1973 Hillman Avenger

Hillman Avenger Tiger (Saloon), 1972-73

The Hillman Avenger Tiger was in production from 1972-73. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive saloon range seating four people.

The Hillman Avenger Tiger was initially planned as a publicity exercise rather than as a homologation special. Taking the name from the Sunbeam Tiger, it was based around the humble Avenger Super. Hillman fitted the car with the engine from the Avenger 1500GT, modified with a big valve head, twin Webers and a higher compression ratio. This boosted power to 93bhp, while suspension upgrades did the rest. Brakes, back axle and gearbox are standard GT items in a standard Tiger.

All Tiger Is - the first 1972 batch - were finished in Sundance Yellow, with a bonnet bulge, black bonnet stripe, boot spoiler and side stripes giving the game away for those not close enough to spot the alloy wheels. Later Tiger IIs used the Avenger GL body with four round headlamps, lost the bonnet bulge but gained a matt black bonnet. Sundance Yellow remained standard, but a new colour - Wardance Red - was also offered. 200 Tiger Is are believed to have been built, alongside 400 Tiger IIs. When production ceased in 1973 the Tiger wasn't directly replaced, though the later, Avenger-based Talbot Sunbeam Lotus took the same sporting concept and expanded upon it with a Lotus engine.

The Sunbeam Lotus is one of the closest competitors as a classic too - especially for fans of the Rootes group. The in house alternative of a Hillman GT would have seemed antiquated by comparison, but offers excellent value. Ford's Escort Mexico was the car the Tiger was developed to rival, but values for anything with a blue oval are so far into the stratosphere that today it's not a fitting alternative. However, if you don't need the rear doors, the Vauxhall Firenza HP "Droop Snoot" would make an interesting competition-derived option if a Tiger isn't quite right for you.