For most of the 19th century Coventry, England was the center of the textile industry. However, by the 1890s this began to change as foreign competition undercut the home market (DUK2020/5). William Hillman was an engineer working for the Coventry Sewing Machine Company at this time when the company determined it should diversify into velocipedes (bicycles). Hillman and an associate patented a new bicycle called the “Ariel”, followed by the “Kangaroo”. So successful was this venture, Hillman was a millionaire by the turn of the century allowing him to fulfill his ambition to become a car manufacturer.

William Hillman teamed up with Breton Coatalen and produced the 24hp Hillman-Coatalen. The car was entered into the 1907 Tourist Trophy and although a crash put it out of the race it was considered a successful design. When Coatalen left in 1909 to join Sunbeam the company was renamed the Hillman Motor Car Company.

From 1910 until 1928 Hillman produced a range of large saloons which were very much the fashion of the day. Then in 1928 Hillman came under control of the Rootes Brothers. Under the Rootes umbrella Hillman became the small car division, and perhaps the most successful branch of the Rootes empire. The Wizard, Hawk, and Minx of the 1930s paved the way for the Husky, Hunter, Avenger, and Imp following WWII.

When the Imp debuted in 1963 it was Rootes’ answer to the BMC Mini. It was the first mass-produced British car with an engine block and cylinder head of cast aluminum. It was also the first mass-produced British car with the engine in the rear and was considered ahead of its time. Unfortunately, it suffered from reliability problems which tarnished its reputation and ultimately led to Rootes being taken over by the Chrysler Corporation Despite this the car soldiered on until 1976 by which time almost 500,000 Imps had been produced.

1963 Hillman Imp

As a result of the Chrysler takeover the Hunter and Avenger ranges were rebadged as Chryslers. Then in 1979 Chrysler sold its European division to Peugeot. The Hillman Hunter was dropped, and the Avenger was rebadged once again, this time as a Talbot, with production continuing until 1981.

Hillman’s Ryton plant in Warwickshire, a former Rootes Shadow Factory (DUK2019/2), continued to assemble various Peugeot models until 2007. Today the rights to the proud Hillman name is still owned by Peugeot.

Editor Note: Reprinted with permission from British Boots & Bonnets Chronicle Oct 2020.

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