Awesome reliable car. My dad had one from around 1965-73 when I was growing up. I'll never forget having to crank out in the rain -- was like something out of the 1920s. LOL THANKS for your great videos.
Hi Steph, a lovely car. My Grandfather had a 1959 Hillman Minx here in NZ and he was very proud of it and bought it new. I have a 1961 Humber Hawk Series II that I inherited from my father eight years ago and he bought it in 1964. It had sat unused in storage for about 25 years before I inherited it and it became derelict. I have been working on getting it back on the road with much work. I love the car. I enjoy your videos very much ☺️
This is so so good - met you at Huddersfield Jumble today. Couldn't stop smiling through the video - and I know the owner as a customer at the event. Hoping the new job goes well - I certainly will be watching more of your channel - best wishes, Jeff (Huddersfield Jumble) :)
I’ve not even got to the drive yet but I LOVE the section where you talk to the owner. Very few channels do it. I’m welling up listening to him talking about his grandad. WHO’S CUTTING ONIONS IN HERE?
Greetings again from Missouri, USA. As mentioned in a recent reply to your Skoda Favorit episode, there was a wide variety of imports to be seen here in the States when I was a kid. Hillman was among the models you’d come across every now and then, and I always liked their natty styling. What a nice example this one is, and what a story the owner has. Wonderful stuff, and all part of the Classic experience!
great to see and hear so many people, especially the younger generation with a passion for classic cars and their storys and history on how they became so attached to them .it puts a smile on any enthusiasts face..your a gem steph , a natural narrator,..keep it going girl..
My dad bought a series 5 from New back in 1964 it was a green one with a 1600cc engine. It was a lovely car and I went on to own it in 1972 after I bought it from him. It was lovely to drive but didn't have the syncro in 1st. It was well built and felt really solid. I only had it for about a year then it was sold on, sadly I don't think it's around anymore. Great video Steph and be proud of yourself your lovely.
I really enjoyed this review as my parents owned a Series V Minx from new and owned it for nearly ten years. I do remember it was well looked after and was rustproofed during that time and was garaged as well. It was last seen in 1980 aged 15 years old and was in poor condition which was sad. The car had a 1,592cc engine in an Alabaster Grey and Forest Green livery and was our family’s first brand new car.
I owned a 1960 Two-Tone green/ white Hillman Minx 1500. It looked immaculate, that was, until the rear Leaf Spring End came up through the Boot Interior. I discovered that the whole chassis Member was a crumbly as an Abbey Crunch Biscuit. Loved the Bench Seat, and matching interior upholstery. The previous owner had concealed the rust - with tar-soaked fabric over the crumbling metal. A lot of this type of "Con - Trick" went on back then in the sixties, and it seemed to be a National Sport, and (frequently) the shonky Car dealers did this too! The Hillman Husky was also a nice vehicle. One day, driving the Husky in the hills of Darwen, Lancs. I was going up a very steep hill, and changing from first to second gear. The 'lurch' from the vehicle caused the Driving Seat to be torn completely out of the floor! I remember tumbling backward, and rolling right to the rear door! A huge unwanted surprise! Lucky for me, the engine stalled, and the car didn't go flying back down the hill! Again, the Seat Mounts were severely rusted on this car too! The salt on British roads in winter - was the catalyst to shorten any cars' life back then. 99% of all Hillmans have an unhappy ending.
I love your reviews, yours is the best classic car channel there is. You have an obvious passion and always thoroughly like research the cars you review. I appreciate the time and effort you put in to every video. I especially like it that you talk to the owner and get the history of the car. This car is in beautiful condition. Thanks for sharing it with us. You really should get your own tv series, you’re a natural. Already looking forward to your next video. I hope the new job is going well for you. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2020. Please keep the videos coming Steph. You have a natural talent and your genuine interest in these cars, along with your personality shines through.
Hi Steph. One of your best yet. Couldn't believe it when I saw you doing a Minx. I went and bought one during Christmas. 1959 vintage and only slightly different to this one. I can confirm "Hillmanitis" exists! Luckily only on the near side for mine. What a nice gent and a lovely car. Thanks for great entertainment as always.
Thank you for another great episode Steph! What a clean example of a very nice car. I always enjoy hearing from the owners and I have to agree with you, this is the best owner (or son of owner) commentary yet. I found your channel a couple of weeks ago and I've been binging a bit to catch up. I just wanted to say that even if the car being featured isn't my cup of tea, your enthusiasm and personality come shining through and make the videos enjoyable. My knowledge of the Mini Metro has increased 100% beyond what it was before I found this channel! Congratulations on the new job and Happy New Year from the US!
Wow, that car is in good condition! Lovely owner, lovely story and he has a POOH on the shelf!! You should try a Hillman Super Minx too - bit bigger flashier but still comfy and quite luxurious for the time. These look like a great classic for today, could certainly be used every day still. Thanks for a great video!
Steph, thanks for this tour of the Minx Series VI. My folks bought one brand new in '67, black finish with red interior. It was one of the last into the USA and was badged a Sunbeam, as Chrysler consolidated all Rootes products under that name for our market after the takeover. You are right about the quality and smoothness of these cars. Their excellent design and build made them unusually pleasant to own and drive. Rootes customers happily paid a little more for high quality. The Minx and its siblings featured all-welded unitized construction. Even the fenders were welded on. The cars felt very solid and rattle-free, though they could be harder to repair after a collision than some other brands. I miss our Minx to this day, and have always wished I'd taken it over from my parents when they moved it on. Your drive in the Minx brings back lots of good memories.
WOW Steph, thanks so much. This is exactly the same as our family car at the start of the seventies, right down to the colour (though ours had a white roof in addition). The view from the back seat looking forwards as you drove matched one of my earliest ever memories, driving into town with my mum. It was just our normal car and nothing special. Remember the front wings rusted down the edge by the doors. Was replaced by a Wolseley 18/85 auto (landcrab) which was epic & still regarded in our family as the best car we ever had. 😊
Great review, Steph. Beautiful car, too. I have always loved these Series VI Minx. There was a badge engineered Singer as well that was available as a 2 door hardtop that was really sharp. I had to show this video to my 90 year old mother. Her first car, way back in 1954, was a brand new Hillman Minx. It was a great car for the time. She drove it daily for 4 years, doing about 100 miles a day on the then new Queen Elizabeth Way, a 70 mph dual carriageway running West from Toronto, Ontario. The one foible was that the car developed asthma with the first flake of snow. Being in Ontario, Canada, and her being a teacher and so commuting daily between the beginning of September and the end of June, the poor car was wheezing most of the time. She traded it in on a 58 Vauxhall Velox, which was truly a dud of a car.
At the rate its going the US is going to be like the UK in another decade. If its a Ford but engineered in China and made in Mexico it not a US CAR anymore! Like a Chinese made Volvo!
Thank you Steph! Lovely to see you again! A couple of my teachers had Minx's in the late '60's/early '70's, and although one was a 'D' reg, and the other was slightly older, they were kept very clean, and scrupulously maintained. We also had a snobbish teacher that 'had' to buy a new car every year (when I was there, it was Mk IV Zodiacs!) his seemed quite shabby when compared to the Hillmans! :-) The son of a neighbour also had a Minx, and it had everything! Chrome external wing mirrors, mudflaps, chrome exhaust tip, tow-bar with chrome ball cover, aerial mounted on the rear wing, and even cushions in the back window, but the purr it made when he drove past was glorious!
Served my time , 57/63, worked on all rootes vehicles, good motors, notice the position of the handbrake, for the era could get a relative quick getaway, problem was after time the floor area rusted away, Chris,
Hi Steph, thankyou heaps for your fantastic presentations. I love Hillmans. I thought is was really nice how Kev loved his Grandfather and still does. I loved Grandfather the same and think of him often, Great video as usual. Thanks , John (Australia).
What a superb example this is. My Father had one in 1971, which was cream with a raspberry stripe. Very informative and enjoyable video, which brought back some good memories. Thanks and congrats on the new job Steph.
Those seats were freezing in the winter and roasting in the summer when you first got into the car. And with no radio we used to put a small transistor on the rear shelf. You really bought back memories, thank you.
Happy New Year Steph. Another great video. There would always be room for a Minx (of any series) in my 'dream garage'. Lovely cars indeed. Many thanks.
I’ve really enjoyed your videos on both the Volvo 164 and the Hillman Minx ...and it’s clear that you’re a fan of the cars you’ve reviewed, as well as the eras they were built in; you’re a true breath of fresh air and I love your cool and most personal approach to your subjects! I bet you have a bulletproof period play-list of music you love, too...if so, please consider sharing it to add to the era-specific cars you love! Here at home in America, I run a nice but unrestored 1961 Mercedes-Benz W111 220SE ‘Fintail’ sedan and I love both the car and the era she won four World Rallye Championships in ‘60-‘’64...including two very-capable women (Rosqvist/Wirth team) winning it all in Argentina! If you can find a Mercedes W111 220 or W112 300 S-Class ‘Fintail’ sedan to test in the UK...I’d absolutely love your take on these big, fast, safe and comfortable German sedans from ‘59-‘65! Love your great reviews! All the best to you this year!
Hi Steph, what a beautiful car hat Minx is sounded lovely for its age, lve had Routes before an arrows Minx estate and an Arrows Hunter so a bit younger but ayr back my dad has had the Humber sceptre, for the 60s they were ellen built cars in my opinion very under rated respect to the one for his passion ,and lovely stay about his granddad, kept up the wonderful videos Steph,
I was 6 when this car was registered so it looks quite modern to me it's quite handsome and well proportioned. it has hints of the later triumph Toledo/1300s . I remember washing the very chrome hubcaps of a singer Gazelle round about this age seemed it very modern and posh.
My dad had a convertible minx reg 386 DUO My mum called it Betsie. We lived in Thackley /Idle in Bradford and often travelled over to Bridlington. I loved it especially with the hood down. However, it was freezing in winter, roof leaked like a sieve, fumes came into the car making me feel sick, it was a rust bucket and was forever breaking down. I always preferred the look of the Singer Vogue but it was too expensive. All that aside I’d love to have one, so much character! Great videos Steph.
Another great review Steph. Lovely little car. Beautiful interior. Rather unfortunate number plate though. Reminded me of when I was I child. The milkmans delivery van had POO on the number plate..always made me giggle!
My god that's a tidy car! I remember seeing them regularly on the road in the '70's and they usually weren't that clean and solid back then! Same engine as used in the Commer van you reviewed a while back, the superb 1725 OHV. A torquey, rugged engine that was quite large for a car the size of a Minx and which made light work of moving that amount of weight.
People just never knew how well Hillman's where build the very first time a bloke i used to work with gave me a lift in his Hillman i was shocked at how solid it felt next to my Cortina it was no rattles nothing, to be honest it felt as if it was build with RSJ's to keep the body solid it just felt like the old Peugeot 403 way way better quality build than cars in its price range but sadly If people do not know the quality of your cars they wont buy them thanks for a great video girl
Another wonderful, informative video - Thank you Steph. Alas, it highlights just how good a car we used to produce and how management - worker relationships killed off the British car industry apart from very high end cars that most of can only dream of.
Lost my dad on the Friday before xmas :( he would have loved this video as I know he loved the minx that he and mum used to own when they were first married , 51 years ago !
Notice the opening in the front bumper for a starting handle. I believe that Rootes cars continued with the old crankhandle for some time after it was dropped by other manufacturers. This was always a great get-you-home measure, if your battery or starter motor threw in the towel. Very enjoyable and informative reviews, Steff. Thanks!
Had a couple of these back in the 70's, great little cars. Also had the Singer Gazelle Estate. Took it over on the ferry to the isle Of Wight - Four Adults, five kids and ALL the suit-cases strapped onto the Roof-rack (You could do THAT back then ;-) Great memories, but a couple of days after we returned, the back-axle snapped in half, and when the scrappie lifted it off the ground, the axle stayed put, it had rusted OFF the body as well as snapped in half ... We'd been bombing up the motorway at 70+ on the way back too AARRGGHH!! :-)
A beautiful, beautiful car. My father owned its slightly posher relative, the Singer Gazelle (Mk V). And my uncle owned a Mk VI, with the 1725 engine. Even before that, I loved these Rootes products. I remember as a seven year old, loving the Hillman Minx series I (made as Raymond Loewy intended), and then becoming increasingly disenchanted as Rootes added pointless features such as stubby fins at the back, and a rococo grille. I was so pleased that with the Mk V, the whole car returned to clean, simple lines. The very first Sunbeam Rapiers (circa 1957) had the elegance of the first of the "series" Hillman Minxes, but this too, soon succumbed to pointless fiddling. In the 1950s, Rootes cars always seemed to be very refined, compared with BMC, but were very conventional - at least until the "Imp". Unfortunately in 1960 there was a series of eight strikes at Rootes' stampings plant at Acton. The press dubbed them "the honeymoon strike". In my opinion the strikes were enough to cripple Rootes financially, and the company never recovered. Harold Wilson's solution was to dump the failing, strike-prone company on Chrysler, who wanted overseas capacity to match that of Ford and GM. However by the the late sixties, Chrysler had its own problems back home, and nothing they did with any of their European acquisitions appealed to the car-buying public.Soon, ownership was to change again. The misfortunes of Rootes should have been a warning to our governments about BMC. In an industry where communist unions had become all-powerful, the solution was NOT to reorganize, but to stamp out the socialist unions. A decade later BMC was financially crippled. Leyland (Britain's most successful commercial vehicle builder) was brought in to provide the capital to keep a reorganized BMC alive. But Leyland itself became infected by the socialist rot. which eventually ended Leyland's other acquisitions, Rover and Triumph. Not until Mrs Thatcher put paid to the socialist menace in the 1980s, did it become possible for Britain to have a successful motor industry. But unfortunately, by then, everything was in foreign hands. The great names in British cars were gone. I hope when you hear the absurd Jess Philips MP talk about "saving jobs in the car industry (in her constituency)," you realize that fifty years ago, her idiotic ideology destroyed thousands upon thousands of those jobs. Failing socialism is funny when it destroys other economies. But not so when that ideology destroys ours.
It's a beautiful car to behold. Growing up my neighbor had a beige convertible over cranberry '65, rode in it once to school. Lovely, nice restoration.
Good looking car, we never saw those in the US. It's handsome. I like the cars that were made in the in the fifties and sixties so much better than today's cars. Good review by Steph.
Good one Steph my first car was a 61 IIIB Minx in the 70's and I had a very original 61 IIIB Humber 80 in the late 90's. I sold the Humber 80 when I had to move to an address with no garage. I still miss it.
Something I never knew (until I wikied it) was that the Minx and the Super Minx were different cars manufactured at the same time. I'd always thought that one replaced the other. I noticed how the owner polished her up for you! 😉 Great video, thanks Steph!
Great video - watched your series IIIc Minx video just before this one. The IIIc to my eyes looks a very frumpy 1950s car but the changes made to the V and VI - shrunken tail fines, smaller wheels and squared up rear transform it. And the dash too - going from painted metal and central instruments (as Minor, Mini etc so that same dash could be used in LHD and RHD cars) to the really classy one in the VI transforms the interior.
Pop purchased a 1725 Minx in mid to late 60's storm grey body & cream roof, thought it was brill. Registration was LVX 172C from a small dealer in NE Essex nr Halstead The gearbox was Borg-Warner, german if I'm not mistaken and got us all the way to Bude in Cornwall overnight from Suffolk; we even took the blinkin cat as we didn't want to leave it at home. Finished learning to drive in it before my test and was still a great car to drive after the two Morris Travellers Pop acquired
Another excellent review, another stroll down memory lane for me as I remember these cars from my childhood in the sixties, if fact my father had two of the previous versions of the Hillman Minx in late fifties early sixties..
Hi Steph, this is the first video of yours I’ve seen, loved it, especially the owner interview. Hopefully you can get get a bit of financial backing so you can invest in some neat extras like maybe a lapel-mic. Would love to see a side by side comparison of the Minx and the Gazelle.
We had two of these in the 60's when I was a kid. Both blue. My dad fitted seatbelts into the back for us. They were red I thought that was SO COOL! Lol...... By the way, I'm not sure if you or your viewers are aware, but the panel light switch is because when you had to park at night on roads with a speed limit of 40 or over, you had to leave lights on. This switch was to save your battery. Some more modern cars did it by leaving the indicator stalk in the position for the side you wanted the lights on!
Similar car to the Singer and the Sunbeam, just goes to show that badge engineering existed long before the 80’s and 90’s . Rootes group would later become Chrysler UK and then PSA group revived the old Talbot name till 1994, when the vans they made were discontinued along with the brand name, and just sold as Peugeot and Citroen.
I'm watching this in Coventry. Various family members worked at Rootes in Ryton on Dunsmore nr Coventry, 60 years later I was able to influence the naming of the road names on the industrial estate that replaced it, hence Imperial Road named after Humber Imperial.
Great video Steph, it's always thought the Minx was a bit dull but this video has changed my mind. I absolutely look forward to your videos, keep up the great work and good luck in the new Job. Happy New Year.
My dad had four MInxs never lets us down changed for the newer model before any rust set in always the trouble with older cars that one is absolute stunner Steph happy motoring in 2020
I had three of these Series 6 cars....one Singer Gazelle and two Hillman Gazelles...they differed from this Minx in having leather (at least in the Singer it was) and wood dash and door cappings. Yes the roundel in the centre of the dash could be replaced with a clock...which the Singer had but the Hillmans did not. Also the front grille on the Hillman Gazelle differed from the Minx but essentially the cars were the same. Interestingly, this car’s 1725 engine looked different to mine and I believe the reason may have been because my 1725 had an alloy head with a fairly substantial rectangular rocker cover. A nice trip down memory lane for me. Well done on this video.
My first car in 79 ! Had to buy it off my old man for £25 and came with a knackered clutch ! Two tone green and with a CB radio ,bullwhip aerial I was the bees knees ! Did my courting in it me and the misses in the front seat and my mate and his misses in the back , needless to say saw plenty of action . Failed its mot on rust but served me well , the engine was replaced when my father owned the car and somewhere in the garden of my childhood home is buried the engine ! LOL . Halcyon days 📺
I owned one in 1986 and loved it, until a Ford Capri decided to crash in to me doing 80 miles an hour down Beehive lane in Chelmsford.. If I hadnot been in that car I think me and my mate Lee wouldn't have got out of that crash. I got it started afterwards and got it back home to where I lived in Gardeners, amazing car started it with the crank handle.. Cause of the damage sold it to a scrappy and got 24 pound for it.. Loved that car, Top Video!!
My first car in the early 80s, it was regarded as an old banger then but they look fantastic now, fond memories of it despite taking ages to start on cold mornings!
Same as the Imp..? I thought they had a raked rear window and twin headlights and were really sporty looking. Anyway... I'd stay well clear of IDCC to youtube your beaut. Ask Furious to do it or wait for HubNut to return. I'd love to see someone review your wheels that does the research understands how they work and can relate the info succinctly. Love to see that in the Spring
I want to make all Hillman Minx Lovers Drool! I have just checked-out Australia's Gumtree. Currently, there is a red (1964) Hillman Minx in absolutely Immaculate Factory Condition, just like it had been 'caught' in a Time Warp. But get this: IT HAS ONLY 15,387 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE CLOCK. It is a manual, with matching red interior, RHD, and is exactly the same model that is displayed here. The price when converted to STG is not too bad - at 5000 quid. There cannot be many like this one, and (being in Australia) it is rust-free!
This brings back so many happy memories. A Minx was my Dads second car, bought about 1967. Blue colour. He had it for a about a week when we went to Looe, Cornwall on a family holiday. The car broke down at Wincanton. Dad was not impressed. Think he had it for about 5 years before changing to a Sunbeam Stiletto.
When a 50s or 60s prog is made Rootes cars seem to give that more nostalgic feel. Maybe because they aren't around so much anymore. I loved them so. You could blindfold me and if placed in a Rootes car I'd know by the smell. In a nice way. SuperMinx, Vogue, Sceptre 1 & 3. Always wanted a big Humber, the Snipe. My two favourite companies Rooted group and Rover. Rip
Great video. My father had one new and this was the first car I ever drove . It was solid and comfortable . The big engine was very gutsy but was plagued with carb flats spots .... strombergs as I remember .
My dad taught me to drive in his 1963 Minx in 1973, I passed in December 73 in a driving schools brand new Vauxhall Viva on my 19th birthday, quite a present! The Minx registration was 684 DOT, I wonder how much that would be worth now?
Nice car. What a lovely owner story too. My parents hired one of these to go on holiday when they were new - in 1966!. Same car as your test but dark green. It seemed really plush to 8 year old me compared with our own 59 minx :-). Love the number plate!
Interesting video. Thank you. I learned to drive on my mum's series IIIB Minx (1960 model). What you're driving there is not a Mk VI, but a Series VI. The previous shape Minxes were designated Mk. 1, 2, 3 etc., but the Audax Minxes were designated by series not mark, with the Series VI being the last of the true Minxes. As you mentioned, what followed the Series VI was just a rebadged Hillman Hunter. That 1725cc engine was a very good engine. In fact Rootes Group cars were very well made and despite often being underpowered (especially the side valve models) they were quite popular here in Australia. They were known for being solidly made and very reliable. Wonderful little machines. Another, sadly missed, extinct English motor car.
Awesome reliable car. My dad had one from around 1965-73 when I was growing up. I'll never forget having to crank out in the rain -- was like something out of the 1920s. LOL THANKS for your great videos.
Hi Steph, a lovely car. My Grandfather had a 1959 Hillman Minx here in NZ and he was very proud of it and bought it new.
I have a 1961 Humber Hawk Series II that I inherited from my father eight years ago and he bought it in 1964.
It had sat unused in storage for about 25 years before I inherited it and it became derelict. I have been working on getting it back on the road with much work. I love the car.
I enjoy your videos very much ☺️
This is so so good - met you at Huddersfield Jumble today. Couldn't stop smiling through the video - and I know the owner as a customer at the event. Hoping the new job goes well - I certainly will be watching more of your channel - best wishes, Jeff (Huddersfield Jumble) :)
I’ve not even got to the drive yet but I LOVE the section where you talk to the owner. Very few channels do it. I’m welling up listening to him talking about his grandad. WHO’S CUTTING ONIONS IN HERE?
Greetings again from Missouri, USA. As mentioned in a recent reply to your Skoda Favorit episode, there was a wide variety of imports to be seen here in the States when I was a kid. Hillman was among the models you’d come across every now and then, and I always liked their natty styling. What a nice example this one is, and what a story the owner has. Wonderful stuff, and all part of the Classic experience!
great to see and hear so many people,
especially the younger generation with a passion for classic cars and their storys and history on how they became so attached to them .it puts a smile on any enthusiasts face..your a gem steph , a natural narrator,..keep it going girl..
The owner is such a sweet, delightful man. I do love your videos Steph! Thanks you so much. Greeting from Italy!
We are all like that in 🇬🇧
My dad bought a series 5 from New back in 1964 it was a green one with a 1600cc engine. It was a lovely car and I went on to own it in 1972 after I bought it from him.
It was lovely to drive but didn't have the syncro in 1st.
It was well built and felt really solid.
I only had it for about a year then it was sold on, sadly I don't think it's around anymore.
Great video Steph and be proud of yourself your lovely.
I really enjoyed this review as my parents owned a Series V Minx from new and owned it for nearly ten years. I do remember it was well looked after and was rustproofed during that time and was garaged as well. It was last seen in 1980 aged 15 years old and was in poor condition which was sad. The car had a 1,592cc engine in an Alabaster Grey and Forest Green livery and was our family’s first brand new car.
I owned a 1960 Two-Tone green/ white Hillman Minx 1500. It looked immaculate, that was, until the rear Leaf Spring End came up through the Boot Interior. I discovered that the whole chassis Member was a crumbly as an Abbey Crunch Biscuit. Loved the Bench Seat, and matching interior upholstery. The previous owner had concealed the rust - with tar-soaked fabric over the crumbling metal. A lot of this type of "Con - Trick" went on back then in the sixties, and it seemed to be a National Sport, and (frequently) the shonky Car dealers did this too! The Hillman Husky was also a nice vehicle. One day, driving the Husky in the hills of Darwen, Lancs. I was going up a very steep hill, and changing from first to second gear. The 'lurch' from the vehicle caused the Driving Seat to be torn completely out of the floor! I remember tumbling backward, and rolling right to the rear door! A huge unwanted surprise! Lucky for me, the engine stalled, and the car didn't go flying back down the hill! Again, the Seat Mounts were severely rusted on this car too! The salt on British roads in winter - was the catalyst to shorten any cars' life back then. 99% of all Hillmans have an unhappy ending.
I love your reviews, yours is the best classic car channel there is. You have an obvious passion and always thoroughly like research the cars you review. I appreciate the time and effort you put in to every video. I especially like it that you talk to the owner and get the history of the car. This car is in beautiful condition. Thanks for sharing it with us. You really should get your own tv series, you’re a natural. Already looking forward to your next video. I hope the new job is going well for you. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2020. Please keep the videos coming Steph. You have a natural talent and your genuine interest in these cars, along with your personality shines through.
Well done..very insightful..my parents had a hillman minx when they studied in Australia during the 60s as students..:)
I just love your videos! Great taste in cars and super interesting to watch. Greetings from Germany
Hi Steph. One of your best yet. Couldn't believe it when I saw you doing a Minx. I went and bought one during Christmas. 1959 vintage and only slightly different to this one. I can confirm "Hillmanitis" exists! Luckily only on the near side for mine.
What a nice gent and a lovely car. Thanks for great entertainment as always.
Thanks for this video Steph. My wifes dad had a series six minx and watching this brought back memories for her
Thank you for another great episode Steph! What a clean example of a very nice car. I always enjoy hearing from the owners and I have to agree with you, this is the best owner (or son of owner) commentary yet.
I found your channel a couple of weeks ago and I've been binging a bit to catch up. I just wanted to say that even if the car being featured isn't my cup of tea, your enthusiasm and personality come shining through and make the videos enjoyable. My knowledge of the Mini Metro has increased 100% beyond what it was before I found this channel!
Congratulations on the new job and Happy New Year from the US!
Wow, that car is in good condition! Lovely owner, lovely story and he has a POOH on the shelf!!
You should try a Hillman Super Minx too - bit bigger flashier but still comfy and quite luxurious for the time. These look like a great classic for today, could certainly be used every day still. Thanks for a great video!
Also has POO on the number plate
Steph, thanks for this tour of the Minx Series VI. My folks bought one brand new in '67, black finish with red interior. It was one of the last into the USA and was badged a Sunbeam, as Chrysler consolidated all Rootes products under that name for our market after the takeover.
You are right about the quality and smoothness of these cars. Their excellent design and build made them unusually pleasant to own and drive. Rootes customers happily paid a little more for high quality. The Minx and its siblings featured all-welded unitized construction. Even the fenders were welded on. The cars felt very solid and rattle-free, though they could be harder to repair after a collision than some other brands.
I miss our Minx to this day, and have always wished I'd taken it over from my parents when they moved it on. Your drive in the Minx brings back lots of good memories.
WOW Steph, thanks so much. This is exactly the same as our family car at the start of the seventies, right down to the colour (though ours had a white roof in addition). The view from the back seat looking forwards as you drove matched one of my earliest ever memories, driving into town with my mum. It was just our normal car and nothing special. Remember the front wings rusted down the edge by the doors. Was replaced by a Wolseley 18/85 auto (landcrab) which was epic & still regarded in our family as the best car we ever had. 😊
Great review, Steph. Beautiful car, too. I have always loved these Series VI Minx. There was a badge engineered Singer as well that was available as a 2 door hardtop that was really sharp. I had to show this video to my 90 year old mother. Her first car, way back in 1954, was a brand new Hillman Minx. It was a great car for the time. She drove it daily for 4 years, doing about 100 miles a day on the then new Queen Elizabeth Way, a 70 mph dual carriageway running West from Toronto, Ontario. The one foible was that the car developed asthma with the first flake of snow. Being in Ontario, Canada, and her being a teacher and so commuting daily between the beginning of September and the end of June, the poor car was wheezing most of the time. She traded it in on a 58 Vauxhall Velox, which was truly a dud of a car.
Britain needs to get back on its feet producing cars.
Vauxhall still make some models here in the UK, but no Fords have been assembled here for some years - just engines.
@@arunparkin2552 fords an american company and vauxhall are owned by Peugeot
@ Well the truth is if you watch the mini production line on You Tube its mainly robots nowadays building them anyways.
@@arunparkin2552 It's not the same, though.
At the rate its going the US is going to be like the UK in another decade. If its a Ford but engineered in China and made in Mexico it not a US CAR anymore! Like a Chinese made Volvo!
Thank you Steph! Lovely to see you again!
A couple of my teachers had Minx's in the late '60's/early '70's, and although one was a 'D' reg, and the other was slightly older, they were kept very clean, and scrupulously maintained. We also had a snobbish teacher that 'had' to buy a new car every year (when I was there, it was Mk IV Zodiacs!) his seemed quite shabby when compared to the Hillmans! :-)
The son of a neighbour also had a Minx, and it had everything! Chrome external wing mirrors, mudflaps, chrome exhaust tip, tow-bar with chrome ball cover, aerial mounted on the rear wing, and even cushions in the back window, but the purr it made when he drove past was glorious!
Bloody hell I feel old. I was born two years before this car was made. 56 this year, makes that car 54 years old. In better condition than me. :-)
I was born in '68 and I'm definitely not that shiny!
Know the feeling .I need a respray
Served my time , 57/63, worked on all rootes vehicles, good motors, notice the position of the handbrake, for the era could get a relative quick getaway, problem was after time the floor area rusted away, Chris,
great vid steph maybe a Hillman imp next time in keeping with rootes car theme
Hi Steph, thankyou heaps for your fantastic presentations. I love Hillmans. I thought is was really nice how Kev loved his Grandfather and still does. I loved Grandfather the same and think of him often, Great video as usual. Thanks , John (Australia).
What a superb example this is. My Father had one in 1971, which was cream with a raspberry stripe. Very informative and enjoyable video, which brought back some good memories. Thanks and congrats on the new job Steph.
Those seats were freezing in the winter and roasting in the summer when you first got into the car. And with no radio we used to put a small transistor on the rear shelf. You really bought back memories, thank you.
Happy New Year Steph. Another great video. There would always be room for a Minx (of any series) in my 'dream garage'. Lovely cars indeed. Many thanks.
had a series V last year! great motor, only cost me £1750 so they are more than affordable!
What a great looking Minx! The car's nice too.
Wow!! What a gem of a car. Brilliant review, Lady!
Great video as always thank you. Happy new year and keep them vids coming.
Thanks for a wonderful video Steph. I love the way you present the vehicles you review. Top-notch. 🇬🇧
'No driving finesse in 2019', how beautifully put.
I’ve really enjoyed your videos on both the Volvo 164 and the Hillman Minx ...and it’s clear that you’re a fan of the cars you’ve reviewed, as well as the eras they were built in; you’re a true breath of fresh air and I love your cool and most personal approach to your subjects!
I bet you have a bulletproof period play-list of music you love, too...if so, please consider sharing it to add to the era-specific cars you love!
Here at home in America, I run a nice but unrestored 1961 Mercedes-Benz W111 220SE ‘Fintail’ sedan and I love both the car and the era she won four World Rallye Championships in ‘60-‘’64...including two very-capable women (Rosqvist/Wirth team) winning it all in Argentina!
If you can find a Mercedes W111 220 or W112 300 S-Class ‘Fintail’ sedan to test in the UK...I’d absolutely love your take on these big, fast, safe and comfortable German sedans from ‘59-‘65!
Love your great reviews! All the best to you this year!
Great show Steph. Pete UK
Thank youuuuu!!!!
It looks to be in lovely condition, a credit to the owner.
Hi Steph, what a beautiful car hat Minx is sounded lovely for its age, lve had Routes before an arrows Minx estate and an Arrows Hunter so a bit younger but ayr back my dad has had the Humber sceptre, for the 60s they were ellen built cars in my opinion very under rated respect to the one for his passion ,and lovely stay about his granddad, kept up the wonderful videos Steph,
I was 6 when this car was registered so it looks quite modern to me it's quite handsome and well proportioned. it has hints of the later triumph Toledo/1300s . I remember washing the very chrome hubcaps of a singer Gazelle round about this age seemed it very modern and posh.
I know what you mean about the similarity to Triumphs, the roofline towards the rear is very similar.
A cheeky Steph review before bed.
Fantastic 👍
I love this girl she’s brilliant.
My dad had a convertible minx reg 386 DUO My mum called it Betsie. We lived in Thackley /Idle in Bradford and often travelled over to Bridlington. I loved it especially with the hood down. However, it was freezing in winter, roof leaked like a sieve, fumes came into the car making me feel sick, it was a rust bucket and was forever breaking down. I always preferred the look of the Singer Vogue but it was too expensive. All that aside I’d love to have one, so much character! Great videos Steph.
Another great review Steph. Lovely little car. Beautiful interior. Rather unfortunate number plate though. Reminded me of when I was I child. The milkmans delivery van had POO on the number plate..always made me giggle!
Fantastic video, brilliant back story to that Minx too.
Oh Wow Love that British Accent
I use to work on them in the 60s. 5 bearing crank. The 1600 had a three bearing crank.
Hi steph great vid as always! Congratulations , new year , new job how cool is that. Amanda and bill x ☺
Give me Steph over Shmee everyday 👏🏼👏🏼
Hes a nob
Shmee is the most annoying person on UA-cam
My dad had a 1965 blue with a white roof the first car I drove after passing my test , lots of fond memories . Thanks
My dad's first car was just like this, EVR904D. Had from 1969 to 1980, great car! Thanks for testing
Sounds to me like a masculine car with the Rego Number as "Everhard"
At last a female car reviewer!
Cheers from the Philippines 🇵🇭👍
My god that's a tidy car! I remember seeing them regularly on the road in the '70's and they usually weren't that clean and solid back then! Same engine as used in the Commer van you reviewed a while back, the superb 1725 OHV. A torquey, rugged engine that was quite large for a car the size of a Minx and which made light work of moving that amount of weight.
People just never knew how well Hillman's where build the very first time a bloke i used to work with gave me a lift in his Hillman i was shocked at how solid it felt next to my Cortina it was no rattles nothing, to be honest it felt as if it was build with RSJ's to keep the body solid it just felt like the old Peugeot 403 way way better quality build than cars in its price range but sadly If people do not know the quality of your cars they wont buy them thanks for a great video girl
Another wonderful, informative video - Thank you Steph. Alas, it highlights just how good a car we used to produce and how management - worker relationships killed off the British car industry apart from very high end cars that most of can only dream of.
Lost my dad on the Friday before xmas :( he would have loved this video as I know he loved the minx that he and mum used to own when they were first married , 51 years ago !
I'm welling up now! That is a lovely car. Very dainty and elegant. It also looks quite modern on the exterior for it's age.
Notice the opening in the front bumper for a starting handle. I believe that Rootes cars continued with the old crankhandle for some time after it was dropped by other manufacturers. This was always a great get-you-home measure, if your battery or starter motor threw in the towel. Very enjoyable and informative reviews, Steff. Thanks!
I had a 1957 Hillman Minx, that was 49 years ago, Loved that car,, I keep looking for another, hard to find in the USA
Lovely car steph great video
Had a couple of these back in the 70's, great little cars. Also had the Singer Gazelle Estate. Took it over on the ferry to the isle Of Wight - Four Adults, five kids and ALL the suit-cases strapped onto the Roof-rack (You could do THAT back then ;-)
Great memories, but a couple of days after we returned, the back-axle snapped in half, and when the scrappie lifted it off the ground, the axle stayed put, it had rusted OFF the body as well as snapped in half ... We'd been bombing up the motorway at 70+ on the way back too AARRGGHH!! :-)
A beautiful, beautiful car.
My father owned its slightly posher relative, the Singer Gazelle (Mk V). And my uncle owned a Mk VI, with the 1725 engine. Even before that, I loved these Rootes products. I remember as a seven year old, loving the Hillman Minx series I (made as Raymond Loewy intended), and then becoming increasingly disenchanted as Rootes added pointless features such as stubby fins at the back, and a rococo grille.
I was so pleased that with the Mk V, the whole car returned to clean, simple lines.
The very first Sunbeam Rapiers (circa 1957) had the elegance of the first of the "series" Hillman Minxes, but this too, soon succumbed to pointless fiddling.
In the 1950s, Rootes cars always seemed to be very refined, compared with BMC, but were very conventional - at least until the "Imp".
Unfortunately in 1960 there was a series of eight strikes at Rootes' stampings plant at Acton.
The press dubbed them "the honeymoon strike". In my opinion the strikes were enough to cripple Rootes financially, and the company never recovered. Harold Wilson's solution was to dump the failing, strike-prone company on Chrysler, who wanted overseas capacity to match that of Ford and GM. However by the the late sixties, Chrysler had its own problems back home, and nothing they did with any of their European acquisitions appealed to the car-buying public.Soon, ownership was to change again.
The misfortunes of Rootes should have been a warning to our governments about BMC.
In an industry where communist unions had become all-powerful, the solution was NOT to reorganize, but to stamp out the socialist unions. A decade later BMC was financially crippled. Leyland (Britain's most successful commercial vehicle builder) was brought in to provide the capital to keep a reorganized BMC alive. But Leyland itself became infected by the socialist rot. which eventually ended Leyland's other acquisitions, Rover and Triumph.
Not until Mrs Thatcher put paid to the socialist menace in the 1980s, did it become possible for Britain to have a successful motor industry. But unfortunately, by then, everything was in foreign hands. The great names in British cars were gone.
I hope when you hear the absurd Jess Philips MP talk about "saving jobs in the car industry (in her constituency)," you realize that fifty years ago, her idiotic ideology destroyed thousands upon thousands of those jobs.
Failing socialism is funny when it destroys other economies. But not so when that ideology destroys ours.
It's a beautiful car to behold. Growing up my neighbor had a beige convertible over cranberry '65, rode in it once to school. Lovely, nice restoration.
Good looking car, we never saw those in the US. It's handsome. I like the cars that were made in the in the fifties and sixties so much better than today's cars. Good review by Steph.
My Grandfather had one of these! Not my cup of tea ! But I like your videos Steph ! Keep up the great work as usual !😊
Brilliant reviews, so entertaining, well done
Good one Steph my first car was a 61 IIIB Minx in the 70's and I had a very original 61 IIIB Humber 80 in the late 90's. I sold the Humber 80 when I had to move to an address with no garage. I still miss it.
I had a secondhand 1600 Minx in 1974. Great car, took us all over. Quite fast and comfortable.
Great car thanks Steph. I enjoy your work. Happy new year 2020.
Hi Steph, a lovely, lovely car and a real credit to the family that own it..
Something I never knew (until I wikied it) was that the Minx and the Super Minx were different cars manufactured at the same time. I'd always thought that one replaced the other. I noticed how the owner polished her up for you! 😉 Great video, thanks Steph!
Great video - watched your series IIIc Minx video just before this one. The IIIc to my eyes looks a very frumpy 1950s car but the changes made to the V and VI - shrunken tail fines, smaller wheels and squared up rear transform it. And the dash too - going from painted metal and central instruments (as Minor, Mini etc so that same dash could be used in LHD and RHD cars) to the really classy one in the VI transforms the interior.
Pop purchased a 1725 Minx in mid to late 60's storm grey body & cream roof, thought it was brill.
Registration was LVX 172C from a small dealer in NE Essex nr Halstead
The gearbox was Borg-Warner, german if I'm not mistaken and got us all the way to Bude in Cornwall overnight from Suffolk; we even took the blinkin cat as we didn't want to leave it at home.
Finished learning to drive in it before my test and was still a great car to drive after the two Morris Travellers Pop acquired
Another excellent review, another stroll down memory lane for me as I remember these cars from my childhood in the sixties, if fact my father had two of the previous versions of the Hillman Minx in late fifties early sixties..
Hi Steph, this is the first video of yours I’ve seen, loved it, especially the owner interview.
Hopefully you can get get a bit of financial backing so you can invest in some neat extras like maybe a lapel-mic.
Would love to see a side by side comparison of the Minx and the Gazelle.
We had two of these in the 60's when I was a kid. Both blue. My dad fitted seatbelts into the back for us. They were red I thought that was SO COOL! Lol......
By the way, I'm not sure if you or your viewers are aware, but the panel light switch is because when you had to park at night on roads with a speed limit of 40 or over, you had to leave lights on. This switch was to save your battery. Some more modern cars did it by leaving the indicator stalk in the position for the side you wanted the lights on!
Similar car to the Singer and the Sunbeam, just goes to show that badge engineering existed long before the 80’s and 90’s . Rootes group would later become Chrysler UK and then PSA group revived the old Talbot name till 1994, when the vans they made were discontinued along with the brand name, and just sold as Peugeot and Citroen.
I'm watching this in Coventry. Various family members worked at Rootes in Ryton on Dunsmore nr Coventry, 60 years later I was able to influence the naming of the road names on the industrial estate that replaced it, hence Imperial Road named after Humber Imperial.
Great video Steph, it's always thought the Minx was a bit dull but this video has changed my mind.
I absolutely look forward to your videos, keep up the great work and good luck in the new Job. Happy New Year.
My dad had four MInxs never lets us down changed for the newer model before any rust set in always the trouble with older cars that one is absolute stunner Steph happy motoring in 2020
I had three of these Series 6 cars....one Singer Gazelle and two Hillman Gazelles...they differed from this Minx in having leather (at least in the Singer it was) and wood dash and door cappings. Yes the roundel in the centre of the dash could be replaced with a clock...which the Singer had but the Hillmans did not. Also the front grille on the Hillman Gazelle differed from the Minx but essentially the cars were the same.
Interestingly, this car’s 1725 engine looked different to mine and I believe the reason may have been because my 1725 had an alloy head with a fairly substantial rectangular rocker cover. A nice trip down memory lane for me. Well done on this video.
The synchronized gear box was a big improvement. Good looking body and interior. This was the car to have in 1965.
Beautiful car a real credit to the owner. Grew up with Hillmans, loved our old green Hunter estate in particular always reliable.
My first car in 79 ! Had to buy it off my old man for £25 and came with a knackered clutch ! Two tone green and with a CB radio ,bullwhip aerial I was the bees knees ! Did my courting in it me and the misses in the front seat and my mate and his misses in the back , needless to say saw plenty of action . Failed its mot on rust but served me well , the engine was replaced when my father owned the car and somewhere in the garden of my childhood home is buried the engine ! LOL . Halcyon days 📺
I owned one in 1986 and loved it, until a Ford Capri decided to crash in to me doing 80 miles an hour down Beehive lane in Chelmsford.. If I hadnot been in that car I think me and my mate Lee wouldn't have got out of that crash. I got it started afterwards and got it back home to where I lived in Gardeners, amazing car started it with the crank handle.. Cause of the damage sold it to a scrappy and got 24 pound for it.. Loved that car, Top Video!!
My first car in the early 80s, it was regarded as an old banger then but they look fantastic now, fond memories of it despite taking ages to start on cold mornings!
Hi Steph I have a singer chamois coupe 1969 you can drive same as the imp but the posh version. Was a rootes press car so interesting history.
Same as the Imp..? I thought they had a raked rear window and twin headlights and were really sporty looking. Anyway... I'd stay well clear of IDCC to youtube your beaut. Ask Furious to do it or wait for HubNut to return. I'd love to see someone review your wheels that does the research understands how they work and can relate the info succinctly. Love to see that in the Spring
Yes it's raked rear no opening rear window and four headlamps. I meant it's the same Linwood built 875cc car as an imp
Recently discovered the channel, you are great and so are the cars. Really enjoyable 😃😃
Brilliant vid Steph. Great presentation and knowledge. Loved the owner’s story too 👍
I want to make all Hillman Minx Lovers Drool! I have just checked-out Australia's Gumtree. Currently, there is a red (1964) Hillman Minx in absolutely Immaculate Factory Condition, just like it had been 'caught' in a Time Warp. But get this: IT HAS ONLY 15,387 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE CLOCK. It is a manual, with matching red interior, RHD, and is exactly the same model that is displayed here.
The price when converted to STG is not too bad - at 5000 quid. There cannot be many like this one, and (being in Australia) it is rust-free!
What a beautiful car
Absolutely crave a good Rootes creature. What a beauty. Thanks Steph!
This brings back so many happy memories. A Minx was my Dads second car, bought about 1967. Blue colour. He had it for a about a week when we went to Looe, Cornwall on a family holiday. The car broke down at Wincanton. Dad was not impressed. Think he had it for about 5 years before changing to a Sunbeam Stiletto.
Great review good luck with the new job
My grandfathers brother had a black 58 minx with tan interior I remember it well I was 8 years old at the time,in Portugal.🇵🇹🇺🇸
When a 50s or 60s prog is made Rootes cars seem to give that more nostalgic feel. Maybe because they aren't around so much anymore. I loved them so. You could blindfold me and if placed in a Rootes car I'd know by the smell. In a nice way. SuperMinx, Vogue, Sceptre 1 & 3. Always wanted a big Humber, the Snipe. My two favourite companies Rooted group and Rover. Rip
Great video. My father had one new and this was the first car I ever drove . It was solid and comfortable . The big engine was very gutsy but was plagued with carb flats spots .... strombergs as I remember .
Nice one Steph.
My dad taught me to drive in his 1963 Minx in 1973, I passed in December 73 in a driving schools brand new Vauxhall Viva on my 19th birthday, quite a present! The Minx registration was 684 DOT, I wonder how much that would be worth now?
Enjoyed the @hubnut reference 😁
Very nice, tidy wiper pattern with no triangle of doom. Ptchoo! (sorry, had to do that.)
Nice car. What a lovely owner story too. My parents hired one of these to go on holiday when they were new - in 1966!. Same car as your test but dark green. It seemed really plush to 8 year old me compared with our own 59 minx :-). Love the number plate!
Interesting video. Thank you. I learned to drive on my mum's series IIIB Minx (1960 model). What you're driving there is not a Mk VI, but a Series VI. The previous shape Minxes were designated Mk. 1, 2, 3 etc., but the Audax Minxes were designated by series not mark, with the Series VI being the last of the true Minxes. As you mentioned, what followed the Series VI was just a rebadged Hillman Hunter. That 1725cc engine was a very good engine. In fact Rootes Group cars were very well made and despite often being underpowered (especially the side valve models) they were quite popular here in Australia. They were known for being solidly made and very reliable. Wonderful little machines. Another, sadly missed, extinct English motor car.