Chrysler Avenger
| Hillman Avenger | |
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Hillman Avenger 1600 GLS
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer |
Chrysler Europe (1970–1978) PSA Peugeot Citroën (1978–1981) |
| Also called | Chrysler Avenger Talbot Avenger Sunbeam Avenger (Europe) Dodge Avenger (South Africa) Plymouth Cricket (U.S/Canada) Dodge 1800 (Brazil) Dodge Polara (Brazil) Dodge 1500 Pickup (Uruguay) Dodge 1500 (Argentina) Volkswagen 1500 (Argentina) Sunbeam 1300 |
| Production | 1970–1981 1971–1990 (Argentina) |
| Assembly |
Ryton-on-Dunsmore, England Linwood, Scotland Tehran, Iran (Iran Khodro) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Small family car (C) |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 5-door estate from 1972 2-door saloon from 1973 |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 98 in (2,500 mm) |
| Length | 161 in (4,100 mm) |
| Width | 62 in (1,600 mm) |
| Height | 53 in (1,300 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Hillman Minx |
The Hillman Avenger is a rear-wheel drive small family car originally manufactured by the former Rootes division of Chrysler Europe from 1970–1978, badged from 1976 onward as the Chrysler Avenger. Between 1979 and 1981 it was manufactured by PSA Peugeot Citroën and badged as the Talbot Avenger. The Avenger was marketed in North America as the Plymouth Cricket.
The Avenger was initially produced at Rootes' plant in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, England, and later at the company's Linwood facility near Glasgow, Scotland.
Introduced in February 1970, the Avenger was significant as it was the first and last car to be developed by Rootes after the Chrysler takeover in 1967. Stylistically, the Avenger was undoubtedly very much in tune with its time; the American-influenced "Coke Bottle" waistline and semi-fastback rear-end being a contemporary styling cue, indeed the Avenger would be the first British car to be manufactured with a one piece plastic front grille. It was similar in appearance to the larger Ford Cortina MK3, which was launched later in 1970.
However, from an engineering perspective it was rather conventional, using a 4-cylinder all-iron overhead valve engine in 1250 or 1500 capacities driving a coil spring suspended live axle at the rear wheels. Unlike any previous Rootes design, there were no "badge-engineered" Humber or Singer versions in the UK market. The Avenger was immediately highly praised by the press for its good handling characteristics and generally good overall competence on the road and it was considered a significantly better car to drive than contemporaries like the Morris Marina.
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Wikipedia