Hillman Avenger : Avenger R429 Coupé
July 5, 2011
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Matthew Hayward · 
10 Comments
Ryton’s Capri
Whitley designed a Coupé version of the Avenger, which would have topped the range and gone head to head with the ultra-successful Ford Capri and Opel Manta. It bears a striking resemblance to BL’s Condor project, under development at the same time. Sadly, it was not to be…
A fascinating might-have-been was the R429. This car was designed as Chrysler UK's answer to the Ford Capri (and little did they know, the very similar Condor project, produced by BL at Cowley) and had that similar trans-Atlantic feel that made the Capri such a hit with middle-aged men everywhere. Unfortunately, the design department could not convince Chrysler management that the cost of producing this car would have justified the extra sales.
Colour pictures supplied by Roy Axe
Related posts:
- Hillman Avenger : Projects and prototypes
- Hillman Avenger : Avenger production in New Zealand
- Hillman Avenger : Hillman Avenger in production
- The cars : Hillman Avenger
- Hillman Avenger : Sunbeam Avenger
10 Responses
That’s a fine looking motor car and very reminiscent of the Barracuda.
Does anyone else think that this looks like the Datsun 180B Coupe?
The R429 Coupé looks right and could have worked for Rootes. However, maybe it was too late for the company by then and it might not have had much success in Simca-dominated France.
Hmm… How about an alternative reality Group Test special as might have featured in a contemporary AutoMotor weekly: Ford Capri vs MG Condor vs Sunbeam Alpine (names assumed!). That would be fun to create… How about it someone?!
That’s definitely very Japanese looking. I imagaine that, as it was based on an Avenger, it would have been a bit on the wild side unless Lotus got their hands on it a la Sunbeam Lotus.
@DaveH
I always thought the Avenger was tidy enough – especially when compared to the Marina.
This does look like a very scaled-down American design.
Were the Avenger Tiger and BRM developed instead?
The R429 Coupé’s a nice looking car, but the picture at the bottom reminds me of a Japanese car rather than an English one – to me, it looks like a Mazda Coupé from the same period.
The Japanese companies, and Chrysler UK, were all using contemporary US designs as a starting point for their own designs in those days – along with many other companies.
@3: Simca was maybe preponderant in Chrysler Europe, it was for a good reason: they shifted cars by the bucket load, the 1100 was best-seller, so maybe, just maybe, the outlay wasn’t justified for a “niche”, the Rapier didn’t fare so well in its niche, did it?
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