MEET THE OWNER – PETER OKONSKI AND HIS HILLMAN HUNTER GLS

In 1973, a new Hunter GLS was somewhat of a Q-Car – even if the owner specified the ‘Limelight’ paint finish. As compared with the Ford Cortina GT Mk 3, it looked handsome but slightly out of fashion as its bodywork dated back to 1966. Yet the Hillman was powered by a Holbay-tuned 1,725cc engine with a modified head, twin Weber 40DCOEs, a special camshaft and a four-branch exhaust resulting in a very creditable top speed of 104 mph. Today Peter Okonski is the proud owner of one of just of 12 roadworthy survivors.

The first sporting version of the ‘Arrow’ saloon was the 1969 GT, which was replaced as Hillman flagship by the GLS three years later. For your £1,319.85, you gained a Humber Sceptre-style grille with quad headlamps, a close-ratio gearbox, improved suspension, more instruments and a wood-veneer trimmed cabin. Car tested the Hunter opposite the Fiat 124 Special T, the Opel Ascona 1.9 and the Vauxhall Viva HC 2300. They found it had the best transmission of the quartet and was ‘unquestionably the quickest’.

Car also thought the GLS ‘hardly likely to turn heads in the street’, but the typical Hillman owner was not interested in such frivolity. In 1975 one enthusiast informed Motor Sport:

“In my opinion there is no home grown or imported vehicle which can match the combination of performance, appointments and fine lines of this car. For example, and contrary to popular rumour, a 0-60 mph time of under 10 seconds is at least one thing you can’t do in an MGB.”

Sadly, the GLS marked the last significant development of the Arrow family. Production ceased in 1976, together with all Hillman, Humber and Sunbeam-badged versions. Peter came by his example in 2013: “Someone I know of brought her in as part of a deal. She sat on an old American recovery lorry for over a year. The Hunter was then stored for the next seven years as I never had the time as the kids came along.”
Restoration work commenced last December, and the photographs vividly illustrate the extent of work involved.

In terms of finding the correct parts, ‘I was lucky as this one was very complete, so most of the hard to find bits I had already’. One potential challenge was that unique GLS trim, but Peter observes ‘a lot of stuff was sourced from Paul marshal - he is great and very helpful’. Today the Hillman is ‘smooth and comfortable to drive’ while inevitably attracting attention – ‘lots of points and smiles. And there are a few who know what they are, or had one, who can’t believe they’ve seen one again’.

And despite that Car article, any Limeflower Hillman certainly has the power to turn heads.

With Thanks To: Peter Okonski

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