THE WORLD’S RAREST HILMAN? THE BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM’S HILLMAN GT

Visitors to the British Motor Museum are guaranteed to be mesmerised by the sheer variety of rare machinery on display – including a very exclusive member of the Rootes Group 'Arrow' family. In 1969, the Hillman GT was the perfect car for the motorist who regarded a Jason King moustache and string-back driving gloves as high style. And the example on display at Gaydon is believed to be the sole surviving example.

The Arrow range dates from 1966, when the Hillman Hunter debuted at the London Motor Show. Rootes introduced the cheaper Minx in 1967 and, in 1969, unveiled the GT at the Paris Motor Show, dazzling the visitors with its "Rally-type steering wheel" and Ro-Style wheels. The sales copy reads as though Alan Partridge created it and promised a car for "the married man who still remembers fun, free, fast, bachelor GT days".

And that was not all, as the Hillman GT also offered "way out power" and "way out style" in a saloon that was 'roomy and cosseting for your family as well as hairy and brawny for you'. A hilariously over-the-top cinema commercial with Ray Barrett and Carol Cleveland aimed the GT at chartered accountants with vague aspirations of grooviness. There was even the opportunity to "win a colour television", although the advertisement was shot in glorious black and white -

Such publicity efforts gave the impression the GT's typical owner was Terry Scott, unwisely attempting Kings Road fashion. But the latest Hillman was a very appealing sports saloon, with power from the Sunbeam Rapier's 1,725cc engine in twin Zenith Stromberg CD150 carburettor form. The specification included a rev counter mounted atop the dashboard, high-backed front seats and, of course, "Go-Faster" stripes. An optional "De Luxe Comfort Interior Pack" with reclining seats, a cigar lighter, and "door-to-door carpeting" would further enhance the interior.

Best of all, from a Hillman dealer's perspective, at £962, the high-performance Arrow saloon was £24 cheaper than a four-door Ford Cortina GT. Rootes cleverly based the GT on the Minx rather than the Hunter to keep its price reasonable. Motor Sport regarded it as a “conventional saloon with sports-car performance, pleasant to drive". Autocar described the GT as a "Sporting version of the Minx using Rapier engine, at a bargain price".

Car tested the Hillman against its Ford rival and found it "matches or improves on the Cortina GT at just about every point". The report ended with: "So our conclusion seems to be the Hillman is a better car. But what good is that going to do Rootes? They've just not got the Ford image". And that was a fair assessment - despite the Hillman GT's many strong points, too many potential buyers regarded it as too middle-aged.

By 1970, the Rootes name was no more, and 'Chrysler UK' re-branded the Hillman GT as the Hillman GT. Bangers and Cash restored the handsome example at the British Motor Museum, where it attracts countless admiring glances. Not to mention that in 1969, the typical owner of the "100 mph and very hairy" Hillman GT almost certainly kept a bottle of Hai Karate in the glove box.

With Thanks To: Mark Treadwell and The British Motor Museum - https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/.