| |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Hillman Motor Car Co Ltd |
Production |
|
Model years | 1931 to 1938 |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Executive car |
Body style | Wizard 75, 20/70 and Hawk
|
Layout | FR |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | engine, single dry-plate clutch and 4-speed gearbox with central gear lever (all mounted as a unit); open propellor shaft with metal joints; half-floating spiral bevel driven rear axle with banjo case [5] |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase |
|
Length | |
Width |
|
Kerb weight | |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Hillman Vortic |
Successor | Humber Snipe |
Hillman 20 horsepower | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Hillman |
Layout | |
Configuration | Straight 6-cylinder [5] |
Displacement |
|
Cylinder bore | 75 mm (2.95 in) [5] |
Piston stroke |
|
Block material | cast iron; 4-bearing crankshaft; pistons have alloy heads and steel skirts [5] |
Head material | cast iron; detachable, only connection is to radiator [5] |
Valvetrain | side valves operated by gear-driven camshaft [5] |
Compression ratio | 5.1:1 [5] |
Combustion | |
Fuel system | air cleaner, hot spot for mixture, mechanical fuel pump driven from camshaft supplies from rear tank, 4-branch inlet and 3-branch exhaust manifolds [5] |
Management | dynamo with water pump driven by chain, coil ignition [5] |
Fuel type | petrol [5] |
Oil system | forced by pump, oil filter provided [5] |
Cooling system | water pump, thermostat, fan (with adjustable fan belt), honeycomb radiator within V-front shell with chromium plated centre bar [5] |
Output | |
Power output |
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 (RAC rating) medium priced 5-7 seater executive cars made by Hillman during the 1930s.
Built at a time when body and chassis were quite separate structures Hillman's 20 horsepower chassis was given three different body shapes in five years and a grand total of five different names if the long wheelbase cars are included. The same body shapes and chassis were used for Hillman's 16 horsepower offering though that smaller engine was not offered with their long wheelbase cars.
Towards the end of the 1930s the badges of the current models were changed by the Rootes brothers to Humber Snipe.
"The Hillman Wizard, The car for the roads of the world" was designed by the Rootes brothers to capture new export markets and to continue their Super Snipe's challenge to "the American type of car". They were freshly in control of Humber as well as Hillman and Britain exported comparatively few cars. [11]
The new car was announced on the last Monday in April 1931, "a completely new Hillman". [12] It was paired with a small bore 16 horsepower model of the same price intended for the UK domestic market where power was less important. [2] This was the first six-cylinder Hillman, previously they had been four or eight cylinder cars. [5] Special features included: pressed steel body, silent third gear (hitherto all intermediate gears emitted a loud whine) or "traffic-top", front and rear bumpers, chromium plating. [13] The body incorporates draught-free ventilation utilising vents in the scuttle with the rear quarter-lights. [5] The six-cylinder engine's valves are "side by side" and operated by a gear-driven camshaft. Pistons have steel skirts and aluminium heads. The crankshaft has been given four bearings. Particular attention has been paid to carburation which was a weak point of the Hillman Straight Eight. The new system is simple but incorporates a hot-spot heated by the engine's exhaust. [2] |
The chassis frame has five cross members and the frame is deep and as rigid as possible. The front axle has an H section with rectangular ends for torsional stress. Duo-Servo 4-wheel brakes are Bendix design operating, after two primary rods, by enclosed cables on 11 in (279 mm) drums. The springing is half-elliptical on both axles and they are controlled by double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers. The rear under-hung springs are 50 in (1,270 mm) long. Steering is by a worm and nut design. [2] The cars are supplied with artillery wheels and a fixed roof, wire wheels and a sunshine roof are optional extras. [5]
Headlamps are dip-and-switch. [2]
A road test of the family saloon by The Times motoring correspondent published at the end of June 1931 noted that the seating for five passengers is comfortable and there is a wide view right round. The forward side windows can be wound right down but the large rear windows only as much as a third of the way. The opening windscreen is safety glass with one electric wiper and a reflecting mirror is provided. There are no ashtrays and there were slight squeaks in the body. A stoplight is fitted and a luggage grid. A spare artillery wheel and tyre are fitted in a well on the front wing. The always smooth and quiet engine pushed the car to a highest speed of about 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) after easily running up to 55 miles per hour (89 km/h). The brakes were very effective except when backing the car. Steering — light and steady. [5]
A de luxe model was announced on 1 January 1932. Among its improvements were: new colour schemes, a luggage trunk on the grid at the rear, walnut dashboard and window fillets, special furniture hide, de luxe carpets and head-lining with a parcel net, indirect lighting for the instrument panel, larger thinner-rimmed steering wheel, double-barred bumpers, and three ashtrays. [14]
In March 1933 Hillman announced that the Wizard had been given Cyclonic Induction providing "a power surge". [15] This appears to have been a switch from an unspecified design of carburettor to a downdraught design. [9]
A new test by The Times published in July 1933 of the four-light (i.e. sports saloon) sun saloon de luxe reported that 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) is within the car's scope and without favourable conditions. It was noted the air shutters sometimes whistled but the review wound up with "The Wizard 75 gives the acceleration and speed of its medium-sized trans-atlantic rival (sic) with the refinement and economy of a British engineering product". [9] |
Just two months later in mid-September Hillman announced the Wizard's replacement, their new model Hillman 20/70, with new all-steel bodies and electric direction indicators. [16]
The Wizard did not sell as well as planned and the cost of Pressed Steel's tooling has been spread across to this new model. The Twenty 70 body remains essentially the Wizard's but with new grilles, wings and rear valance. [17]
The Twenty 70 announced in mid-September 1933 remains all-steel and now more streamlined. It has been given an outswept long-skirted tail in place of the former D-shape. There are separate chairs in front except on the Family saloon which has a three-seater single-piece bench seat at the front. Triplex safety glass is now throughout the car. There are dual screenwipers, a roof lamp, a rear blind which may be controlled from the driver's seat, locks on all doors and a driving mirror. A special design of bumpers is standard throughout the range. De luxe saloons have a sunshine roof, ash trays, cigar lighter, a parcel net on the ceiling and pillar pulls. A luggage grid was also fitted at the back of de luxe saloons. [16]
The radiator grille or shell stylishly slopes back to match the new streamlined coachwork [16] and its chromium-plated shutters are thermostatically controlled.
Electric direction indicators are fitted. Built into the body sides they are invisible unless in operation. They are controlled from the steering wheel and they are self-cancelling. [16]
Every saloon has a wireless aerial installed in the saloon's roof. A Philco Transitone wireless set is available as an option. [16] Hillman's small car range now included their Melody Minx.[ citation needed ]
As before as well as the saloons described above a sports saloon, a foursome drophead coupé and a five-seater (open) tourer are available Again the Seven Seater has a longer wheelbase and may be purchased as a saloon, limousine or landaulette. All three have a pair of occasional seats in the rear compartment, [16] the limousine is an ideal mourning carriage. [18]
While the new car's chassis is little changed from the Wizard the engine now provides Cushioned Power endowed by its new flexible mountings. The engine clutch and gearbox unit is suspended at three points on rubber. The four speed gearbox now has synchromesh between third and top and freewheel except on the cheapest "Family" model. All gears are "silent". The freewheel can be locked by a control on the facia. Startix optional engine starting is now fitted. [16]
The Times tried driving the Seven Seater limousine, a long wheelbase version of the Twenty 70. It is mechanically identical except for the back axle which uses the lower ratio of the smaller engined sixteen. Driving was comfortable and all the controls functioned well, the steering was particularly good. The car was perfectly capable of 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) but the rear springs were too firm without a load in the car and some variable control should be provided. The car "is a remarkable job for the money". [19]
1935 models were distinguished by a radiator shell or grille painted in the body colour, the radiator filler cap moved under the bonnet and a chromium plated motif above the bonnet. A thermostatically controlled cut-out now allows the engine to fully warm before letting water circulate to the radiator. [20]
The Times tried a 1935 model sports saloon. It described the engine as a good performer and one of the car's chief attractions. The car accomplished a good 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). The brakes need light pedal pressure. They tended to grab and affect the steering but this might have been on just this particular car. The synchromesh works well. "The outstanding characteristic in the appearance of this car is compactness". This sports saloon weighed 29½ cwt 3,304 lb (1,499 kg). [10]
The Twenty 70 and 16 cars did not sell well in spite of the best efforts of William Rootes and his sales team. "The public still looked upon them as updated Wizards". [21]
A new streamlined body was announced in October 1935 with a new name for the 20, Hawk. [1] Chassis design was by William Haynes assisted by Alec Issigonis. [21] The modern all-steel semi-monocoque[ citation needed ] style body was designed by Thrupp & Maberly,[ citation needed ] London coachbuilders also owned by Rootes Group. The new body houses the spare wheel in the tail. Its new lines "are planned to flow smoothly from the radiator". . . "to the trunk at the rear with the streamlined well-valanced wings merging harmoniously into the whole". As before the sloping single-piece windscreen may be opened to give better vision in fog. [3]
The new model's Superpower engine is enlarged 13 per cent achieved by lengthening its stroke by 14 mm. Although the cubic capacity rose from 2810 cc to 3181 cc [3] this did not affect the car's tax rating because the RAC formula takes no account of an engine's stroke. The only other changes from the engine of the Twenty 70 were the introduction of replaceable hardened steel valve seats and improved steel-backed main bearings for the crankshaft. The instrument panel now has a rheostat switch to vary the lighting at will. [3]
The Hawk's big changes from the Twenty 70 chassis are the introduction of the Rootes Group's Evenkeel [22] independent front suspension by transverse leaf springs which gives the cars better road-holding and steering with a superior ride and, as well as that, the car's road-holding is further improved by a much wider track, increased from 56 in (1,422 mm) to 58 in (1,473 mm) in front and 59.5 in (1,511 mm) at the back. [3] In addition the chassis frame is "beefed up" to provide the rigidity required by the new independent front suspension. The channel section frame members have been replaced by box section members, the fourth side providing a frame advertised as "seven times stronger". [23] The longitudinal members are box-girders and the four cross-members are of box-section. [7] Previously, with chassis mounted on front and rear rigid axles, a controlled amount of flexing was thought desirable.[ citation needed ] |
The most expensive catalogued Hawk was their Wingham convertible cabriolet listed at £435 compared with the family saloon's £295. The Times tried out the Wingham describing it as a double purpose five-seater and noting its roof may be folded by the driver from his seat by releasing its two clips to the windscreen. The side windows in the four doors wind up and down and the driver's view is clear except to the back of the car. The spare wheel is kept horizontally in the boot. It sharply restricts luggage space and though the lid folds out to form a platform for luggage the luggage then blocks access to the wheel. "Quietness of running makes speed deceptive." In the testers' opinion the car would not be stressed by being driven at 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) and it should cruise comfortably at 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). [7] The newspaper specially noted that since the test all new production front spring leaves have been polished giving a much easier movement at low speeds. |
There is no change to the cars but there are significant price reductions all round and a new Safety saloon with Triplex safety glass all round is listed in place of last season's Family saloon. [24] The cars are heavily advertised with the statements "Tested approved and ordered by His Majesty's War Office, the Royal Air Force, the Metropolitan and Provincial Police and other great public services at home and overseas." [25]
The Times tried the 80 enclosed limousine from the driving seat and reported the engine is well balanced, smooth in operation because of its rubber mounts and lively, "quiet as well as silky". 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) can be reached on top gear. [26]
October 1937 Earls Court Motorshow. The old Hawk, now the Humber Snipe —and the old Hillman Sixteen now a Humber Sixteen— is displayed without further comment on Humber's stand [27]
About 700 Hillman "16"s were built between 1936-37 whereas around 5000 Hillman "Hawk"s were built during the same period and an estimated 300 Hillman "80"s were constructed between 1936-38. [28] These models were produced as standard saloons and deluxe saloons, some of which were used by the military, police and government departments, [29] with a small number of each model being produced as sports tourers, cabriolets and coupes, the bodywork being converted by coachbuilders Thrupp & Maberly and Wingham (Martin Walter).
Only a few examples of each model still exist in the UK today. Some of these vehicles were exported throughout the world, especially to Australia and New Zealand where a number of "Hawk"s and "80"'s also still survive.
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.
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.
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 Limited was a British automobile 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.
The Humber Super Snipe is a car which was produced from 1938 to 1967 by British-based Humber Limited.
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.
The Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire is a large automobile which was produced by the British company, Armstrong Siddeley Motors Limited, from 1952 to 1960.
The Daimler Majestic Major DQ450 is a large luxury saloon produced by Daimler in Coventry, England between November 1960 and 1968. It was fitted with a 4,561 cc V8 engine and was offered as a much more powerful supplement to their then current Daimler Majestic.
Autovia was a short lived brand of British car from Coventry existing from 1935 to 1938 with production starting in January 1937. The venture was ambitious and even included setting up a school for chauffeurs. The cars were expensive and it was a market sector well served by other companies. 44 cars were made.
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.
The Humber Hawk is a four-cylinder automobile manufactured from 1945 to 1967 by British-based Humber Limited.
Sunbeam-Talbot Limited was a British motor manufacturing business. It built upmarket sports-saloon versions under the parenthood of Rootes Group cars from 1938 to 1954. Its predecessor Clément-Talbot Limited had made Talbot automobiles from 1902 to 1935.
The Sunbeam-Talbot 90 is an automobile which was produced and built by Sunbeam-Talbot from 1948 to 1954 and continued as the Sunbeam Mk III from 1954 to 1957.
The Austin Light Twelve-Six is a 14 tax horsepower car with a 1496 cc engine that was introduced by Austin in January 1931. It was named by Austin Light Twelve to separate it from the well-established Austin Twelve. The general public then dubbed the original Twelve Heavy Twelve but Austin never used that name. The Light Twelve-Six remained in production until 1936.
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.
The Alvis Speed 20 is a British touring car that was made between late 1931 and 1936 by Alvis Car and Engineering Company in Coventry. It went through four variants coded SA to SD.
The Standard Flying Fourteen is an automobile produced by the British Standard Motor Company from 1936 to 1940 and announced in October 1936. The other Flying Standard models had been announced twelve months earlier. A standard is a flag and the reference to flying standards is to flying flags as well as to the advertised abilities of the cars.
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.
The Lanchester Ten and Lanchester Eleven were sold by The Lanchester Motor Company Limited from the Ten's announcement in September 1932 until 1951. Quite different from previous Lanchesters, the Ten was the second of Lanchester's new owner's new Daimler-linked Lanchester range. The names Ten and Eleven referred to the engine's rating for the annual tax and did not relate to the engine's power output.
The Hillman 16 was a series of 16 horsepower medium priced 5-seater executive cars made by Hillman during the 1930s by installing a smaller engine in their 20-horsepower Hillman 20 range.