Classic Hillmans appear in many corners of the site now, including the old photos section, but this is the first period snapshot to be added that features Hillman's Super Minx saloon of the early/mid 1960s. The car shown below is a LHD example and was photographed somewhere in Europe, possibly Germany. This two-tone Super Minx has been fitted with a radio (an aerial is seen on the front wing), and a single rear view wing mirror. The wraparound rear window was a feature of Super Minxes produced from 1961 to 1964, when a revised look incorporating a flatter rear screen, and "six light" (ie three main windows per side) styling was introduced by the Rootes Group (a feature also introduced on contemporary cousins at Rootes' Humber factory).
(Please click the thumbnail to view full-size image.)
The Super Minx was introduced in 1961. A larger car than the contemporary Minx, the Super Minx brought Rootes into a market previously dominated by the likes of BMC (with their big Farinas) and Vauxhall (Victors etc). In 1962 a Super Minx estate joined the range, followed swiftly by the cabriolet, the latter only continuing in production until 1964.
The cars were powered by a 1592cc version of Hillman's established four-cylinder engine at their launch, shared with the Minx IIIC bar the cam's profile, with manual and automatic gearboxes on offer. Interestingly the four speed manual had a floor shift rather than a column lever which, when coupled with the bench front seat on the Mk1 (Mk2s had individual front seats), could make gearshifts awkward. Curiously there was a column change offered, but to buyers of export versions only. Quoted power output from the OHV engine was 62bhp at 4800rpm. A Mk2 version, incorporating some useful revisions to the car's specification, was brought on stream late in 1962, with the Mk3 - and its revised rear screen arrangement and taller front screen - being offered to the public from 1964 onwards. In 1965 the 65bhp MkIV introduced a larger, 1725cc, version of the engine, and last significant update to the Super Minx's powerplant before the range was replaced by the Hunter in 1966. Laycock de Normanville overdrive as an option also made its debut with the MkIV. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph was now achievable in 17.9 seconds, as opposed to the 22.2 seconds of the earlier cars. Top speed though remained at 86 mph or thereabouts throughout the car's production run.
Marketing teams at Rootes were no strangers to badge-engineering, and the basic Super Minx design could also be found, in re-styled form, in contemporary Singer sales brochures (the Vogue), and in those promoting the mid-sized Humber Sceptre. The Super Minx saloon cost, at its launch in October 1961, 854 GBP inc taxes. The estate car would be offered in 1962 at 665 GBP plus p.t., while lovers of wind-in-the-hair motoring would have to find 698 GBP plus p.t. to enjoy the two-door cabriolet.
Although not a car often associated with performance engine modifications, a small number of cars were upgraded with Alexander conversions (twin SU carbs, polished cylinder head ports, higher compression ratio etc). Externally only a small badge on the Super Minx's front wing would give the game away.
Many Hillmans, including Super Minx saloons, estates & convertibles.
In the following video, I've collected a stack of photos - some taken over the last 15 years, a few "in period" back when the cars were current - featuring Hillmans of the 1930s through to the 1970s.
