I bought a 1973 Hillman Hunter estate!
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- Опубликовано: 29 май 2022
- In this video I show you guys my brand new car a 1973 Hillman Hunter Estate.
I bought this car because me and mum wanted something practical that was good on fuel and this lovely little car ticked all the boxes! 
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This is a bit of a gem, isn't it? Can't be many estates left. They were very popular here in Ireland, especially with farmers. They could tow a trailer with a cow or a few sheep, then take the family out on Sunday, no problems. I drove one for a few miles back in the 80s. It was a lovely driving car. A few years ago, I saw a dark red saloon in Kerry. It had chrome alloys, and a roof rack with two surfboards. Inside were two young guys wearing shades. The whole thing looked really cool. Well done, Sheldon, give her lots of TLC.
In the mid 70's my Dad had the Humber Sceptre version in estate form. I removed the engine by standing on the inner wings with a rope around my shoulders in a squat position. Using my legs I lifted the engine onto the wing and we shimmied it to the floor replacing a second hand unit which he only paid half for until we got it running when he paid the second half. 😄
Congratulations, nice Hillman Hunter Estate!!
Love it! I remember these as a kid. Keep this one protected from the elements.
Spent most of my early childhood in a Grasshopper Green Hillman Hunter estate HBT62L My Dad was a joiner, workhorse during the week family car weekends and holidays, great memories we had it years very reliable, the vinyl seats were a killer at the seaside in summer though 😂
Look after it, not seen one for years 👍
My dad had a Hillman Hunter GT in the late 60s, 1725cc highback seats and rev counter on mounted on top the dash and in late 70s bought a Humber Sceptre, which was same shape as the Hunter but posher inside
Appreciated dear sir 🙏.
My Dad hired a Blue Hunter Estate to take us on holiday, I sat in the boot to Hayling Island and back from the Midlands. It was the 1970's, you could do that then! Brought back great memories, thanks Sheldon.
Gald you liked it mate
Got to love an old Hillman.
I love my avenger
Hahaha it's now for sale!
My first car was a Hunter 1725 saloon. I regretted selling it. Would buy one again now, if I could. Enjoy the car Sir
A brilliant example of a very practical classic.in many ways its all the car you'll ever need..
I had a 73 Estate/Station wagon, with the Cast Iron head; fantastic car - loved it. On a good long trip I'd get 40 mpg. [Imp Gal] with careful driving. I wish I still had it and in fact, I'm on the lookout for one now. Might sell my 61 Ford Consul 315 for the Hunter.
Love it 👌 what a survivor 👏 would love a hunter topaz; 70s personified 😁
We drove to KIEV in the older version of this,( 1968 Minx estate) 7 of us ..France Belgium West Germany Austria Yugoslavia Romania and then Ukraine, back via Hungary. This was in 1969 and we were in Romania when man landed in the moon. In 74 we had the newer Hunter estate and took it to Yugoslavia with a caravan..Great car 😄
Great find Sheldon, that looks like a really nice example and a proper practical classic. I remember my dad bought a new Hunter GT in the early 70's but sold it a few months later when the fuel crisis hit and petrol prices shot up. He always reckoned it was one the best cars he ever had and regretted selling it.
Thanks Peter I much prefer it over a MK2 or MK3 Cortina myself a smaller car but almost the same amount of room!
In 1975 I was a five year old boy in the cavernous boot space of one of these cars. My four sisters were in the back seat. All crammed in like sardines, before seat belt laws came in. We stopped on a dark country lane for some reason (can't remember if the car was playing up maybe?) . A drunk driver smashed in to the back of us in a mini clubman van at around 45mph. Pushed our car around 10 feet forward with the handbrake on! A tow bar had been fitted to our Hillman just the week before. It took the brunt and stopped the car from crushing up. Otherwise, according to the police, I would have been killed instantly.
Thanks goodness for the tow bar and a good, solid 70s motor car! 😂
It's in great condition for a 50 year old - Nice paint too.
Just one SU'
I remember watching my Dad set up the big Rovers 3 .5 litre V8 to be fuelled by 2 Bings ... There's definitely a trick to it.
Like Dave strippin carbs and getting head off a scrapped (fairly Newlin ) car . Nothing like straight forward Honest Car bs hey?
Gently down the street my good grease monkeys - Life's Butter dream!
Great vid
I did not know what to expect Sheldon, so this is a very nice surprise!
I like that it ticks most of the boxes that you were looking for, and a few more.
I do like an estate, so practical!
Well done Sheldon, best of luck!
4 kids in the back seat and another 4 in the boot. I always opted for the boot in my best friends family Hunter.
Looks a good car Sheldon. Always had a soft spot for the Hunter as they nice to drive and very easy to maintain. Looking forward to seeing it at some point
Yep it's ideal for what I want
The Hunters always reminded me of the MK2 Cortina. They were also sold in Iran under licence as the Pakyan until it was discontinued in 2015. It looks like you've got a good one there and it is a practical choice.
Yeah I like the look of them better over the MK2 Cortina much more interesting in my mind!
My grandfather had an estate just like this
Him and my uncle painted it with red oxide paint
@ 7:38 you sound just like "Hubnut" lol
Great car BTW and in such great nick - Love it !
Great story about the ‘scrap’ car.
Yeah it made me laugh
As someone who bought a saloon many years ago these are great and so easy to work on. Easy to drive as well although the steering is not the sharpest. The big killer is rust - make sure you do not let it take hold. The one I bought rotted away before my eyes !
Oh yeah great cars I already love it!
I used to get 7 of us in a saloon in the early 80's going to the pub, used to be good fun
nice . my uncle had one . a silver black top GT. got her up to 95
Now that's just my cup of tea. A very nice car. Had one in 1974 although not the estate. I absolutely love it. Not too many 17 year old had a car then All over the country in it.
Hahaha nice I really do like it!
i new someone who had a monster version salon of that car a POWERFUL V8 amassing.
A really great choice Sheldon, looks cool with those foglights and Dunlop wheels, wishing you happy motoring in her.
I loved David's story about the fisherman's car, I bet he was choked when he returned home from his fishing trip 😀
Glad you like it mate I really love the car
That story is extremely funny!
Great to see and well done for using, enjoying and maintaining it! These cars look so small compared to modern cars, yet they somehow afford more space inside. You're about the same height as me and I can fit in them quite well.
I run a Singer Gazelle about 9 nine years older than this. It has the smaller (1592) cast iron head which preceded yours'. Happily take it around to work and the shops.
Still remember spec details for Hunters of this age. 1500, Iron head, 1725 Super - Iron head, 1725 GL - Alloy head, single carb (last of the three my father had from 1974 to 1983), GT - 1725 Alloy head, twin carb, GLS Holbay with twin DCOE. All except the GLS would have had Stromberg carbs normally, but a few SU's were made, like yours.
I haven't seen a Hillman hunter estate in over 25 years lol. That looks bloody cool mate, great find 👍👍😊
Thanks man glad you liked it she is certainly something new for me!
@@classic_britain I bet you are looking forward to getting your license now mate, seen as this one is more affordable to run lol (especially with todays f***ing fuel prices)
i like your friendly vibe bro!
Interesting subjects too !
I'm now subscribed
thank you
Thanks mate gald you like it
Many years ago my father and I had hunters always second hand as Rep cars, going round the clock regularly. They were very tough cars and very reliable.
Ah nice mate! And yeah this has done 70K odd and the engine sounds really really strong still!
I'm in New Zealand I just sold mine 2 weeks ago but I'm already going to look at another one tomorrow it's uk assembled which is cool
U have similar taste to me in cars always like the knowledge you have on these old cars I've learned a fair bit from your uploads
Thank you mate! Don't forget to subscribe 😉
@@classic_britain no worries have from day one also my mum use to watch your vedieos intill she passed away on the 7th of July she was only 46 she use to help me build my cars and bikes yesterday was the first time I had to get help in that was difficult :) I'm working on a turbo Volvo 240 and a rover 75 the 75 only cost 210 pounds and runs sweet
@@jamieeedden777 Oh man I am so sorry to hear that! Do you have Facebook would love to see some of your cars =)
@@classic_britain I don't have Facebook unfortunately had away with it a couple of years ago :) the Volvo is soon to be sold to pay a couple of bills related to my mum's death but the 75 is going to be stored away till I can get the jobs done it's quite a high spec one and a manual so worth hanging onto one day tho I'd love a p6 always been a rover guy at heart
@@jamieeedden777 Instagram?
The old Toyo tyres are soft soft soft! Fantastic grip but burn out FAST!!
Always love an estate 👍😎
I remember one exactly like this, in this colour parked up around Maidenhead back in the late 90s. I remember it well as my chariot at the time, as a 19 year old boy racer, was a worn out 1500cc DL Hunter in dark maroon. It went anywhere in its own time, cruising at 65mph (it would shake above that).
I was very fond of it but eventually the rot in the chassis outriggers and floor pans killed it.
That is one clean find,Sheldon! Well done!
Thanks mate glad you liked it!
Great to see you back on the tube and nice wheels
Thanks mate lots more on the way
I bought a saloon version many years ago that had twin webbers and the webbers sold for three times the scrap value of the car. Those webber carbs would now be worth three times more than i sold them for. Webber, the carbs that just keep giving. 👍
Hahaha that's the way to do it!
I had a blue one in 1986 great car but drivers door always had problems closing properly.. lol
Fantastic car, I love it already 😍
Me two!
What a great find 😍 good luck with your driving test🤞🏻
Thanks
Wow, love it, what a great find! I don't think adjustable steering columns were a thing back in the 70s.
Oh right ok yeah it's a cool car!
The Arrow shape Humber Sceptre & Sunbeam Rapier had adjustable columns
Good little car am sure it will bring you a lot of fun.👍
Yeah I am very happy with it!
Absolutely gorgeous love it
Thanks mate I do two!
The Hillman Hunter looks very tidy Sheldon a good buy, my friend's Dad in the late 80's had the later Chrysler Hunter with a different grill otherwise very simular to your car minus the cool GT Gauges. Hillman Hunters were a very popular car in New Zealand being sold here right up to 1979. I was always told the estates were the best version as they had cast iron blocks not aluminium. Hope you get your licence soon , will be Great sering you really enjoy the car 👍🏻. Keep up the Great work enjoying your videos.
Love it! Great choice.
Yeah it's a great old bus
Sounds well nice and raspy
Yeah even in Iron head form
Good buy, it's been a very long time since I saw one of these. A friend of mine father had one of these went in it several times always enjoyed being in it.
Thanks mate I am really proud of her 👍
A Hunter GT Estate must be very rare now, smaller than a Volvo 245 but still a useful size. Hillman Hunter became the official people's car in Iran.
Not a real GT estate someone just put the bits on but she is still a rare car!
Very nice!! Drove past it on a lesson today.
@14.58, S.U conversion, they were originally fitted with Stromburgs carbs
Ah this car so nostalgic to me. This car was manufactured in Iran with the sedan hunter which wasn't discontinued untill 2004
Just like some of the VW's
@@classic_britain the beatle😁 we called them frog😍😂
The Wheels are not Rostyles, they look like Dunlop D1's, and the engine is standard, only the GLS model was fitted with a Holbay cylinder head. Nice car with a good history.
Yeah I know there not Rostyles also I know I said in the video this is not the ally head version but I would love to put that engine in!
Nice car sheldon .
Thanks Steve I really like it!
Nice one, Sheldon! I had an early ''67 saloon in Storm Grey back in '99/2000. Alloy head 1725 single carb. Turns out it's the earliest known unmodified Hunter known to the register! I found it again about 5 years ago... it's now off to be restored with a stock of genuine Rootes new old stock panels: rear quarters, rear full tubs, sills, front wings, front & rear panels, bumpers, grille, etc, etc! It was in a sorry state, but structurally sound. Even the doors, bonnet & bootlid were still mint. Cheers. Leigh.
Thanks mate gald you liked it I am seriously thinking about doing the alloy head conversion
Looks like a cracking little buy buddy!
Thanks mate I love it!
Lovely car, Looks Great!🙂
Yeah I think so!
I bought a Hunter in the late 70's, it was a 1725, i added overdrive to it, standard 1500 & 1725 Rootes engines (arrow range) were cast iron heads, the 'sportier' models like the Humber Sceptre & Sunbeam Rapier had alloy heads, there were two Holbay models, Hunter GLS & Sunbeam Rapier H120, the 'Holbay' engines were a favorite conversion for the Sunbeam Alpine sports car, also the engine blocks for cast iron & alloy heads are the same, the cam is different as 'back to back' exhaust valves on 2 & 3 cylinders got too hot so they switched round inlets & exhaust valves on 2 & 3 on the alloy headed models thus the reason for the different cams, i think i still have a Rootes parts book still for the Hunter range
Brilliant cars Add one in the early 70s. Get it all sorted and don’t fuck it up .George in Stoke 😂👍
Hahahahaha yeah it's a good car
We had few of these in the family. All of them have the same problem: Water leaks in the leg area while raining!
I like it. Had a mk 5 cortina, est and my first car was a Austin 1100 with fold down back seats. Would love to have a american station wagon, one day.
Yeah it's a great car I really like it!
As a young LCPLin the Army in Germany in 1975 I wanted to buy a GT version of the Hillman Hunter.......Nope ...even Tax Free, I could not afford it, so I bought a Taunus 1600XL 2dr saloon...that was a year old and had 500 kms on it........something like 2 thirds the price of the Tax Free Hillman.
Oh cool yeah I imagine
Good choice Sheldon my Dad had one identical same colour same engine and it was very lively for a 1725 engine
Yeah she's a cracking little car@
@6.54, looking at the column you've got an overdrive switch so it must be a higher spec model
Great looking car
Yeah I really like the colour!
Those wheels and spotlamps look groovy. 😎
Yeah I love them!
Jolly interested little car. The gear lever is racy.
Cool car that...hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Thank mate I certainly will!
Fantastic video
Thank you mate
my dad had a red one when I was little. in leicester. the skin on the back of your legs came off in the summer. it was sold in 1977-78 and I cried when it went.
Nice I am amazed how many people here have had one!
Hi Sheldon. My father had a Hunter 1725 GL new in 1970. It had a alloy head and single stromburg carb, the dash was different to your car with a strip speedo. It was the car l learnt to drive in, oh no that's my age given away! I do wish I had VUO 438 J now. Keep up the good work always enjoy your antics with David and Lucas. Thanks for the entertainment. Regards John
Oh wow I bet that went like hell! And glad you like the content!
I owned one in Blue back in 1986, my drivers door never shut properly so use to get out the passengers side lol. Loved the room in them would like one now lol
Funnily enough the passenger side on this car does that!
Used to have one in the 70s we would sleep in the back 😴 sometimes when fishing 🎣
Hahahaha cool!
lovey car . look after it.
I have a Sunbeam Rapier based on the Hunter estate with 1725 alloy head and twin stromberg carbs
Oh wow does it go well with the twin carbs? I thought about doing it to mine!
When these were being made, I don't think I ever saw one with wash/wipe on the estate tailgate (standard with Volvo, optional perhaps on these). A most interesting choice. I hope it works out well for you.
No I am not sure if someone added that later or it's standard?
No Arrow shaped estate had standard Wash Wipe to the rear except the Humber Sceptre Estate (1974-76). That is not to say that after market Halfords type kits were not available for retro fitting at the time.
good progress.
Glad you liked it!
Hi Sheldon. Great video
Glad you liked it mate!
Had one of those back in the early 80's. Good cars. That one looks solid enough. Always was plenty of room to get furniture in the back and transport it around when on the move. Look after it Aron as should do a good turn.
Oh right ok yes they are nice little car and she is solid.
Hillman haven't been in one or driven one in 40 years my father had one a sedan and now my elder brother wants to buy one a station wagon l say to him good luck also l hope you realise the Hillman Hunter in 1968 won the first London to Sydney marathon Hillmans greatest win they are a good car getting a bit long in the tooth these days l bean spoilt with old cars my 1995 toyota hilux has done 430000kms l live in Australia if you don't know about them they are described as indestructible l bought it two years ago go for $1500aud done about 10000kms on it no major problems mainly serviced it replaced a few warn parts and l am pretty sure its the original motor and gearbox and it will out live me
Oh wow cool I did not know that I will mention it in my next video!
That looks alright! 😎 Really like Hunters. My aunt and uncle had a white saloon 4 decades ago. I like the steering wheels in these and Avengers with their round centre bosses for some reason. Replaced by the Talbot Alpine and Solara unless I'm mistaken.
It amazes me how many people here had one in the family it's crazy!
The originals had Stromberg carburettors so SU must have been added
Bought one as a daily driver back in late 90s for the princely sum of £35 from and old boy who had owned it from new.... it had 27k on the clock, I named it Henry.... used it for a few months then sold it to fund a Cortina mk2 project, some lads bought it... shame, as they dumped into a ditch a few months later. Mine was a 1968, had the 1725 motor... bought a Sunbeam Alpine series 5 after that, also with the 1725 engine. Thems were days when you could pick up classics for pennies, if only!
Oh yeah the good old days! I would love the alloy head engine for this
I do like the colour - very in fitting of the time it was built.
Yes the Orange really suits it
Don't forget "My other car is a P6" sticker in the back window. 😂
Hahaha yes!
Dunlop alloys look great on this wagon
Yeah they do indeed!
I'm not sure how economical you're expecting it to be, but I think you will be lucky to see 30 mpg. Nice car though.
30 is a lot better then 10!
Love it
Thanks mate make sure to sub!
My first car was a 73 Avenger estate in the same Firebrand Red colour. Great car with loads of room in the back fir trips out.
Very nice mate glad you liked it!
Okay ok I was wrong they are Dunlop D1's stop commenting it I know!
That is one "rude" car ! I was 7 when they came out and wanted my dad to buy the estate - he went off and bought a citroen DS break ... wish he'd kept it.
But MATE: WHERE on earth does your father buy his liquorice for it to smell like old engine oil ?????
Ha ha your mate , I love that song " hello John got a new mota *
That's me that is with the rad filler cap .
Love the video keep up the good work .
Are there any hillman imps hiding where you live ?.
Or astra GTE'S?
Thanks!
An excellent choice!
I suggested a Sunbeam Rapier and this is pretty much the same thing.
Hahaha yeah similar engine just different head, cam and carbs
I believe it's the same chassis.
The car my grandfather had b4 he got the hillman hunter estate
Back in the 1970s, when I was young lad, my father had a Hillman Hunter Super, also in red, with the 1725CC engine, even remember the reg UUD177L - but his was the saloon, and I remember all the times I used to ride round in it with him. It had the exact same colour scheme inside, and the same dash layout, but I dont think his had the rev counter nor the additional dials in the middle of the dash, just the more basic dials. Quite a noisy car with the old tappets from what I can remember and it brings back memories of when it left us stranded by the side of the road when it overheated in a cloud of steam one day - due to a bad core plug in the block that let go and leaked all the coolant out. He fixed it all himself on the driveway. He had the older version before that one too, a Hillman Minx on a E plate, which also had the same body shape, so he liked that Rootes style of car. Eventually in the very early 80s he got rid of the Hunter and got a Mk 4 Cortina. Great to see another Hunter though, even if its the estate, makes it even rarer. Hope you check out the core plugs though, lol, they seemed a weak point on these engines.
Thanks mate glad you liked it and there will be more videos on this beast!
There is a core plug at the back of the flywheel that is the one that usually gives up
Not a bad find at all this :)
Everyone should have a mate called “Lumpy” 😂.
The world would be a better place 🤣