1935 Hillman Minx Special

Registration No: SXS 639
Chassis No: 41019
MOT: September 2023
Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000

Motor Car Location: Gloucestershire

• One of two 1935 Hillman Minx Specials offered at this auction
• Presented in Red with a contrasting Black interior
• Subject to complete restoration with aluminium body and overhauled engine
• Offered with current V5C document and MOT valid until 28 September 2023

The Hillman Motor Company was founded in 1907 by millionaire William Hillman and the Breton designer/engineer Louis Coatalen. The company first started out producing bicycles, however, by 1928 it was under the control of the Rootes brothers; who would go on to become innovative stalwarts of the British automotive industry, their group comprising of Hillman, Humber, Sunbeam and Singer. By 1932, their first car had rolled off the production line, cheekily named the 'Minx'. It featured a modest 1185cc engine and was available in a choice of body styles, with the ‘Aero Minx’ the most sporting. The Minx was produced until the end of the Second World War. Ultimately, all four British brands were swallowed-up by Chrysler and then Peugeot, who finally closed the doors of what had been the Hillman factory in 2007. Interestingly, Peugeot, now itself part of the Stellantis group, still own the rights to the Hillman name.

On offer is one of two matching Minx specials offered at auction. The story, as it goes, is that the vendor visited a classic salvage yard to find some parts for a different car. During a conversation, the owner of the yard mentioned he knew of a Hillman requiring restoration sat in a Greenhouse. Fast forward a short period of time, the vendor bought it before being told there was another matching car. He of course bought that too and subsequently put them both into storage for a period of approximately four years before beginning the restoration process.

With the aim to restore both cars as sympathetically as possible, both cars were stripped back to bare chassis and rebuilt. The wooden floors were changed to aluminium and whilst as much bodywork was retained as could be, the rear sections required complete fabrication. Unfortunately, not much was left of the rear to go off, but as the projects were of a ‘30s race car design, the rears were re-fabricated as such in Aluminium. The interior was left as is and the engines re-bored with new pistons, big ends done, valves cut in, the head gaskets replaced, chains replaced etc.

Upon completion, the vendor was approached by a film company who requested that both cars be re-painted, but ‘not too well’. Both cars were then painted in Red and Green and the interiors re-upholstered in leather. Unfortunately with COVID he did never hear back from the film company, but has enjoyed both cars nonetheless.

Offered for sale here is the second car to be acquired. ‘SXS 639’ is presented in Red and benefits from slightly larger front brakes. The V5C document shows 1 former keeper, identifies the car as a 1935 Hillman Minx Tourer and is included with the sale but with no further paperwork present. The vendor rates the condition of the engine, electrical equipment and interior trim as ‘Good’, with the bodywork paintwork and transmission ‘Average’, and the car benefits from an MOT valid until 28th September, 2023.

PLEASE NOTE: The vendor notes that although it has been rebuit, the rating of the transmission as 'Average' is due to a noisy clutch thrust bearing after having been in storage.

For more information, please contact:
Andreas Hicks
andreas.hicks@handh.co.uk
07943584762