5 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

The late Barry Williams racing a Hillman Hunter GLS and interviewed at 3m.49s

 

 

 

[panky]

 I love this  As a Rootes fan I love it even more

[Cooperman]

Both the Hunter and the Avenger were under-rated cars back in their day.

 

A Hunter won the London to Sydney Marathon in 1968 and Rod Badham was very competitive in Motoring News Championship rallies in one.

 

The Avenger was a great car and in 'Tiger' form more than a match for the Escort Mexico. On one RAC Rally, in 1973, the Avengers were 1st and 2nd in the Group 1 class (up to 1600 cc) which really upset Ford. Andy Dawson and John Bloxham were the drivers on that event. It was a very well-balanced car with excellent handling. When the 'Brazilian Block' (1800 cc) was fitted to the Avenger it was even better.

 

The Hunter GLS which had the twin 40DCOE Weber carbs was a nice road car and I almost bought one, but settled for a Cortina 2000GT instead in 1972.

 

In the clip shown I think Barrie was alluding to the legality of the Hunter as a Vauxhall 2300 Magnum should have been quicker than the Hunter and Barrie was easily as quick a driver a Unett.

[panky]

Yes the GLS had the Holbay engine, a bit tasty

[Cooperman]

I keep on fancying a Rapier, 1961 to 1965-ish, with a 1725 Holbay engine and overdrive. It would be a better road car than a Cooper 'S'.

 

The Avenger Tiger was great. I navigated 3 different ones and one funny story was when I did a Welsh Championship rally in a Group 1 version with a very quick chap named Colin Walker. We were really well-placed when we went over a crest and I called 30 degree right over a bridge. It was a bit muddy and the bridge was narrower than the road had been. The car started to slide, so Colin gave it full power to try to get the front onto the bridge. That didn't work and the right hand front impacted the bridge's stone pillar. Now the Tiger had a cassette player  fitted and with the impact a cassette was pushed into the unit and the music came on very loud. Two Welsh lads who had been spectating ran up and said "No wonder they crashed, they've got the wireless on" in a very Welsh accent! We got a lift back to the start/finish and the Avenger was brought home on a trailer and had to go in a body jig.

[panky]

A H120 is at the top of my wish list, love the fast backs.

I did test drive a fast back a few years ago, not a H120, it was an auto and went very well. But he wanted top price for it and it needed work so I declined. Ended up buying a Minor traveller, that's now at the back of the garage undergoing a full resto as it wasn't as good as it looked