Started in 1907 by bicycle manufacturer William Hillman, the Hillman brand became successful despite – or perhaps because of – its range of frankly quite dull cars. After Hillman’s death in 1921 the company passed to his son-in-laws John Black and Spencer Wilks, who respectively would later run Standard and Rover. Their moves were precipitated by a takeover from Humber in 1928, soon after which both companies were sucked into the Rootes Group.

 

Hillman became the badge applied to Rootes’ entry level vehicles, with a succession of friendly family cars like their mainstay Minxes continuing until Chrysler killed off the name in 1976.