The Hillman Minx was a utilitarian family saloon , in production in various formats between 1932 till 1970.
T
he original Minxs were powered by either 1,390cc and 1,494cc engines although from the Series 3 onwards until the model was discontinued, it was powered by a 1,592cc engine.
Hillman went into the Sixties with the Series One rapidly upgraded to the Series Two and later the Three which ran until 1963 when it was replaced by the Series Five.
There was no Series Fours released as the number had been set aside for the Super Minx, launched in 1962.)
Late in 1963, the Series Five Minx made its first appearance. Improvements over the Three Series included a more capacituos fuel tank, individual front seat, a full set of drivers gauges, conveniently placed in front of the driver, disc brakes in the front and even windscreen washers.
The first anomaly, showing the winds of change running through the corridors at Rootes, was the Five was only available as a four-door saloon, with convertible and estate options available only in the Super Minx- which was a completely different design.
Despite that, the Series V Minx represented a major revision by any standards, for the monocoque body had undergone a major revamp.
The Five had a new squared-up cabin roof, along with a new fascia and a less wrapped-round rear window, while the "fold-over" tail fins were deleted. 13in wheels (instead of 15in) were standardised, along with front-wheel disc brakes.
he Hillman Minx Series V was powered by a 1592cc, capable of generating 53 bhp. matched up to manual transmission.
Those who opted for a Minx with automatic gearbox were more than pleased to discover that their cars were equipped with a Borg-Warner unit, in place of the discredited Smiths Easidrive unit.
From September 1964 the Minx came fitted with a new all-synchromesh gearbox, a welcome feature that had become standard in all remaining Rootes models at the same time.
Yet another sign that the UK was moving out of its period of post war austerity was that the Mark V came fitted with side chromium trim. Giving the car more of a Fifties look was also its completely redesigned front grille and a sporty and light two spoke steering wheel.
The Series Six version of the Minx arrived in the Autumn of 1955.
The Six was almost identical to the Five, although this time powered by a 1725cc engine initially generating 65bhp, later detuned to 59bhp.
Other minor updates on the Five included headlamp flashers, with even the option of fitting a heater, radio, clock, reversing lights, whitewall tires and wheel trims. All of these features were only available as optional extras.
The Series Six, discontinued in 1967 was, to all intents and purposes, the last of the Hillman Mines, although a Series Seven was launched that same year, little more than a downmarket version of the Hillman Hunter.
Hillman Minxes of the Sixties remained true to their “Rootes - good, steady, continuously improving family cars although rarely capturing the hearts and the imagination of the UK and European public.
Between the Fives and Sixes , Hillman produced a total of 376,000 Minxes.
