How did the Avenger get its name?

[oldschool]

I read somewhere Rootes designed it to "avenge' the success of the ground-breaking lightweight Mk1 Cortina.
They certainly succeeded - my 4 door Hillman Avenger weighs less than my 2 door Fiat X1/9.....lol

[avenga]

I remember reading an article some where about how they used computers to make the body really light but really strong and all the other weight saving tricks they used.

The Avenger is really light with the Kerb Weight being just over 850KG for most models.

Also I read that it was the first British production car to be fitted with a plastic radiator grille. Source

Rootes-Chrysler.co.uk have some good Avenger info here

And Allpar.com have an Avenger page here and the cricket here

[oldschool]

....and the first British car to have child proof rear locks.
Also Chryslers first attempt at a "world" car...even sold in Sri Lanka my friendly WOF mechanic told me!

[avengertiger]

part of the wieght saving process was the electro plating of the floors to save on under body sealer its why so many euro ones floors are rotten a stone chip or scratch lets the water attack the floors and spreads rapidly.

[avenga]

Did they electro plate the floors in NZ also or just over in UK?

[NZTiger]

No Avengers had electro plated floors, it the UK the floors were plastisol coated, the theory was it would protect the floor, but be much lighter than underseal...unfortunately it didn't work very well

Here in NZ there was 2 slightly different treatments..

First, Petone manufactured car 70-mid 74 mostly 1500's were painted with a combination of a lower body paint dip and then under sealed, after this production moved to Todd Park in Porirua which had a full emersion electrocoat system plus under seal. So our NZ cars last much longer than UK built ones and 75+ cars are best.

[avenga]

Thanks for that great info, so my '75 would have been treated with the full emersion electrocoat system plus under seal then? It was registered in September '75.

Do you know what they did on the Chargers? My Charger was one of the first made by Todd Motors in late '71.

[oldschool]

Just read at http://rootes-chrysler.co.uk/aussie-chry.html that Chargers were sold in the UK...how cool is that!!

[avengerparts]

Great to hear about the enthusiasm with Avenger owners whom i detect are probably all under 35 years of age ?The National club for Hillmans and Humbers, Singers and Sunbeams dosnt have more than 5 or 6 Avengers country-wide, so we would certainly invite any of you guys to join up. We have National Rallies every year in the Nth Isd., print a nice monthly magazine for reading, selling, buying parts or mint cars that come up for sale. PLUS ,the little ole lady cars we hear of first too !
Can see most things on web   www.humberhillmancarclub.co.nz
      We have Auckland,Manawatu, Wellington as major groups , but hundreds of other members throughout NZ.

                                                                                                                   Cheers, Graeme[parts man, P.th]

[avengerparts]

Me again !! The Hunter was first Rootes model to have chil-proof locks in 1966 [UK] and 67 in NZ.  Ive got a mint 67 Vogue with child locks.

                                                                                                                         Cheers, Graeme P.Nth

[oldschool]

Ok...how about the Avenger having the first full width one piece plastic grille?

[JoKer]

Also I read that it was the first British production car to be fitted with a plastic radiator grille. Source

[kierbear]

just realised ross said that he had a mechanic who was telling him things about avengers??? luckyyy! everytime i take it somewhere everyone just goes "hmm these are rare" took john bates 6 hours to do my frikin wheel alignment!

[JoKer]

The National club for Hillmans and Humbers, Singers and Sunbeams doesnt have more than 5 or 6 Avengers country-wide, so we would certainly invite any of you guys to join up. We have National Rallies every year in the Nth Isd., print a nice monthly magazine for reading, selling, buying parts or mint cars that come up for sale. PLUS ,the little ole lady cars we hear of first too !
Can see most things on web   www.humberhillmancarclub.co.nz
      We have Auckland,Manawatu, Wellington as major groups , but hundreds of other members throughout NZ.

                                                                                                                   Cheers, Graeme[parts man, P.th]

Website appears to have expired but the Club still goes mostly on Facebook  : www.facebook.com/groups/sunbeamcarclubnz/

Sunbeam Car Club of New Zealand

New Zealand ? This Club is for Classic Sunbeam & other Rootes Group Classic Car enthusiasts

Looking to sign up myself as there's a Cruise to Lake Ferry coming up