Rootes (Humber, Hillman, Sunbeam and Singer): Illustrated History Books & Guides

Forgotten Rootes: The Unsung Sporting Cars of the Rootes Group

The sporting cars made by the Rootes Group have largely faded from memory. While some may remember the Sunbeam Alpine, few recall its contemporaries like the Sunbeam Rapier saloon or the fastback model.

The Hillman sports models are even more obscure but deserve recognition. The Hillman Avenger saloons were champions in Group One Racing and the British Touring Car Championship. The modest Hillman Imp was part of their rally team, along with the sporty Singer Coupe version. A Hillman Hunter Saloon won the challenging London-Sydney marathon rally, and the luxury Humber model also had sporting attributes.

The final chapter in the Rootes Group's sporting legacy was the Sunbeam hatchback in the 1980s. It included a sporty GLS variant, a Webber-enhanced Ti model with a spoiler, and a Lotus-powered version that won the RAC rally championship. This book corrects the oversight and honors these deserving yet often overlooked vehicles.

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The Rootes Story (Volume 2) - The Chrysler Years

This book explores the Rootes Group's significant role in the 1960s and 70s, covering the vehicles they made, the people behind them, and the events leading to Rootes' acquisition by Chrysler and later Peugeot.

Former Rootes employees and management provide context, enriching the historical account. The book traces Rootes' efforts to remain a leading British car and truck manufacturer during the challenging 1960s and 70s, amid changing consumer preferences and increasing foreign competition.
Despite these challenges, Rootes produced iconic vehicles like the Hillman Minx, Super Minx, Singer Vogue, Humber Sceptre, and the Hillman Imp. The company also excelled in making durable vans and trucks under the Commer, Karrier, and Dodge brands.

The book highlights the racing achievements of Rootes vehicles, featuring racers like Paddy Hopkirk, Rosemary Smith, and Peter Procter. Rally driver Andrew Cowan recounts his victory in the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon in a Hillman Hunter.
The book offers an insider's view of Rootes, Chrysler, and Peugeot, through the experiences of former employees, providing a look into their boardrooms, design offices, and production lines.

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The Rootes Group : Humber, Hillman, Sunbeam, Singer, Commer, Karrier

The Rootes Group once dominated the British motor industry, and its legacy lives on in many well-maintained cars, especially Hillmans, Humbers, Singers, and Sunbeams.

This book, featuring images from the Rootes Archive Centre, by Richard Loveys, details the Group's history and key car models. It covers the Group's beginnings as a car dealership by William and Reginald Rootes, its transition to motor manufacturing, and its expansion through acquisitions and development of car and commercial vehicle ranges.

The Rootes Group significantly contributed to the war effort from 1939 to 1945, producing many military aircraft and vehicles. In its post-war peak, it produced iconic models like the Sunbeam Alpine and Hillman Imp.

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The Rootes Story (Volume 1) - The Making of a Global Automotive Empire

This book traces the rise of the Rootes brothers, William and Reginald, and the development of one of Britain's key motor vehicle manufacturers. The Rootes Group acquired famous names like Hillman, Humber, Sunbeam, and Singer cars, as well as Commer and Karrier commercial vehicles.

Some Rootes models became household names: the Hillman Minx, Humber Super Snipe, Sunbeam Alpine, Singer Gazelle, Commer Superpoise, and Karrier Bantam. In the late 1950s, Rootes was the fourth largest car and truck manufacturer in Britain, exporting to over 180 countries and becoming a global automotive empire.

Pages of the book "The Rootes Story (Volume 1) - The Making of a Global Automotive Empire"

This book profiles the people and companies involved with Rootes, and details the cars and commercial vehicles they built, including specifications of key models. It also includes personal insights from employees and contributions from the Rootes family.

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Rootes Cars of the 50s, 60s & 70s - Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam & Talbot - A Pictorial History

The Rootes Group, despite having only a 10-12% market share, was the sixth largest British car manufacturer. Notably, during the 1950s, more than half of their cars were exported.

This book features every model produced from 1950 onwards, with full-color images and detailed information, including color schemes, optional equipment, technical specifications, and other manufacturers' cars built with Rootes components. It is the ultimate guide for Hillman, Humber, Singer, and Sunbeam enthusiasts. Cars produced by Chrysler/Talbot and Peugeot after acquiring the Rootes Group are also included.

Pages of the book "Rootes Cars of the 50s, 60s & 70s - Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam & Talbot - A Pictorial History"

The book contains hundreds of original photographs taken by the author at various car shows over the years, providing a unique pictorial history of Rootes-manufactured cars.

Features:
- Detailed model-by-model comparisons
- Extensive color photographs
- Body and styling differences
- Color scheme options
- Detailed technical information
- Standard and optional equipment details
- Dashboard instrument layouts and photographs
- Export models
- Cars built with Rootes components

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