Hillman Twenty-70 & 16 h.p.
| Hillman Twenty-70 (also known as “20/70”) and the 16 h.p. (also known as “Sixteen”) | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hillman Sixteen in ARP Warden livery first registered January 1935 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Hillman Motor Car Co Ltd |
| Production |
1934–1935 "16hp" - approx (nyk) produced 1934–1935 "20/70" - approx 4100 produced |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style |
4dr Family Saloon (16hp & 20/70); 4dr Saloon Deluxe (16hp & 20/70); 4dr Family Tourer (16hp & 20/70); 4dr Sports Saloon (16hp & 20/70); 4dr Foursome Drop Head Coupe (16hp & 20/70); 4dr 7-seater Saloon (20/70 only); 4dr 7-seater Limousine (20/70 only); 4dr 7-seater Landaulette (20/70 only) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
2110 cc 15.90 hp/50 bhp ("16hp" model); 2810 cc[1] 20.90 hp/68 bhp("20/70" model) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
"16hp" & "20/70" saloons 111 in (2,800 mm)[2] "20/70" 7-seaters 126 in (3,200 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
Hillman Wizard 65 (1931-33) Hillman Wizard 75 (1931-33) |
| Successor |
New Hillman "Sixteen" (1936-37) Hillman "Hawk" (1936-37) Hillman "80" (1936-38) |
The Hillman Twenty-70 and the Hillman 16 h.p. models were a duo of cars produce by Hillman between 1934 and 1935.
Origins
Between 1928 and 1935, Hillman Ltd of Coventry produced a range of Hillman models including the "14 h.p." (1925–30), the "20 h.p. “Straight 8” (1928-30), the "Vortic" (1930–32), the "Wizard" (1931–33), and the original "Minx" (1932–35). Hillman had merged with Humber Limited in 1928 and in 1931 both companies came under the umbrella of the Rootes Group who were also responsible for the construction of vehicles for a number of other marques including Singer, Commer, Sunbeam-Talbot and Karrier.
Models for 1934/35
In 1934 and 1935, as well as producing the "Minx", Hillman also manufactured a duo of larger 6 cylinder side-valve luxury saloon cars which consisted of the Hillman "16hp" and the Hillman "20/70"[3] Hillman advertised the cars as having "Cushioned Power" mounts which helped stop vibration through the engine and gearbox and described their cars as being “built with a margin throughout”. These two models superseded the older Hillman "Wizard 65" (1931–33) and "Wizard 75" (1931-33) models however they drew on some of the features and engine designs of the earlier Hillman Wizards and also those of the luxury Humber cars, including the Humber 12, 16/50, Snipe and Pullman, that were also being built in Coventry at that time. This was an attempt by Hillman Ltd to enter the luxury car market and also added to their "bread and butter"[4] mid-range model, the Hillman "Minx" (1932-1935), which probably used some of the components and parts found on the larger models.[5]
Engines, seating and brakes
The Hillman "16hp" had a 2110 cc 15.90 hp side valve straight-six engine whilst the "20/70" had larger 2810 cc 20.9 hp engines.[6] The "16hp" and “20/70” saloons were five seaters with bucket seats at the front and a folding armrest dividing a bench seat at the rear whilst the longer wheelbased (10 ft 6ins) "20/70" saloons, limousines & landaulettes were seven seaters (two of which folded down). Some "20/70"' 7-seater’s had a partition between the chauffeur/driver and passenger compartment. All these vehicles had Bendix "Duo Servo" brakes, which used rod and cable linkages and operated on all four wheels via both the foot pedal and the handbrake lever.
Production
About (citation required) Hillman "16hp"s were built between 1934-35 whereas around 4100 Hillman "20/70"s were built during the same period.[7] These models were produced as family saloons, deluxe saloons and 7-seater limousines with a small number of each model being produced as sports tourers, cabriolets, coupes and 7-seater landaulettes, the bodywork being converted by designers Thrupp & Maberly.
Survivors
Only a few examples of each model still exist in the UK today. Some of these vehicles were exported throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Greece and New Zealand where a number of "20/70"'s also still survive.
Notes
- ↑ Sydney Morning Herald (2 March 1934) – 20/70 engine size
- ↑ Sydney Morning Herald (2 March 1934) – 20/70 wheelbase
- ↑ Vanderveen (1973) - British Cars of the Early Thirties 1930-34 - Pages 66 & 67 & Late Thirties 1935-1939 – Page 12
- ↑ Vanderveen (1973) - entry for 1935 Hillmans - Page 11
- ↑ Hillman 16hp & Twenty-70 Spare Parts Catalogue (1934/5)
- ↑ Instruction Book for Hillman Sixteen and Twenty-70 (1935)
- ↑ Hillman 16hp & Twenty-70 Spare Parts Catalogue (1934/35)
References
- Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
- Sedgwick, M. (1989). A-Z of Cars of the 1930s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-38-9.
- Vanderveen, Bart H. (1973). British Cars of the Early Thirties 1930-1934: Olyslager Auto Library. London: Frederick Warne & Co Ltd. pp. 66 and 67. ISBN 0 7232 1711 4.
- Vanderveen, Bart H. (1973). British Cars of the Late Thirties 1935-1939: Olyslager Auto Library. London: Frederick Warne & Co Ltd. p. 12. ISBN 0 7232 1712 2.
- "Classic Car Catalogue - The World's Largest Collection of Images and the History of Cars 1930 to 1969 - Rootes/Hillman 1934-35". Classic Car Catalogue. Retrieved 5 Sep 2014.
- "Motors and Motoring by Accelerator - Hillman 20-70: Fast, Comfortable Family Car". The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria): (Trove Digitised Archive of the National Library of Australia). 5 Feb 1935. Retrieved 5 Sep 2014.
- "Motoring – New British Model : Hillman "Twenty-70"". The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, New South Wales): (Trove Digitised Archive of the National Library of Australia). 2 March 1934. Retrieved 5 Sep 2014.
- Instruction Book for Hillman Sixteen and "Twenty-70". Coventry: Hillman Motor Car Co Ltd. 1934.
- Hillman 16 H.P. & Twenty-70: Spare Parts Catalogue 1934 Models. Coventry: Hillman Motor Car Company Ltd. 1934.