HUSTLER
LITTLE KNOWN AUSSIE
SO yeah, chances are you’ve never heard of a Hillman Hunter Hustler. That’s cool – it was made a long time ago and in quite small numbers and – to be honest – most Hunters really weren’t much chop compared to the Ford Cortinas and Holden Toranas that it more or less competed against.
But you’d have to agree that with its punchy red paint and era-correct graphics – and a bit more poke under the bonnet – this one restored and owned by Garry Gill, is a two-thumbs-up kind of car!
“When these Hustlers came out with the colours and stripes they were very striking,” recalls Garry of his Englishderived, but Australian-assembled and Chrysler-marketed Hustler. “They were really out-there and the Hunter was famous for its success in the first London to Sydney Marathon (held in 1968).” In fact, one of just two Hunters entered in the brutal 16,000 kilometre event won in the hands of European rallying ace, Scotsman Andrew Cowan (albeit in controversial circumstances) ahead of a gaggle of European-prepared Ford Cortinas, Aussie Falcon GTs and even a Porsche.
The Hustler – the sportiest version of the Hunter range and an Australia-only model – obviously made a lasting impression as decades later Garry went looking for one to restore.
“A mate of mine found it in Victoria – it was just a shell,” explains Garry. “I’d been looking for the right
“THE HILLMAN HUNTER WAS FAMOUS FOR WINNING THE FIRST LONDON TO SYDNEY MARATHON IN 1968”
one to do up as many of them aren’t worth the effort due to the rust and damage. For instance I looked at one in WA; I was interested in it but it was so rusty it probably would have fallen apart on the trip over…”
That was five years ago. After getting his Victorian-buy home, Garry got stuck into finding all the parts and restoring the car straight away. Rust wise, the shell was good but the doors had some rust so better ones were sourced and hung from the shell. “It was really clean for rust,” says Garry of the shell. “I got really ver y lucky with that!”
Garry bought a second car to provide some parts – including front suspension and a rare over-drive gearbox. “I bought that one, grabbed the parts I needed and sold it on,” says Garry.
Garry says that the more he looked, the easier components became to find. That sounds obvious, but what he was alluding to wasn’t ‘effort equals results’ but the fact that the word spread among other Hillman enthusiasts.
“You’ll meet one enthusiast and he’ll know three or four
others,” says Garry. “So someone always knows someone and those people will often have parts they’re willing to sell.”
The car was painted with help from a mate, Ben. After the bright orange – in modern two-pack, it almost looks red – paint was laid down, the Hustler’s unique graphics were a challenge. “It wasn’t easy to get them done,” reckons Garry. “I’m lucky I had the original doors (to copy from) and with those and some pictures the sign writer was able to get it right.”
The wiring was a challenge, too: “I wanted the whole car to be as original as possible and it took me three attempts to get a decent wiring harness. The first two I found were more or less mutilated!”
Like most cars of the era, Hunters had a standard bench front seat so the Hustler’s buckets (also used in some other models such as the GT) were considered quite racy. The front buckets and rear bench seats were recovered in pattern-correct vinyl by a local
trimmer. Although the Hunter was a largely British design, the Hustler was a unique Australian model and being displayed and sold from Chrysler showrooms alongside Valiants, had a bit of ‘Hey Charger’ mojo in its bright, stark styling.
“The grille was styled like the bigger Valiant Pacers, too,” says Garry. “But those wheels are classic Rostyle like a lot of other English heritage cars like Minis and MGs. To be honest, I’m not sure if those wheels were made here or imported.”
The standard Hunter had a single-carb motor but the Hunter GT and later Hustler had a slightly higher performance 1725cc twin-carb motor (with two 1 ¼ inch Strombergs) boasting an ambitious 70kW. The alloy-headed motor was rebuilt by a local reconditioning firm, HP Sales. “They did an awesome job,” reckons Garry.
Gary took the little Hillman (actually, the tag of little is a bit demeaning as in its era it was more of a mid-sized car) to the hugely popular Chryslers on the Murray event this year and was stoked to take home a trophy.
“I got second in the non-muscle [trophy class] out of about 800 cars,” Garry says proudly. “I thought that was pretty good, considering what else was there! I had some very good feedback from the judges.
“I don’t drive it much – only every two months or so – but it’s a really cool little car to drive,” he says. “I also have a Corvette and, if anything, this is a nicer car on the freeway. I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished with doing this one up.”
“SOLD BY CHRYSLER, THE HUSTLER HAD A BIT OF ‘HEY CHARGER’ MOJO IN ITS BRIGHT, STARK STYLING”