door saloon, it’s the sedan that you are most
likely to find.
The Avengers came as 1.2 or 1.6 litre
four-cylinder, were available in four trim
levels, and were still pretty basic in their
construction, which is a virtue when it comes
to spending money on restoration. That said,
be wary when looking one over, for they also
fell prey to rust — the mortal enemy of many
cars built before designing to avoid rust traps
became a thing.
So, not the quickest toy in the toy box
in standard form, the Avenger is still a
well-sorted, good-handling classic, but,
like the Imp, it has become difficult in the
past few years to find one at a handy price.
This is because there are very few in the
gap between terminal cases and devoted
restorations. Prices for the latter have
climbed and seem to have settled down, but
still be prepared to fork out between $3000
for a project and $12,000 for an immaculate
concours example. Obviously, if you want
your Avenger with some go-faster race gear,
look close to $20K.
In conclusion, some pretty decent cars came
from the Rootes Group, and, if you can find
one, it could make a rewarding and not overly
complicated project. Tempted? Then your best
bet is to get involved with the club scene. Parts
and advice from owners and enthusiasts are
never far away, and, who knows, maybe even
the odd lovingly restored example may end up
taking pride of place in your garage.GROWING
THE LOCAL
MARKETPLACE
I
n Star Insurance Marketplace, we aim to
bring you news and views about what’s
happening in the classic car marketplace
in New Zealand, and offer some new
insights tailored to classic car enthusiasts
here. We will look at advice for new and
prospective classic owners, what trends
are emerging here, and how the market is
responding to local factors or overseas trends.
We’ll also take a look at particular sectors,
and some of the more unusual or appealing
cars currently available.
Star Insurance Specialists is keen to
collaborate in helping develop the local
market for classic car enthusiasts so, this
month, we welcome it to New Zealand
Classic Car as sponsor for this section. As
niche insurance specialists, the team know
everything about insuring classic cars, and
offer New Zealand’s most comprehensive,
tailor-made policies to customers, to purchase
directly or through insurance brokers.
We invited Nick Baker, CEO of Star
Insurance Specialists, to outline the approach
Star has developed since 1992, when it began
creating and managing specialist insurance
policies for Kiwis with exceptional vehicles.
“We’re industry leaders because we go
beyond doing what’s required to create
bespoke insurance policies that fit
like a glove,” says Nick. “Our highly
customizable Star Enthusiast policy
covers classic cars and drivers whose
vehicles don’t fit neatly into a box. Star
Enthusiast includes three other policy
variations for vintage cars, project
and performance cars, and
motorsport.
“Two identical-looking
vehicles will have unique
histories, so we look at the
finer details and analyze the
needs of each policyholder.
We don’t let spreadsheets
determine your policy or
its price, because your
situation is unique and
you’re not like all otherdrivers on the road.
“It takes a really special insurance policy to
protect a classic car investment. So it makes
sense to get special insurance from a company
that understands classic car ownership. Star
is here to protect the things you’re passionate
about. If you have a broker who’s a member of
the Insurance Brokers Association of
New Zealand (IBANZ), ask them
about us; otherwise, contact our
team and we’ll tailor a classic car
insurance policy as unique as your
vehicle.”
If you are buying a classic
car, Star Insurance Specialists
recommends getting a vehicle
appraisal by a classic car
valuer, and to continue
this practice every two
years to check market
valuations, because
vehicles are invariably
insured based on their
current value.We know best how to insure classic cars
STAR INSURANCE MARKETPLACE
Send your enquiries, questions, and comments to [email protected]
1963 Hillman ImpHumber Hawk Series IV Saloon