:1. The engine now developed 92.5 DIN bhp at 6100 rpm. Suspension is also uprated, whilst brakes, rear axle, and gearbox are from the GT.
A distinctive colour scheme with a matt black bonnet bulge, rear panel and side stripes was standard, set off with "Avenger Tiger" lettering on the rear quarters. Other colours were also produced, however.
Road test figures demonstrated a 0-60 mph time of 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 108 mph. These figures beat the rival Ford Escort Mexico, but fuel consumption was heavy.
All Avenger Tigers were assembled by the Chrysler Competitions Centre and production figures are vague but around 200 of the initial Mark 1 seems likely.
In October 1972 Chrysler unveiled the more "productionised" Mark 2 Tiger. The Avenger GL bodyshell with 4 headlights was used. Mechanically identical to the earlier cars, the bonnet bulge was lost, and there were changes to wheels and seats. These cars went on at £1350. Production was around 400. Only yellow and red were available, with black detailing.
[edit] 1976 - A rebadge to Chrysler and a facelift
In 1976 the Avenger was rebadged as a Chrysler. It also gained a comprehensive facelift which included a new frontal treatment and a new dashboard. Both treatments looked similar to those of the Chrysler Alpine. The greatest change was at the rear where, on the saloons, the distinctive "hockey-stick" rear lamp clusters were dropped in favour of a straight "light-bar" arrangement. The top of the former "hockey-sticks" had body-coloured metal in their place.
[edit] 1977 - The Chrysler Sunbeam hatchback
In 1977, a hatchback variant was introduced, known as the Chrysler Sunbeam. This was based on a shortened version of the Avenger's floorplan, and was intended to compete in the lower "supermini" class. Initially three engines were available: a 928cc Hillman Imp-derived unit and 1300 and 1600 Avenger units. A sporty "Ti" version was soon introduced, also with a 1600 engine.
The model's name was a revival of the Rootes Sunbeam marque, which had recently been killed off along with the final Sunbeam model, the Rapier.
In 1979 Chrysler unveiled the Sunbeam Lotus at the Geneva Motor Show. Developed in conjunction with Lotus with rallying in mind (because none of the existing models were competitive) and utilising a 2200cc Lotus engine, the road-going version of the rally car was not actually ready for deliveries to the public until after the Peugeot buyout (see below), and thus became the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. At first these were produced mostly in Lotus's then tobacco-sponsorship colours of black and silver, although later models came in a turquoise and silver scheme.
[edit] Sunbeam specifications
| Capacity | 927–2172 cc |
| Power | 42–155 hp |
| Max. speed | 128–200 km/h |
| Acceleration | 0–62.5 mp/h: 22.2–8.3 seconds |
[edit] 1979 - The Talbotization and the end
Towards the end of the 1970s, the Avenger was being increasingly outclassed by the new generation of modern front-wheel drive hatchbacks such as the VW Golf, Renault 14 and Fiat Ritmo/Strada. In 1978, Chrysler Europe went bankrupt and was taken over by Peugeot, which rebranded Chrysler models as Talbots. The Avenger and Sunbeam survived, rebadged once again, although unlike newer Talbot models such as the Horizon, they retained the Chrysler "Pentastar" badge, instead of the Talbot logo featuring a letter "T" inside a circle. Production continued until 1981, when Peugeot closed the Linwood production plant.
Not all was bleak during this time; the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus enjoyed further development and won the World Rally Championship for Talbot in 1981.
[edit] Post-1981 - afterlife in South America
Although sales in Brazil ceased in 1980, production of the model continued in Argentina until 1990, first as the Dodge 1500 and then, after Volkswagen acquired the tooling from Chrysler when the latter withdrew from South America, as the Volkswagen 1500 (not to be confused with the totally different Volkswagen Type 3, which was sold elsewhere in the world as a Volkswagen 1500 too).
Under Volkswagen the car received its final facelift, gaining a sloping front grille which was more in vogue in the early 1980s. This vehicle was very popular with taxi drivers, but by the end of 2001 they had all met the 10-year age rule on Argentine taxi vehicles. An Avenger-based pickup truck called the Dodge 1500 Pickup was made in Uruguay, but the conversion failed to properly account for structural rigidity and they literally broke apart.
[edit] Avengers in popular culture
- A Hillman Avenger was shown in a 1979 episode of The Professionals, which during an intense chase scene, was secretly fitted with a tracking device by a member of CI5.
- A Hillman Avenger estate is used as an umarked police car in the BBC series Life on Mars, also one is blown up by a bomb in the episode aired on 6/3/07.
- A Hillman Avenger is shown in the BBC banned music video (due to its subject matter on Northern Ireland) for the The Police's 1981 single "Invisible Sun", overtaking an ambulance. Another Avenger is shown also in a backdrop scene showing armored Land Rovers driving along a street.
- On the British comedy Keeping up Appearances, an abandoned 1972 Hillman Avenger GL is prominently shown outside Onslow's house, being used as a dog-kennel.
- Tim Hart, a former member of Steeleye Span released a song in 1979 called "Hillman Avenger". Practical Classics magazine recommended that one should jump "14 feet down to the garden" (a lyric in the song) after hearing it.
[edit] External links
- Help save one of the few Talbot Lotus Sunbeams left in the UK
- The Avenger and Sunbeam Owners Club
- The Sunbeam Lotus Owners Club
- Hillman Avenger Club of Ireland
- Avenger/Cricket/Sunbeam page at Allpar.com
- The Hillman Avenger / Plymouth Cricket web page
- Site for Simca/Chrysler France products
- Avenger web page
- Worldwide Avenger portal
- "What is a Sunbeam Lotus?"
- Brief history, with illustration, of the Sunbeam Lotus
