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Hillman Wizard 75 Hillman Twenty 70 Hillman Hawk Hillman Seven Seater Hillman 80
Hawk sports tourer body by Martin Walter manufactured 1936
Overview
Manufacturer	Hillman Motor Car Co Ltd
Production	*Wizard 65 & 75 approx 7000 *20/70: approx 4100 *7-seater: approx *Hawk: approx 5000 *80: approx 300
Model years	1931 to 1938
Body and chassis
Class	Executive car
Body style	Wizard 75, 20/70 and Hawk chassis only family saloon de luxe saloon 4-door sports saloon foursome drophead coupé 5-seater open tourer LWB 7-seater and 80 chassis only saloon limousine with division landaulette with division
Layout	FR
Powertrain
Engine	*Wizard 75, 20/70 and 7-seater 2,810 cc (171 cu in) *Hawk and 80: 3,181 cc (194.1 cu in)
Transmission	engine, single dry-plate clutch and 4-speed gearbox with central gear lever (all mounted as a unit); open propellor shaft with metal joints; half-floating spiral bevel driven rear axle with banjo case
Dimensions
Wheelbase	*Wizard 75 111 in (2,819 mm) track 56 in (1,422 mm) *20/70 108.5 in (2,756 mm) track 56 in (1,422 mm) *Hawk 108.5 in (2,756 mm) track F: 58 in (1,473 mm) R: 59.5 in (1,511 mm) *LWB Seven Seater and 80 126 in (3,200 mm) track *Seven seater 56 in (1,422 mm) *80 F: 58 in (1,473 mm) *80 R: 59.5 in (1,511 mm)
Length	*Wizard: 166 in (4,216 mm) grid up Twenty 70 176 in (4,470 mm)
Width	*Wizard: 64 in (1,626 mm)
Kerb weight	*Wizard chassis only: 19½ cwt, 2,184 lb (991 kg) *Wizard sports saloon: 30 cwt, 3,360 lb (1,520 kg) *Twenty 70 sports saloon 29½ cwt 3,304 lb (1,499 kg) *Hawk Wingham 33½ cwt 3,752 lb (1,702 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Hillman Vortic
Successor	Humber Snipe

The Hillman Wizard 75, Hillman Twenty 70, Hillman Hawk and their long wheelbase variants Hillman Seven Seater and Hillman 80 models were a series of 20 horsepower (RAC rating) medium priced 5-7 seater executive cars made by Hillman during the 1930s.

Built at a time when body and chassis were quite separate structures Hillman's 20 horsepower chassis was given three different body shapes in five years and a grand total of five different names if the long wheelbase cars are included. The same body shapes and chassis were used for Hillman's 16 horsepower offering though that smaller engine was not offered with their long wheelbase cars.

Towards the end of the 1930s the badges of the current models were changed by the Rootes brothers to Humber Snipe.

Hillman Hawk

1936 a new body and bigger 20 horsepower engine

A new streamlined body was announced in October 1935 with a new name for the 20, Hawk. Chassis design was by William Haynes assisted by Alec Issigonis. The modern all-steel semi-monocoque style body was designed by Thrupp & Maberly, London coachbuilders also owned by Rootes Group. The new body houses the spare wheel in the tail. Its new lines "are planned to flow smoothly from the radiator". . . "to the trunk at the rear with the streamlined well-valanced wings merging harmoniously into the whole". As before the sloping single-piece windscreen may be opened to give better vision in fog.

The new model's Superpower engine is enlarged 13 per cent achieved by lengthening its stroke by 14 mm. Although the cubic capacity rose from 2810 cc to 3181 cc this did not affect the car's tax rating because the RAC formula takes no account of an engine's stroke. The only other changes from the engine of the Twenty 70 were the introduction of replaceable hardened steel valve seats and improved steel-backed main bearings for the crankshaft. The instrument panel now has a rheostat switch to vary the lighting at will.

Rootes Group's Evenkeel independent front suspension unit

The Hawk's big changes from the Twenty 70 chassis are the introduction of the Rootes Group's Evenkeel independent front suspension by transverse leaf springs which gives the cars better road-holding and steering with a superior ride and, as well as that, the car's road-holding is further improved by a much wider track, increased from 56 in (1,422 mm) to 58 in (1,473 mm) in front and 59.5 in (1,511 mm) at the back. In addition the chassis frame is "beefed up" to provide the rigidity required by the new independent front suspension. The channel section frame members have been replaced by box section members, the fourth side providing a frame advertised as "seven times stronger". The longitudinal members are box-girders and the four cross-members are of box-section. Previously, with chassis mounted on front and rear rigid axles, a controlled amount of flexing was thought desirable.

4-door sports tourer not a Wingham cabriolet The most expensive catalogued Hawk was their Wingham convertible cabriolet listed at £435 compared with the family saloon's £295. The Times tried out the Wingham describing it as a double purpose five-seater and noting its roof may be folded by the driver from his seat by releasing its two clips to the windscreen. The side windows in the four doors wind up and down and the driver's view is clear except to the back of the car. The spare wheel is kept horizontally in the boot. It sharply restricts luggage space and though the lid folds out to form a platform for luggage the luggage then blocks access to the wheel. "Quietness of running makes speed deceptive." In the testers' opinion the car would not be stressed by being driven at 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) and it should cruise comfortably at 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). The newspaper specially noted that since the test all new production front spring leaves have been polished giving a much easier movement at low speeds.

1937

There is no change to the cars but there are significant price reductions all round and a new Safety saloon with Triplex safety glass all round is listed in place of last season's Family saloon. The cars are heavily advertised with the statements "Tested approved and ordered by His Majesty's War Office, the Royal Air Force, the Metropolitan and Provincial Police and other great public services at home and overseas."

The Times tried the 80 enclosed limousine from the driving seat and reported the engine is well balanced, smooth in operation because of its rubber mounts and lively, "quiet as well as silky". 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) can be reached on top gear.

1938 a new Humber Snipe

October 1937 Earls Court Motorshow. The old Hawk, now the Humber Snipe —and the old Hillman Sixteen now a Humber Sixteen— is displayed without further comment on Humber's stand

Production

About 700 Hillman "16"s were built between 1936-37 whereas around 5000 Hillman "Hawk"s were built during the same period and an estimated 300 Hillman "80"s were constructed between 1936-38. These models were produced as standard saloons and deluxe saloons, some of which were used by the military, police and government departments, with a small number of each model being produced as sports tourers, cabriolets and coupes, the bodywork being converted by coachbuilders Thrupp & Maberly and Wingham (Martin Walter).

Survivors

Only a few examples of each model still exist in the UK today. Some of these vehicles were exported throughout the world, especially to Australia and New Zealand where a number of "Hawk"s and "80"'s also still survive.