Hillman Wizard
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Hillman Wizard was a six-cylinder automobile manufactured by Hillman between April 1931 and 1933.
Available in two variants, the 65 and the 75, the former came with a 65mm bore and a tax classification of 15.7 horsepower, while the latter featured a 75mm bore with a tax rating of 20.9 horsepower.
Promoted as the "Car of the Moderns," the Wizard underwent rigorous testing in multiple countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco to verify its performance on a global scale.
Body styles
At launch, five body configurations were offered: a five-seat family saloon (£270), saloon de luxe (£285), coupe-cabriolet (£299), four-door sports saloon (£299), and five-seat tourer (£270), each available in three different colour schemes. The chassis alone was sold for £198.
The more affordable family saloon and tourer models were equipped with 19-inch steel artillery wheels; wire wheels could be added for an extra £7 10/-. Other versions came standard with wire wheels and featured Triplex Safety Glass throughout the vehicle, not only on the windshield.
Between September 1931 and November 1932, a Hillman Wizard was allocated to the Mechanical Warfare Experimental Establishment for evaluation purposes.
Powertrain
Both versions shared a stroke length of 106 mm: the 65 model housed a 2,110 cc engine, whereas the 75 model contained a larger 2,810 cc engine. The increased displacement of the 75 resulted in an additional £5 horsepower tax and was primarily targeted at export customers.
The straight-six side-valve engine included a detachable cylinder head and utilized coil ignition. The drivetrain incorporated a dry single-plate clutch alongside a four-speed manual transmission featuring a silent third gear.
Suspension and brakes
Suspension consisted of half-elliptic leaf springs on both front and rear axles, supported by hydraulic shock absorbers. Braking was managed by Bendix-Perrot duo-servo brakes on all wheels, actuated through armored cables connected to either pedal or lever controls.
Sales
Sales reached roughly 3,250 units in 1931 and about 2,186 in 1932; figures for 1933 remain unavailable. Although it showed promise, sales failed to meet expectations due to the difficult economic environment and the vehicle’s then-outmoded flamboyance. By comparison, the four-cylinder Hillman Minx achieved annual sales near 20,000 during this timeframe. Production of the Wizard ceased in 1933. Rootes reintroduced six-cylinder models in 1934 with the launch of the Hillman 16hp and 20/70 series.