Hillman Minx
| Hillman Minx | |
|---|---|
| Production period: | 1932-1970 |
| Class : | Middle class |
| Body versions : | Touring car , roadster , sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible , panel van , pickup |
| Previous model: | Hillman 14 hp |
| Successor: | Hillman Hunter , Hillman Avenger |
The Hillman Minx is a mid- size car that Hillman , a Rootes Group brand , built from 1932 to 1970. From 1956 the respective Minx model was also sold under other brand names of the Rootes group, such as Singer, Sunbeam and Humber . These badge-engineered models were the Singer Gazelle , the Singer Vogue , the Sunbeam Rapier and the Humber Scepter . So was z. B. the Hillman Super Minx as Humber Scepter Mark I / Mark II with the same body and technology, but better equipment and slightly different front and rear sections.
The last version of the Minx was the New Minx , which came out in 1967 and was part of the Rootes-Arrow family , and was basically a simple version of the Hillman Hunter . The Hillman Super Minx was a slightly larger model that was produced from 1961 to 1967.
Most Minx versions also had a combination variant. From 1954 to 1965 a short wheelbase version was sold as the Hillman Husky , and a panel van was available as the Commer Cob .
After Chrysler Europe was taken over by Peugeot (PSA) at the end of 1978, the name Talbot Minx was used from 1984 onwards as a designation for some variants of the Talbot Solara and 1510 / Alpine models assembled in the Talbot plant in Ryton (England) . At the same time, these vehicles were also available as Talbot Rapier with different equipment.
Minx, Minx Magnificent, and Minx Aero
| Minx / Minx Magnificent / Minx Aero | |
|---|---|
 Hillman Minx sedan (1932) |
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| Production period: | 1932-1939 |
| Body versions : | Touring car , roadster , sedan , station wagon |
| Engines: |
Otto engines : 1.2 liters (22-26 kW) |
| Length: | |
| Width: | |
| Height: | |
| Wheelbase : | |
| Empty weight : | |
The first Minx was introduced in 1932. It had a pressed steel body that sat on a separate frame and a four-cylinder in-line engine with side-mounted valves . From a displacement of 1185 cm³ he drew 30 bhp (22 kW). The engine power was passed on to the rear wheels via a three-speed gearbox. The cars reached a top speed of 95 km / h.
In 1934 the body was revised and there was a four-speed gearbox. This model had a V-shaped grille. In 1935 the four-speed transmission was synchronized. The top speed increased to 99 km / h.
In 1936 the model was called the Minx Magnificent , had rounder lines, a stiffened frame and the engine moved forward so that more interior length remained with the same overall length. The rear panel, which had been vertical until then, was tilted and a foldable luggage rack was offered, which was available painted for "two pounds, seven shillings and sixpence" (a little less than £ 2.40). A station wagon with Commer nameplate was now also available.
The penultimate Minx before World War II was the 1938 model, also known as the Minx Aero . There was no longer a factory touring car, but Carbodies made some cars with these bodies. Visually, the model was similar to the Minx Magnificent, but had a different grille and an externally accessible trunk. There were two sedan versions. The “Safety” had seats covered with artificial leather (“Rexine”), fixed front triangular windows and, overall, simpler equipment. The “De Luxe” had leather seats, front triangular windows that could be opened, additional equipment details and various luxury details.
In 1939 another Minx model appeared with modified mechanics. The gearbox, differential, drive shafts and steering had all been modernized and there were a number of other mechanical and cosmetic changes. Even the grille, which looks similar to the 1938 model, was now a pressed aluminum part.
Hillman Minx Sports Tourer (1934)
Hillman Minx De Luxe sedan 4 door (1936)
Hillman Minx sedan (1937)
Hillman Minx sedan 4 doors (1938)
Hillman Minx "Aero" (1938)
The Minx at war
During World War II, British car manufacturers made a simple flatbed truck, the Tilly . The Hillman version was a 10 hp, a Minx chassis with a two-seater cabin and a flatbed with tarpaulin. The simple sedan was also built from 1940 to 1944 for military and important civil use.
Minx Mark I to Mark VIII
| Mark I / II / III / IV / V / VI / VII / VIII / VIIIa | |
|---|---|
 Hillman Minx Mark VIII |
|
| Production period: | 1945-1956 |
| Body versions : | Sedan , station wagon , coupe , convertible , panel van , pickup |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 1.2–1.4 liters (26–31.6 kW) |
| Length: | 4001 mm |
| Width: | 1613 mm |
| Height: | from 1486 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2362 mm |
| Empty weight : | from 990 kg |
Minx Mark I / II
The Minx, sold between 1945 and 1947, had the same side-controlled engine, wheelbase, and almost the same looks as the last pre-war Minx. He was later Minx Mark I called. From 1947 to 1948 there was a modified version, the Minx Mark II . While the Mark I reached up to 101 km / h, the '' Mark II '' could accelerate up to 106 km / h. Both vehicles were only available in sedan versions. About 60,000 copies of the Mark I and Mark II were made.
Minx Mark III-VIII
A much more modern styled Minx was offered as the Minx Mark III from 1948. This was the first pontoon-style notchback model to replace the hatchback sedan that had been in production since the 1930s. Initially there were three different body versions, a sedan, a station wagon and a convertible. Under the sheet metal, however, little had changed apart from a new front suspension: The Mark III continued to have the side-steered 1.2-liter engine of its predecessor, which, as before, also produced 35 bhp (26 kW). This was enough for a top speed of 112 km / h. The Minx Mark III has been built 28,619 times.
For the Minx Mark IV presented in 1949 , this engine was then bored out to 1265 cm³ displacement and its output increased by 7% to 37.5 bhp (27.6 kW). Despite the slightly higher performance, the achievable top speed fell slightly to 109 km / h. The Mark IV also had a panel van and a pickup truck. The Minx Mark V , built from 1951, showed only minor styling changes, but managed again 117 km / h. 90,832 copies of the Mark IV and 59,777 of the Mark V were made.
In 1953 a fourth body variant was offered with the Minx Mark VI : In addition to the sedan, station wagon and convertible, there was a hardtop coupé "Californian" in which the B-pillars could be lowered together with the rear crank windows. The wheelbase and overall length of the vehicles remained the same as those of the sedan and convertible. The Minx Mark VII , launched in the same year, only showed a few cosmetic changes compared to the previous model. The Minx Mark VI was built 44,643 times and the Minx Mark VII 60,711 times.
In 1954 the Minx Mark VIII appeared . It had a completely newly developed engine with overhead valves and 1390 cc displacement, which developed 43 bhp (31.6 kW). He gave the car a top speed of 118 km / h. There was also a panel van and a pickup from the Mark VIII. This generation of the Minx had been manufactured 94,123 times by 1956.
Exports and foreign models
In the early 1950s, the Hillman Minx was exported to the USA for a short period of time - for American customers looking for more economical cars. The press coverage of these models was only satisfactory.
From 1953 to 1956, Isuzu in Japan manufactured the Minx Mark VI / VII / VIII as the Isuzu Hillman Minx before the Bellel model was introduced in 1961 .
Gallery images
Minx Mark I sedan (1946)
Minx Mark I Cabriolet (1947)
Minx Mark II (1948)
Minx Mark V (1953)
Minx Mark VI (1953)
Minx Mark VII (1954)
Minx Mark VIII Cabriolet (ca.1955)
Minx Mark VIII sedan (1955)
Hillman Minx Californian Coupe
Minx Series I – Series VI (Audax models)
| Series I / II / III / IIIa / IIIb / IIIc / V / VI | |
|---|---|
 Hillman Minx Series IIIc |
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| Production period: | 1956-1967 |
| Body versions : | Sedan , station wagon , convertible |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 1.4–1.7 liters (38–48 kW) |
| Length: | |
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The body in the so-called 'Audax' design was designed by the Rootes group, but with the support of the styling offices of Raymond Loewy , who also designed the 1953 Studebaker coupés. The design was revised every year, which resulted in a new serial number. There were series I (1956–1957), II (1957–1958), III (1958–1959), IIIa (1959–1960), IIIb (1960–1961), IIIc (1961–1963), V (1963– 1965) and VI (1965-1967).
The Series I took over the 1.4 liter engine with overhead valves from the Minx Mark VIII. In the new car, however, this made 51 bhp (38 kW). The Series II also kept this engine, which was then drilled out to 1494 cm³ for the Series III – IIIb. While it was still producing 52.5 bhp (38.6 kW) in Series III, its output rose to 56.5 bhp (41.5 kW) for the two following series. A variant with again a larger displacement of 1592 cm³, but power reduced to 53 bhp (39 kW), was introduced in the IIIc series and then adopted in the V series. The VI series came up with a 1725 cc engine that delivered 65 bhp (48 kW). There were a number of manual transmissions with central or steering wheel shifts for the individual motors. Automatic transmissions were also available (only semi-automatic for series I and II). The achievable maximum speeds varied between 123 km / h (Series III) and 131 km / h (Series VI).
The hardtop coupé was no longer offered in Series I. With the Series IIIc, the convertible also disappeared in 1963.
The Series I and II were built 202,204 times, the Series III 83,105 times. The series IIIa produced 78,052 copies and the series IIIb 58,260 copies.
Foreign models
The New Zealand importer and producer Todd Motors sold the Hillman Minx as Humber 80 and the Hillman Super Minx as Humber 90 , to increase the number of rare import licenses for CKD kits.
In Australia, the first examples of the V series with fully synchronized gearboxes were called the Va series . This name is only known in Australia.
The Audax Minx was also built by Isuzu in Japan as the Isuzu Hillman Minx with a Rootes license, from September 1956 to June 1964. Isuzu also produced its own station wagon, the Isuzu Hillman Express , from 1958 to 1964 .
A few hundred of this model were also imported into the GDR in the early 1960s - because of the comparatively high price of 21,000 MDN, more for the well-off . 500 pieces were also imported into the ČSSR, the selling price was 42,000 Kčs in the basic configuration.
Gallery images
Hillman Minx Series I Cabriolet (ca.1962)
Hillman Minx Series III
Hillman Minx Series III
Hillman Minx Series IIIa
Hillman Minx Series IIIb Cabriolet
Hillman Minx Series IIIc Cabriolet
Hillman Minx Series V
Hillman Minx Series VI
Humber 80 (195) - a Hillman Minx Series III as a Humber for some markets like (here) New Zealand
Super Minx (1961-67)
Main article: Hillman Super Minx
The Super Minx , released in 1961, was supposed to replace the Minx Series IIIb. But then the Minx Series IIIc in 1961 and the Minx Series V in 1963 followed, while the Super Minx became its own model series, which was very similar to the Minx.
New Minx (Arrow models)
| New Minx | |
|---|---|
 Hillman New Minx 1.5 liter |
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| Production period: | 1967-1970 |
| Body versions : | Limousine , station wagon |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 1.5–1.7 liters (44–48 kW) |
| Length: | |
| Width: | |
| Height: | |
| Wheelbase : | |
| Empty weight : | |
The New Minx replaced the Minx Series VI and the Super Minx Series IV in 1967. It presented itself as the economy version of the Hillman Hunter . First it was presented with the 1496 cc engine, which developed 60 bhp (44 kW). From 1968 there was also a version with a 1725 cm³ engine and 65 bhp (48 kW). The last Minx was replaced by the Hillman Hunter De Luxe in 1970. 470,000 units of the New Minx were built.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Bart H. Vanderveen: British Cars of the Late Thirties 1935-1939 . Frederick Warne, London and New York 1973. ISBN 0-7232-1712-2
- ↑ a b c d e 1953 Hillman Minx Californian Coupe specifications . Carfolio.com
- ↑ a b c d e f g Graham Robson: A to Z of British Cars . Herridge, Devon 2006. ISBN 0-9541063-9-3
- ^ The Hillman Minx Road Test in The Motor , 1949
- ^ Roger Gloor: All cars of the 50s 1945-1960 . 1st edition. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2007. ISBN 978-3-613-02808-1
- ^ Hillman & Commer Mark VIII Light Pick-up (utility) . Sa.Hillman.org.au . Retrieved July 31, 2012.
- ↑ Report on the Hillman Minx in Popular Mechanics , January 1953. pp. 112-115, 260
- ↑ Janet E. Hunter & Shinya Sugiyama (eds.): The History of Anglo-Japanese relations, 1600-2000 . Volume IV, Chapter 6: A case study of Anglo-Japanese cooperation in the motor vehicle industry: Ishikawajima, Wolseley, Isuzu and Rootes .
- ↑ a b Isuzu Memorial 1953-2003 . Yaesu Publishing, Japan 2008
- ↑ Andy Murkin: Isuzu Hillman Minxes . Andy's Hillman homepage ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ↑ Company brochures for the Isuzu Hillman Minx from 1959, 1960 and 1962
- ^ Hillman Minx | Transport Museum Dresden. Retrieved March 30, 2017 .
- ↑ Michael Bowler: Moderation in all things. The philosophy of the Hillman Minx. in The Motor . January 27, 1968. Rootes owners' supplement 25-29
- ↑ a b Michael Sedgwick & Markes Gillies: A – Z of Cars 1945–1970 . P. 90
- ↑ a b Smart new clothes . Rootes-chrysler.co.uk ( Memento of the original from August 19, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved July 31, 2012.
Web links
- Website of the Hillman Minx (English)
- Web site Rootes Chrysler (English)