Dee, Atkinson & Harrison
Lot 1002
1959 Hillman Minx Series IIIA, 1494 cc Registration number 5721 KH Chassis number B1000195 H/HSO Engine number B1000195 H/HSO The distinctly American Audax body was designed by the Rootes Group in 1953, with help from the Raymond Loewy design organisation, who were involved in the design of Studebaker coupés. Announced in May 1956 the car went through a succession of annual face lifts each given a Series number, replacing the Mark number used on the previous Minxes. The Series I, introduced in 1956, was followed by the Series II in 1957, the Series III in 1958, the Series IIIA in 1959, the Series IIIB in 1960, the Series IIIC in 1961, the Series V in 1963 and the Series VI in 1965. (There was no Series IV). Over the years the engine was increased in capacity from 1390 cc to 1725 cc in the Series VI. A variety of manual transmissions, with column or floor change, and automatic transmissions were offered. The Series Minx were replaced by the Arrow Hunter range in 1967. There were Singer Gazelle and Sunbeam Rapier variants of all these Hillman Minx models, and the names were again used on derivatives in the later Rootes Arrow range. A Series III deluxe saloon with 1494 cc engine was tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1958, it had a top speed of 76.9 mph and could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 25.4 seconds!! The test car cost £794 including taxes of £265. This example, offered in Foam White over Pippin Red, was registered on the 9th September 1959 to Mr Eastwood, a director of Wilberforce Garage Ltd of Hull who very quickly sold it to Harry Edwards of Cottingham on the 13th of September. On the 8th September 1962 she was bought by John Dawson of Hull from Ralph Butterfields of Hull for £525.00. At this point the mileage was 23,000 and there is then a hand written note book of the work undertaken by John, greased all round every 1,000 miles, oil changed every 2,000 miles as well as sundry other works, up until 45,000. According to old MOT's the mileage was 83,177 in 1996 rising to 91,159 in 2006; the last time she was on the road, her current mileage being 93,865. Offered for restoration with the R.F.60, V5C, purchase receipt from 1962, an owners manual, the service notes and MOT's she again is looking for a new life and will make a worthy project.
