1966
Hillman Hunter, the replacement for the Hillman Super Minx, appears alongside a Singer Vogue at the London Motor Show as first of the Rootes ‘Arrow’ cars. Estates follow in 1967.
1968
Andrew Cowan wins the 7000-mile 1968 London to Sydney marathon in a Hunter, giving a useful image boost and prompting the 79bhp twin-carb Hillman GT, which became a Hunter in 1970.
1970
Hillman Minx, Singer and short-lived Sunbeam Vogue versions of the Arrow are dropped, leaving just the Hunter in DeLuxe, Super and GT form, plus the Humber Sceptre.
1972
Range-topping Hunter GLS arrives with Holbay-modified engine as seen in the Sunbeam Rapier H120 and that car’s suspension. The 93bhp engine delivers a 110mph top speed and a 0-60mph time of 10.5 seconds.
1977
Hillman is re-badged as a Chrysler Hunter, Humber having disappeared the previous year, and would continue in its dotage until 1979. Arrows continued to be built in Iran as the Peykan in Iran until 2005.
ENGINE 1725cc 4-cyl/OHV POWER 72bhp@5000rpm TORQUE 90lb ft 3000rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 90mph 0-60MPH 14.6sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 26-30mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, four-speed manual
Buying Tips
Hunters certainly manage to capture rot, and it’s often structural. Check the A-posts, jacking points, sills and floor pans. Watch for rot in the front valance and, most importantly, the suspension tie bars behind this, which also corrode. Front wings also famously fall victim to rust, particularly at the tip above the headlights.
Hunt out corrosion on the rear of the car. The valance and spring hangers and damper mountings are all on the list, as are the wheel arches. Corrosion can also hide under a vinyl-covered roof, particularly above the rear doors, so feel across the entire surface for crunching beneath. Have a good look in and around the boot, too.
Cars had either a 1496cc engine wit
