Here’s another great find from Bryce, who stumbled upon this pristine Hillman Avenger and posted it to the Cohort. How about that color combination?
I believe this was developed by Chrysler Australia and also sold as the Chrysler Avenger, and the Plymouth Cricket here in the States. This one is an Avenger Alpine, which appears to be the top trim model. Thanks for keeping your camera at the ready Bryce!
These were sold in the US as the Plymouth Cricket for just a year or two in the early 1970s. I seem to recall that the ones that we got were British sourced. The Japanese Mitsu Colt was sold by Dodge dealers. The Colt stayed while the Cricket went away, I had always presumed that it was a big quality difference between the english-built Cricket and the Colt. I remember the hockey stick style taillights.
Partially it was due to Chrysler’s marketing. While the ads sorta mumbled “built by Chrysler UK”, the Dodge Colt ads just screamed “Made in Japan!!!!!”. I always had the feeling that: a. As soon as Chrysler decided to import the Cricket second thoughts and doubts set in; or, b. The Cricket was imported as some kind of mandatory sop to Chrysler’s European subsidiaries and nobody in Detroit ever had plans of supporting it in the slightest.
I always liked them better than the Colt.
And in Argentina, the Hillman Avenger got a longer lifespan, first as the Dodge 1500 and later as the VW 1500 when Chrysler sold its South American activities to VW who made their version of the Avenger until the early 1990s. http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/Avenger/avenger-arg.html and there was also a derived 2-door version sold in Brazil as the Polara. http://www.allpar.com/model/avengertiger.html
interesting that ALLPAR show the NZ factory.
Australia never got Avengers the Chrysler badging was applied to all Hillmans of the late 70s this was one of the last models produced in NZ we still got new Avengers and Hunters after production ceased elsewhere. Quite rare cars now though some survivors are still alive in Hawkes Bay where I live this example was at a club where the Humber Hillman club had a dinner outing though not a club car.
Do you think this Avenger would have been a local NZ brew Bryce? I know there is one Avenger in Australia (private import), not sure if more than that.
I have seen one around on the Gold Coast before. It’s a yellow GT, probably an escapee from the Land Of The Long White Cloud. As Bryce said, we never got them here, the Hillman Hunter was replaced in Australia by the Chrysler (Mitsubishi) Gallant & Lancer.
In the States we call that color combination a Creamsicle. Very nice.
Mmmmmmmm. Creamsicle color combo and the taste of one in my head. Mmmmmmmm…
You said it!
Foremost dairy (California and Hawaii) made these and they were called “50-50” bars!
Orange and Purple were popular colours in the 70s and again now this GLS Avenger has a vynyl top and all very luxurious back in the day.
Love the wheels on this one, though I assume they’re not factory.
Pretty sure they are Cosmic brand alloy wheels
Ah, yes the Hillman Scavenger, as it was/is fondly known. Hated them back in the 80s, was indifferent to them in the 90s, and grew to appreciate them in the 00s. There are still loads here, but most aren’t as nice looking as the one Bryce photographed. Loving the vinyl that manages to cover not just the roof but part of the bootlid as well!
i had one a 74 glx cream vynl roof cream interiour purple body rostyle wheels it cost 25 pounds in 85..it fell apart,lol