Hillman Avenger History

Launched in 1970, the Avenger was a compact rear-drive family saloon aimed at the Ford Escort and Vauxhall Viva. It was the first — and, as it turned out, the last — entirely new Hillman developed by Rootes after Chrysler took over the company, financed with American money and engineered as a clean-sheet design.

The range grew to include a five-door estate (from 1972) and a two-door saloon (from 1973), plus the sporty Avenger Tiger, a twin-Weber-carburettor version that out-accelerated the rival Ford Escort Mexico. The Avenger was also sold in North America as the Plymouth Cricket.

The Avenger outlived the Hillman badge: it was rebadged as the Chrysler Avenger in September 1976, and after Chrysler Europe collapsed and was bought by PSA Peugeot Citroën, it finished its life as the Talbot Avenger (1979–1981). Its 1976 rebadging marked the end of the Hillman marque.