Studebaker-Hillman connection?

[Lothar]

Did Studebaker have any connection to the British (and Canadian?) car-maker Hillman? I was watching the Beatles movie "Help!" and the Bad Guys were driving what up close looked like it was a 1959 Lark. I learned from The Internet Movie Car Database that it was a 1960 Hillman Minx (see below). On closer inspection, the differences are apparent, but at first glance, the rear end and roofline look very similar to a Lark. Coincidence, or some sort of business connection?





1950 Champion 4 Dr.
Holdrege NE

[Ricardo]

The connection seems to be Mr Loewy:
Visit:

http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/sdc_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14287&SearchTerms=hillman

Studebakerchile

http://www.tuerca.cl/studebakerchile/

[jnewkirk77]

I believe Loewy & co. designed the Hillmans starting in the mid-'50s; I can't be sure about that, but I believe it's true. I know they did the Humber cars of that era (such as the Super Snipe, Hawk [no kidding] etc.) which were also produced by the Rootes Group. This would've been a decade before Chrysler bought out Rootes. Humbers were somewhat larger with more of a mid-'50s Buick look to them, presumably to increase their appeal in the U.S., which was one of Rootes' largest markets in those years.

Jacob Newkirk - Owensboro, KY

KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL! Drive a Studebaker!

[Lothar]

Sure enough Ricardo! A forum search would've told me what I wanted to know. Thanks for the gentle reminder.

1950 Champion 4 Dr.
Holdrege NE