Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rootes75 · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 10:12 am Post subject: My Hillmans, current.

I only have two Hillmans now but have owned many over the years. These two I have kept for a long time, firstly my 1947 Hillman Minx I have owned for 12-13 years now. We keep her roadworthy, I have rebuilt the steering, brakes and re-wired her over the years but largely she is original, next plan is to rebuild her engine.
The second car is a 1955 Hillman Minx Mk8, Special Saloon. Special simply means using up the old Sidevalve engine and de-trimming a bit. I have owned her for about 10 years now and she is tucked away in the shed with the seized engine stripped and all parts now sourced for the engine rebuild. She had been dry stored since the early 1970's and as can be seen the interior is beautiful.

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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22807 Location: UK

A very nice pair of cars, as you know a friend locally has a very original '47 which he hopes to finish fettling up in the not-too-distant future. Access to the engine with that large radiator grille always struck me as being a bit tight, compared to rival Austins etc, but I do like these cars.

RJ
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7215 Location: Edinburgh

There's what looks like a very nice MkVII for sale at the moment.
https://tinyurl.com/ydbwgxjx

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Rootes75 · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 11:38 pm Post subject:

Not too many MkVII's left these days.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2150 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

What a delightful pair!
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Richard Hughes

Rootes75 · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2025 11:37 am Post subject:

I am sort of resurrecting this post as we've been doing a lot of work on our 1955 Minx recently.

The engine is now rebuilt and back in place, we had trouble with trying to find a starting dog but after 6 months of looking I opted to machine a suitable nut to use instead. It has the locking washer so it will be just right.

New coil, plugs and points are on order and will be here by the weekend so the plan is to get all that fitted, fill up the oil and water and give her a try.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7207 Location: Derby

What is the plan for the car? Will you be painting the body?

Rootes75 · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2025 3:25 pm Post subject:

Tbh, the plan at the moment is to get her running and driving. Get her back on the road. Then we'll look at the bodywork to get her looking presentable.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

consul 57 · Joined: 09 Nov 2017 Posts: 598 Location: somerset

smart cars
have you seen this?
https://wadyscider.co.uk/home
classic car meet here on sunday am
near middlezoy

Rootes75 · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2025 12:07 am Post subject:

That's my friend at works Son who set up and runs Wadys Cider.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

consul 57 · Joined: 09 Nov 2017 Posts: 598 Location: somerset

Rootes75 · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2025 5:33 pm Post subject:

We gave it a go finishing off the Hillman engine today, everything is now fitted and we filled up the oil and water. She has a slight water leak from a drain tap on the side of the engine.

Ultimately she won't start. We have a good spark at the contacts but nothing through the HT leads, they are the originals and a couple are a little threadbare so I'll replace them next weekend and we'll give it another go.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Rootes75 · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2025 12:00 pm Post subject:

New HT lead set on order. Should be here ready to cut and fit at the weekend.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.