Hillman
The Hillman company grew from its cycle business origins in Coventry, starting with car manufacturing in 1907 when Louis Coatalen (later to move to the Sunbeam in Wolverhampton) was responsible for the Hillman-Coatalen. By the late 1920's the Roots brothers had control of the Hillman company and introduced the Minx which was a highly successful model. Modernised post war and were continually uprated, and with overhead valves in their engines by 1954. By 1956 the Minx was enlarged and lowered. The arrival of the Mini led Hillman to the rear mounted Coventry Climax Hillman Imp with all alloy engine. The Minx evolved into the Super Minx, and subsequent models were the Hunter in 1967 followed by the Avenger. The Hillman Hunter carried on being sold for decades in kit form to the Iranians, called the Peykan. Due to Chrysler selling out their European interests to Peugeot Citroen in 1978 that meant Peugeot would have a hand in the Peykans replacement.
