#rootes

[monkeyssalad-blog]

311 Sunbeam-Talbot 90 (Mark IIA) Drophead Coupe (1954) RPO 733 by Robert Knight Via Flickr: Sunbeam Talbot 90 Mk IIA (1952-54) Engine 2267cc S4 OHV Production 10,888 Registration Number RPO 733 (West Sussex) SUNBEAM-TALBOT SET www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623722681741... The Sunbeam-Talbot 90and built by Sunbeam-Talbot from 1948 to 1954 and continued as the Sunbeam Mk III from 1954 to 1957.The 90 was launched in 1948 along with the smaller-engined Sunbeam-Talbot 80 but many features dated back to the pre war Sunbeam-Talbot 2 Litre. The body, available as a 4-door 4-light sports saloon or 2-door drophead coupe, appeared completely new though it continued some major pressings. The saloon featured the original Aero-Minx pillar-less join between the glass on the rear door and the rear quarter window with its distinctive Sunbeam-Talbot reverse slope. went through three versions were produced before the name was changed to Sunbeam Mk III (without the Talbot) in 1954 Launched originally in 1948 with a 1,944 cc four-cylinder engine, a redesign of the earlier Sunbeam Talbot 2 litre The car was updated as the Mark II for the September 1950 Earls Court Motorshow. The engine was enlarged to 2267cc with an ouput of 70 bhp and with a higher rear axle ratio for for more comfortable cruising. The existing chassis was fitted with independent front suspension using coil springs mounted on a specially shaped new cross-member. The front of the 90's body was modified; the headlights were raised to meet international regulations and the fog and driving lights were moved and remounted to leave air inlet grilles on either side of the radiator. The Mk IIA had a higher compression engine raising output to 77 bhp, in order to cope with the higher speeds, the brakes were enlarged and to improve brake cooling the wheels were pierced. The rear wheel spats were no longer fitted to the Mark. IIA, It was still offered as a Sports Saloon or as a Drophead Coupe, which was the rarest of the Sunbeam-Talbots. Diolch am 97,599,066 o olygiadau gwych, mae pob un ohonynt yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi'n fawr. Thanks for 97,599,066 amazing views, every one is greatly appreciated. Shot 21.08.2022, at Lupin Farm, Kings Bromley, Staffordshire REF 163-311

[transport-methodology-101]

ROOTES badge engineered strategy - Hillman Hunter 🏁

The Rootes Group mastered "badge engineering" to appeal to different rungs of the British social ladder. Using one core chassis (codenamed the Arrow), they created unique identities by varying styling, trim, and luxury levels, turning a single design into a range that spanned from budget-friendly workhorses to executive cruisers.

The single core platform spawned several distinct models, each targeted to a specific type of buyer and several badge-engineered marques by the Rootes Group, such as; Singer, Vogue, Sunbeam and Humber.

The most prolific model within the Arrow range, the Hillman Hunter, was the Coventry-based company's major competitor in the small family car segment. In its 13-year production run which this post is covering.

Hillman Hunter – the Rootes Group's last hurrah saloon

Known as the Rootes Arrow in development, the Hillman Hunter was a quiet, dignified saloon with real staying power. Here's its full story.

[carsonfilm]

Hillman Imp @ Sodegaura

[hififotos]

Vintage Sunbeam Tiger

[retrofair]

1950 Rootes Humber Super Snipe

via Retrofair Vintage Ads & Prints

[scotianostra]

On 2nd May 1963 The Rootes Car Factory opened at Linwood it went on to produce Scotland's answer to the Mini.

The Hillman Imp enjoyed a brief moment in the sun. However, a mixture of poor management and industrial disputes resulted in a low quality product that was notorious for breaking down.

In 1987, The Proclaimers released Letter From America, a heart-felt lament to the countless industries and communities lost to Scotland in recent generations, Linwood amongst the places mentioned.

Compact models were very much in vogue after the 1956 Suez Crisis, and the Hillman Imp, while never able to match the Mini, sold relatively well - especially in Scotland, where buyers were imbued by the knowledge that it was the first car to be built here in 35 years.

With an 875cc rear-mounted engine tilted at an accessible 45 degree angle, the wee motor could reach 0 to 50 in just under 15 seconds and boasted top speeds approaching 80 miles per hour. Popular variants included the Sunbeam Stiletto, the Californian, the esate-sized Hillman Husky, and the most exquisite of all, the Singer Chamois. Hillman Imps were even favoured by Dunbartonshire Police, who first adopted the car in 1967.

The car was also celebrated for its cutting-edge design principles and quirky features. There were fold-back seats, indicators, stalk controls for the windscreen wipers and the rear window opened. Above all, though, with a launch price of £500, the Imp represented great value for money - or so it first appeared. Thanks to a host of internal design flaws, which included an inadequate cooling system, poor steering, gearbox and clutch problems, faulty chokes and a tendency to leak water, the Hillman Imp developed a reputation for unreliability. Break-downs became a common occurrence for Imp owners, with the car’s main saving grace being that it was generally easy to fix, provided you knew what you were doing.

The Hillman Imp also tasted some success as a racing and rally car. In 1964, a 998cc version of the Imp won the Tulip Rally, while other variants would go on to dominate the British Saloon Car Championships in the early 1970s. In June 1965, racing driver Alan Fraser drove an Imp on the circuit for the first time, with the car making an instant impact. Fraser Imps, with the Saltire painted on to their roofs, became famous throughout the motorsport world and the iconic vehicles still compete in vintage races to this day.

Despite its shortcomings - and there were several - the Hillman Imp would go on to become the most successful car model to ever come out of Scotland. In total, almost half a million cars left the Linwood assembly line, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Rootes from going to the wall. The firm was taken over by Chrysler, with the Imp ceasing production in 1976. Peugeot-Citreon eventually purchased the factory before it closed too in 1981. And with that, car production in Scotland came to an end for good.

An estimated 11,000 people were once directly or indirectly employed due to Linwood and the Hillman Imp and like every iconic car they have their own web page, you can check it out here https://www.imps4ever.info/linwood/linwood.html

[teilix]

1960 Singer Gazelle Convertible in Hamburg. #SingerGazelle #SingerGazelleConvertible #singercars #singercar #rootesgroup #rootes #classicSinger #britishcar #britishcars #british #classiccarspotting #carspotting #carspotter #vintagecar #classiccar #oldtimer #oldcar #teilixSinger #classiccaroftheday #classiccarsdaily #automotivephotography #carsofinstagram #carworld #instacars #carstagram #60scar #HamburgBerlinKlassik #oldtimerrallye #asundaycarpic (hier: Das Auswanderermuseum BallinStadt Hamburg) https://www.instagram.com/p/COFgR3epCu7/?igshid=h7wgk1ha6uli