Myth Buster Hillman GT
Debunking the most common old wives’ tales
1 IT’S REALLY A HUNTER GT
After Rootes launched its
1966 Arrow range, one model subsequently introduced (in 1970) was the Hillman GT. It’s often confused with the Hunter GT, but that car didn’t come along until 1971. The GT was Minx-based – it was supposed to be called the Minx GT, but the long-running Minx name was dropped in 1970, hence the GT became just a model in its own right. It was going to have circular seven-inch headlamps as on the Minx but rectangular Hunter MkII ones were adopted for production. Most of the rest of the trim, such as the rubber mats, was to Minx spec (albeit with Rostyle wheels). Under the bonnet, though, it featured a 94bhp twin-carb 1725cc motor instead of a 1494cc engine.
2 IT CELEBRATED THE LONDON-SYDNEY MARATHON
A Hillman Hunter won the London to Sydney Marathon Rally in 1968 and it’s often assumed that the GT was launched to cash in on that. In reality, management didn’t think the Hunter would even finish. It was just coincidence that the launch of the GT came after this victory; none of the marketing referenced the triumph. The ads were also aimed almost entirely at men, save for one small sales leaflet targeting ‘single’ women.
3 IT WAS THE ONLY USE OF THE HILLMAN GT MONIKER
Many believe that this is the case, but it’s not entirely accurate. In actual fact Australia had its own Hillman GT – albeit briefly, from 1967 to 1968 – but it was based, not on a Rootes Arrow but the Sunbeam Imp Sport. It was built up from CKD (complete knockeddown) kits sent out from England.