The Avengers

No, I did not mean John Steed. Finally got all these related cars into Autocade. Might take a few of you back down memory lane.

Hillman Avenger. 1970–6 (prod. 650,000 approx. all types, incl. Chrysler and Talbot). 2- and 4-door saloon, 5-door estate. F/R, 1248, 1295, 1498, 1598 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV). Contemporary mid-sized car from Chrysler with modern, coke-bottle styling and unusual “hockey-stick” rear lights. Mid-term upgrades with 1·3- and 1·6-litre engines from 1973. Exported as Sunbeam and Sunbeam Avenger to Europe; Plymouth Cricket to US, though short-lived there due to unreliability. Good handling for its day. Avenger Tiger limited edition in 1972–3 with twin carb 1·5, developing 92·5 bhp DIN, possibly numbering 600 in two series. Replaced by facelifted model, badged Chrysler rather than Hillman. Bodies made in Linwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland and freighted by train to Ryton.

Dodge 1500/Dodge 1500M. 1973–81 (prod. 262,668 all versions). 4-door sedan, 5-door wagon. F/R, 1498, 1798 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV). Argentine version of Hillman Avenger and related to Brazilian Dodge 1800 (1973–5) and Dodge Polara (1976–81). Different rear end on sedan compared to Avenger. Originally three models, all sedans, with GT-90 at top of range. Larger engine from 1974. Facelift in 1977, in line with UK Avenger; GT-100 with 105 hp 1·8 announced same year. Wagon called Rural. Succeeded by Volkswagen model, which still carried a Dodge badge initially after VW took over Chrysler’s old Argentinian operations; but carried the VW logo after an extensive logo in 1982.

Dodge 1800. 1973–5 (prod. 92,665, incl. Polara). 2-door sedan. F/R, 1799 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV). Announced November 1972 and launched April 1973, Brazilian version of Hillman Avenger, with different rear side window and rear end. Originally with 78 hp. Nicknamed Dodginho. Not that well suited to local conditions, and car had to be improved and relaunched in 1976 as Polara, using old Dodge name with much goodwill in Brazil. Sporting 1800 SE version in 1974 with collector interest.

Chrysler Avenger. 1976–9 (prod. 650,000 approx. all types, incl. Hillman and Talbot). 4-door saloon, 5-door estate. F/R, 1295, 1598 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV). Facelifted Hillman Avenger, abandoning old marque in favour of parent company’s, and “hockey-stick” rear lights replaced by horizontal items closer to that of Dodge 1500. New dashboard. No real mechanical changes but full production moved to Linwood (where bodies were already made). Two-doors gone, but Chrysler Sunbeam filled the void.

Dodge Polara. 1976–81 (prod. 92,665, incl. Dodge 1800). 2-door sedan. F/R, 1799 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV). Brazilian version of Hillman Avenger, nicknamed Dodginho, with different rear side window and rear end. Replaced nearly identical Dodge 1800 (1973–5). Engine gradually uprated to 92 PS. Facelift in 1978, bringing it into line with Chrysler Avenger in UK. A steady seller for Chrysler, but production ended 1981 after the company sold its Brazilian operations to Volkswagen.

Talbot Avenger. 1979–81 (prod. 650,000 approx. all types, incl. Hillman and Chrysler). 4-door saloon, 5-door estate. F/R, 1295, 1598 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV). Rebadged Chrysler Avenger, after Peugeot took over Chrysler’s European operations. Originally retained Chrysler pentastar badge in grille despite Talbot wording on bonnet and boot. No real changes other than equipment and badging, but Avenger’s days were numbered after Peugeot elected to close the Linwood factory.

Volkswagen 1500/Volkswagen 1500M. 1982–91 (prod. 262,668 all versions). 4-door sedan, 5-door wagon. F/R, 1498, 1798 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV). Facelifted version of Dodge 1500, itself an Argentine version of the Hillman Avenger. Had a good history as a Dodge in the 1970s, and sold on that goodwill as well as robustness; but largely seen as an economy model for VW in the 1980s. Five-speed gearbox from 1988, with air conditioning on more models.