The sporting cars produced by the Rootes Group have somehow slipped from popular memory. Some will remember the Sunbeam Alpine, but few seem to recall the contemporary Sunbeam Rapier saloon or the fastback that succeeded it. The Hillman sporting models are even less remembered. The Hillman Avenger saloons became Group One Racing champions and British Touring Car champions. The humble Hillman Imp was part of their rally team and there was a sporting Singer Coupe version. A Hillman Hunter Saloon went on to win a London–Sydney marathon rally, and the luxury Humber model inherited its sporting mechanics. The last gasp of the Rootes Group sporting range was the Sunbeam hatchback of the 1980s, which gave birth to a sporting GLS, a Webber-fitted and spoilered Ti and finally a Lotus-powered version that went on to win the RAC rally championship. This book sets the record straight and celebrates these worthy, but often sadly forgotten, vehicles.

'Good book.' * Track Kit Custom, January/ February 2024 *
'There is lots of well-researched detail, with each chapter focusing on a sporting car from the huge Rootes Group back catalogue.' * Classic & Sports Car Magazine, July 2024 *

Michael Burgess has been a car enthusiast for many years and had a wide range of material published in the classic car and motoring press. Ever the champion of the less well known classics, he has produced articles on such forgotten cars as the Alfa Romeo ARNA, Hillman Avenger Tiger and the Talbot Sunbeam. He also has an interest in the history of the West Country and his previous books for Amberley Publishing include A-Z of Weymouth and Portland.