Hillman Hunter GLS

[Upatdawn]

velocemitch said:

Judging by this there's only likely to be about 3 left, one serviceable two stored.

http://howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Hil...

any ideas where that draws its data from?

[velocemitch]

DVLA as far as I know, it can go a bit wonky though as certain cars can be registered wrongly, stuff like GLS and GL S, or cars that go by two names (Alfa Giulia GTV, or GT Veloce for instance) can throw it out, but on this particular Car the data looks as though it might be correct to me.

[aeropilot]

velocemitch said:

DVLA as far as I know, it can go a bit wonky though as certain cars can be registered wrongly, stuff like GLS and GL S, or cars that go by two names (Alfa Giulia GTV, or GT Veloce for instance) can throw it out, but on this particular Car the data looks as though it might be correct to me.

Yup, all info from DVLA database, and yes, while some of the info can be a bit astray due to badly imputed data into the DVLA database, the fact is the Hunter GLS is extreamly rare now.

Finding one will be next to impossible, other than prising one of those few remaining out of it's current owners hands with an over the top offer of money.

[danoli777]

There are at least 10 on the road that I know of, and the club did know of over 20 more in various states of disrepair.

[james280779]

the old man had one in great nick, one lady owner since new. Mileage was something stupid too. he sold it to fund his avenger project but I believe its still in the essex area.

If you can find that one its in great condition. I think he only sold it for 300 quid a couple of years ago.

I think its Gold with a tan coloured vinyl interior (he has had so many over last few years I forget)
Pretty certain it was a GLS

ETA - cars in general not just Hillmans

In the last 10 years I can think of

2x Zodiacs, Triumph spitfire / herald convertible, 2 x avengers, Hillman hunter x 2, Ford capri MK1 with V8, Ford consul and many euroboxes about 10 years old.

Edited by james280779 on Tuesday 10th July 04:37

[danoli777]

[moribund]

More pics!

[Stinkfoot]

My dad had a yellow one with a black strip (a bit like an Avenger Tiger). I cant really remember much about It and no photos of it have survived. It was an epic car though.

Edited by Stinkfoot on Monday 30th July 09:46

[jith]

There you go! A wee bit customised but great fun!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1968-HILLMAN-HUNTER-RALL...

Or for something more original:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1972-HILLMAN-HUNTER-GREE...

But this is the best of all. Totally original and very tidy, only 39000 miles!; and a good price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1975-HILLMAN-HUNTER-DELU...

J

[ian2144]

jith said:

There you go! A wee bit customised but great fun!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1968-HILLMAN-HUNTER-RALL...

Or for something more original:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1972-HILLMAN-HUNTER-GREE...

But this is the best of all. Totally original and very tidy, only 39000 miles!; and a good price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1975-HILLMAN-HUNTER-DELU...

J

My mate had a GLS, and remember it was a nice car to drive, But could not keep up with my Avenger Tiger on the twisty bits.

The blue and white rally style Hunter has been knocking about on ebay for a few years now. Looks a bit naff with the large white rims with low profile tyres ?

[LordFlathead]

B Huey said:

How about a Sunbeam Rapier? If your old man liked the Hunters this would be a good alternative.

Probably survive in bigger numbers too.

I had an 'H120' for my second car. The problem with these (and the GLS) is the Roots engine which suffers a chocolate bottom end (3 mains IRC). I dropped a rod through the side of the block at around 100mph and that was the end of that. Both of these have big side draft DCOE's and if not set up properly overfuel and bore wash.

[roscobbc]

The 'fun' thing (to me anyway) is the way a GLS 'handles' on stock wheels and tyres - and they are surprisingly quick all things considered. Like many cars from the period with skinny rubber and sloppy suspension it is fantastic fun to throw around. We need to remember that there is another low tech way to get cars around the corners - and this is it! - fill your boots!!!!!!!

[jith]

LordFlathead said:

B Huey said:

How about a Sunbeam Rapier? If your old man liked the Hunters this would be a good alternative.

Probably survive in bigger numbers too.

I had an 'H120' for my second car. The problem with these (and the GLS) is the Roots engine which suffers a chocolate bottom end (3 mains IRC). I dropped a rod through the side of the block at around 100mph and that was the end of that. Both of these have big side draft DCOE's and if not set up properly overfuel and bore wash.

You must have been helluva unlucky, because the 1725 was a stonking engine. A 5 bearing crank, not 3 by the way. Any engine with Webers will overfuel if not set up properly, so that's a kind of irrelevance.

The Hunter that Andrew Cowan drove to victory in the '68 London to Sydney rally had a stock engine with the exception of an added oil cooler and bigger rad for the desert sections. It was nigh on indestructible and still resides in the Glasgow transport museum.

I used to tune these cars regularly and had a damn site fewer engine failures than the Cortinas, and that includes the Lotus!

J

[fushion julz]

I used to race a GLS Hunter (with Oselli/Holbay modified engine components) in the old Super Road Saloon series..

Engines were/are strong and pretty powerful for a 1960s push rod motor....They had 5 bearing main cranks and the Holbay head was mildly polished and ported...a decent cam, balanced and matched bottom end and a tune-up for the twin 40DCOE carbs and ignition timing gave mine around 140bhp at the rear wheels...

Handles OK for a cart-sprung car...

Bodywork corrosion is/was the issue, though, and I suspect not many survive now...But they are similar to the Holbay Rapier H120 coupe.

This is my (first) one (I actually had 2, the second was a reshell of the first after the front bulkhead stress-cracked through corrosion).

[vetrof]

Not sure what lengths you're prepared to go to. But NZ has a lot of old British cars still on the road.

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=1...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/CategoryAttributeS...

Aus has a few too.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hillman-Hunter-1971-4D-...

Edited by vetrof on Tuesday 31st July 12:13

Edited by vetrof on Tuesday 31st July 12:14

[danoli777]

Thanks chaps.

I have now bought the yellow one above and collect it soon!
It is pretty rusty in places as you can imagine so if any of you are hoarding Hunter panels in your garage please let me know!

[sjwb]

No panels I am afraid but I do have a genuine Rootes workshop manual for the Hunter range WSM 149.
It covers the GLS of course.
PM me if interested.

[stuttgartmetal]

danoli777 said:

'es only gorn an dun it.

1/4 badge looks mental.

pics ?

[danoli777]

More pics will follow when I have it collected.

Youtube video from the 1972 Castrol Saloon Car Championship round at Oulton Park with some Hunter GLS action.

Part 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJuYXO0wn4Q

Part2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be3T2AcjFN8

[B Huey]

Well done.