The Hillman Hunter was one of my favourite 'ordinary' cars from the 1970s. My brother had one and drove me to my first wedding in a nice dark blue model. I had a GL Estate too in 1974. Corgi's Hillman Hunter was a very decorated Rally Edition which came in a box with a kangaroo and lots of transfers to put on.

It was a nice enough model and had really nice-looking wheels, removable via the Golden Jacks system. The Rally connection, though, meant that it had an ugly red plastic affair at the front which I gather is some kind of kangaroo bar, maybe saving damage to both car and kangaroo in the even of light collisions. Even the addition of a jewel in that device didn't make up for it and it actually covered very nice twin jewelled headlamps in the car itself.

On the roof and bonnet were search lights and the roof also had a tool box, a spare wheel and tyres. At the back were two steps and another big jewel light.

This particular example had a few things missing and a lot of wear to the paintwork so I had a go at making a saloon edition from it. That hasn't been at all easy because removing the roof furniture left lots of holes in the roof that I simply couldn't fill successfully. So I added a vinyl roof to cover my mistakes there! I had to leave a spotlight in the hole in the wing. The biggest problem was the font end where a 'normal' bumper couldn't be fitted due to the large fog lamps in the casting and extended bit of base in the middle.

The rear end has a similar problem. 

I have fitted nice original wheels which are delightfully clean and, of course, the Golden Jacks work as they should.

This one has had a lot of work done and I am happy to have it as part of my collection. It can be purchased, however, if you like it, at a price that reflects what I've spent on bits and pieces and some time.