| Hillman Automobiles Info
Hillman was a famous British automobile marque from the "Rootes Group": once a major British automotive manufacturer. It was based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry, England, from 1907 to 1976. In the 50's & 60's, they exported cars to America in a "foreign invasion" of the American auto market then dominated by the "Big Three" (GM, Ford and Chrysler). Before 1907 the company had built bicycles. The original company was named Hillman-Coatalen and was founded by William Hillman with Breton Louis Coatalen as the designer and chief engineer. In 1928, Hillman was taken over by Humber and both were taken over by Rootes in 1931. Hillman went on to become the dominant brand within the Rootes empire, alongside Humber, Sunbeam and Singer. Chrysler assumed complete control of Rootes by 1967, and the first American financed Hillman model was the Avenger of 1970. Some Hillmans were rebadged as Chryslers until 1979 when Chrysler sold its European division to Peugeot. Peugot then rebranded the remaining line as a Talbot until the model was withdrawn from market in 1981. Peugot continued using the factory for its own line until 2006.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillman
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