Hillman 16

Last updated

  • Hillman Wizard 65
  • Hillman 16
1935 Hillman sixteen (4675664005).jpg
Hillman Sixteen in ARP Warden livery
first registered January 1935
Overview
Manufacturer Hillman Motor Car Co Ltd
Production1934-1937
Body and chassis
Body style
  • chassis only
  • family saloon
  • de luxe saloon
  • sports saloon
  • foursome drophead coupé
  • Wingham cabriolet
  • 5-seater tourer [1]
Powertrain
Engine
  • 2,110 cc (128.8 cu in)
  • 2,576 cc (157.2 cu in) [2]
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 108.5 in (2,760 mm) [2]
  • 111 in (2,800 mm) [3]
Chronology
Predecessor Hillman 14
Successor
Layout
Configuration Straight 6-cylinder
Displacement 1,496 cc (91.3 cu in)
Cylinder bore 61.25 mm (2.41 in)
Piston stroke 84.63 mm (3.33 in)
Output
Power output
  • 24 bhp (18 kW; 24 PS) @2,400 rpm
  • Tax horsepower 13.96

The Hillman 16 was a series of 16 horsepower (RAC rating) medium priced 5-seater executive cars made by Hillman during the 1930s by installing a smaller engine in their 20-horsepower Hillman 20 range.

Contents

They were replaced by Hillman's 14 which changed its name between 1939 and 1945 to Humber Hawk.

Hillman Wizard 65

Hillman 16

From 1934 Hillman made a pair of larger 6 cylinder side-valve saloon cars with two sizes of otherwise identical engines in identical bodies for the same price: this 16 horsepower car and a 20-horsepower version [4] Hillman advertised the cars as having "Cushioned Power" mounts which helped stop vibration through the engine and gearbox and described their cars as being “built with a margin throughout”. These two models drew on some of the features and engine designs of the luxury Humber cars, including the Humber 12, 16/50, Snipe and Pullman, that were also being built under Rootes brothers control. This was an attempt by Hillman Ltd to enter the low end of the executive car market [5]

Engines, seating and brakes

The Hillman 16 had a 2110 cc 15.90 hp side valve straight-six engine whilst the matching 20/70 had larger 2810 cc 20.9 hp engines. [6] The "16hp" and “20/70” saloons were five seaters with bucket seats at the front and a folding armrest dividing a bench seat at the rear. All these vehicles had Bendix "Duo Servo" brakes, which used rod and cable linkages and operated on all four wheels via both the foot pedal and the handbrake lever.

New body, bigger 16 horsepower engine

A new streamlined body was announced in October 1935 [1] and the engine was enlarged 22 per cent by lengthening its stroke by 14 mm. Although the cubic capacity was raised from 2110 cc to 2576 cc [2] this did not affect the car's tax rating because the RAC formula takes no account of an engine's stroke.

Production

In contrast to Hillman 16s, around 4100 Hillman 20/70s and Hawks were built during the same period. [7]

Survivors

Only a few examples of each model still exist in the UK today. Some of these vehicles were exported throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Greece and New Zealand where a number of "20/70"'s also still survive.[ citation needed ]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Hillman. The Times, Tuesday, Oct 15, 1935; pg. 5; Issue 47195
  2. 1 2 3 Cars Of 1936. New six-cylinder Hillmans The Times, Friday, Oct 04, 1935; pg. 7; Issue 47186
  3. Sydney Morning Herald (2 March 1934) – 20/70 wheelbase
  4. Vanderveen (1973) - British Cars of the Early Thirties 1930-34 - Pages 66 & 67 & Late Thirties 1935-1939 – Page 12
  5. Vanderveen (1973) - entry for 1935 Hillmans - Page 11
  6. Instruction Book for Hillman Sixteen and Twenty-70 (1935)
  7. Hillman 16hp & Twenty-70 Spare Parts Catalogue (1934/35)

Related Research Articles

Morris Motors British automotive company

Morris Motors Limited was a British privately owned motor vehicle manufacturing company formed in 1919 to take over the assets of William Morris's WRM Motors Limited and continue production of the same vehicles. By 1926 its production represented 42 per cent of British car manufacture—a remarkable expansion rate attributed to William Morris's practice of buying in major as well as minor components and assembling them in his own factory. Self-financing through his enormous profits Morris did borrow some money from the public in 1926 and later shared some of Morris Motors' ownership with the public in 1936 when the new capital was used by Morris Motors to buy many of his other privately held businesses.

Hillman was a British automobile marque created by the Hillman-Coatalen Company, founded in 1907, renamed the Hillman Motor Car Company in 1910. The company was based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry, England. Before 1907 the company had built bicycles. Newly under the control of the Rootes brothers, the Hillman company was acquired by Humber in 1928. Hillman was used as the small car marque of Humber Limited from 1931, but until 1937 Hillman did continue to sell large cars. The Rootes brothers reached a sixty per cent holding of Humber in 1932 which they retained until 1967, when Chrysler bought Rootes and bought out the other forty per cent of shareholders in Humber. The marque continued to be used under Chrysler until 1976.

Commer British van, lorry and bus manufacturer

Commer was a British manufacturer of commercial and military vehicles from 1905 until 1979. Commer vehicles included car-derived vans, light vans, medium to heavy commercial trucks, and buses. The company also designed and built some of its own diesel engines for its heavy commercial vehicles.

Hillman Minx Motor vehicle

The Hillman Minx was a mid-sized family car that British car maker Hillman produced from 1931 to 1970. There were many versions of the Minx over that period, as well as badge-engineered variants sold by Humber, Singer, and Sunbeam.

Austin 16 Motor vehicle

The Austin Sixteen Light Six is a British car that was made by Austin from 1927. Announced in October 1927, the first deliveries were planned for March 1928.

Sunbeam Motor Car Company Defunct British automobile manufacturer (1905-67)

Sunbeam Motor Car Company Limited was a British motor car manufacturer with its works at Moorfields in Blakenhall, a suburb of Wolverhampton in Staffordshire, now West Midlands. Its Sunbeam name had been registered by John Marston in 1888 for his bicycle manufacturing business. Sunbeam motor car manufacture began in 1901. The motor business was sold to a newly incorporated Sunbeam Motor Car Company Limited in 1905 to separate it from Marston's pedal bicycle business; Sunbeam motorcycles were not made until 1912.

Humber Limited

Humber Limited was a British manufacturer of bicycles motorcycles, and automobiles incorporated and listed on the stock exchange in 1887. It took the name "Humber & Co Limited" because of the high reputation of the products of one of the constituent businesses that had belonged to Thomas Humber. A financial reconstruction in 1899 transferred its business to Humber Limited.

Humber Super Snipe Motor vehicle

The Humber Super Snipe is a car which was produced from 1938 to 1967 by British-based Humber Limited.

Morris Oxford Motor vehicle

Morris Oxford is a series of motor car models produced by Morris of the United Kingdom, from the 1913 bullnose Oxford to the Farina Oxfords V and VI.

Phelon & Moore

Phelon & Moore manufactured motorcycles in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, England from 1904 to 1967 particularly those under the Panther marque. They became identified with one particular design of motorcycle which had a large sloping 40-degree single-cylinder engine as a stressed member of the frame. This design spanned the entire history of the company, starting with a 500 cc model and ending with a 645 cc model.

Renault Vivastella Motor vehicle

The Renault Vivastella was an executive car introduced by Renault in October 1928 and produced for the model years 1929 - 1939.

Rover Meteor Motor vehicle

The Rover Meteor was a short-lived 2½-litre or 2-litre medium-sized car made by The Rover Company Limited of Meteor Works Coventry. The new 2½-litre model was announced in mid-February 1930 to supplement Rover's Light Twenty which used the same engine and essentially the same chassis.

Humber Hawk Motor vehicle

The Humber Hawk is a four-cylinder automobile manufactured from 1945 to 1967 by British-based Humber Limited.

Sunbeam-Talbot

Sunbeam-Talbot Limited was a British motor manufacturing business. It built upmarket sports-saloon versions of Rootes Group cars from 1935 to 1954. As Clément-Talbot Limited it had made Talbot cars since 1902.

Warne (car) Motor vehicle

The Warne was a British 4-wheeled cyclecar made from 1912 to 1915 by Pearsall Warne Ltd at the Icknield Works in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.

Hillman 14 Motor vehicle

The Hillman Fourteen is a medium-sized 4-cylinder car announced by Hillman's managing director Spencer Wilks, a son-in-law of William Hillman, at the end of September 1925. This new Fourteen substantially increased Hillman's market share and remained on sale into 1931. During this time it was the main product of the company.

Humber Snipe Motor vehicle

The Humber Snipe was a four-door luxury saloon introduced by British-based Humber Limited for 1930 as a successor to the Humber 20/55 hp at the same time as the similar but slightly longer Humber Pullman.

Hillman 20 Motor vehicle

The Hillman Wizard 75, Hillman Twenty 70, Hillman Hawk and their long wheelbase variants Hillman Seven Seater and Hillman 80 models were a series of 20 horsepower medium priced 5-7 seater executive cars made by Hillman during the 1930s.

Morris Oxford Six Touring car manufactured by Morris Motors Ltd.

The Morris Oxford Six is a motor car produced by Morris of the United Kingdom from 1921 until 1926, and again from 1929 until 1935. Initially produced as a straight-six engined version of the Morris Oxford bullnose, the original Oxford Six was the first car produced by Morris with a six-cylinder engine, but proved to be unreliable. The versions produced from 1929 onwards were introduced as a replacement for the Morris Oxford 16/40.

Hillman Gnat British WWII armored car

The Hillman Gnat was an experimental World War II era light armoured car developed in Britain.

References