William Hillman, a cycle manufacturer of 10 years' standing, commissioned Louis Coatalen to design his first car for the 1907 Tourist Trophy. The 24 hp four-cylinder model was eliminated following a crash. Coatalen left to work wonders at Sunbeam, and Hillman settled down to producing modest and unspectacular models: these included a 9.7 litre six-cylinder car and a 6.4 litre four, though at the other extreme a 9 hp 1357cc car was more successful, spanning the war years and finally being discontinued in 1925, by which time it had grown to 1.6 litres. A 14 hp model came out in 1926, and two years later the company was taken over by the Rootes brothers: a 2.6 litre straight-eight was an uncharacteristic offering for the marque. A landmark for Hillman came in 1932 with the appearance of the 1185cc Minx, while the sporting market was not neglected with the 1933 Aero Minx. There were some six-cylinder models, but by 1939 production was rationalized and only the four-cylinder Minx and 14hp models were offered. The Minx soldiered on after the war and for 1949 received full-width bodywork and the following year a 1265cc engine. Overhead valves came late to the Minx, 1955 seeing their adoption with a 1390cc engine. The faithful Minx remained in production until 1970, by which time it was powered by a 1725cc engine. The company's entry into the small-car market came with the Imp of 1963, which had a rear-mounted 875cc all-aluminium overhead camshaft engine and all-independent suspension, though it never achieved the hoped-for sales. The American Chrysler Corporation attained a majority interest in Rootes in 1964 and one outcome of this take-over was the 1294cc Avenger of 1970. It was no surprise when the Hillman name ceased to appear in 1976, being replaced by the Chrysler trade mark. In 1978 Chrysler's British operations were acquired by the French Peugeot-Citroën group as part of their take-over of Chrysler-Europe. ©VEA
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