HIllman Minx

1931–1970 · three completely different cars · front discs arrive in 1963

Thirty-nine years and three unrelated bodyshells. Tell us the year and we will get it right.

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Not listed? Plenty of parts suit several marques and never get the model name in the title — ask us and we will check the books for you.

About the Hillman Minx

A Phase car, an Audax car and an Arrow car have essentially nothing in common, so treat “Minx” as three separate vehicles. The Phase cars (1945–57) are the first unitary Minx: hydraulic brakes arrive at Phase II, independent front suspension at Phase III, the engine goes from 1185 to 1265cc at Phase IV and to the overhead-valve 1390 at Phase VIII, which also brought 15in wheels. Then the Loewy-influenced Audax shell from May 1956, which is the one most people mean — and note before anything else that there is no Series IV. Rootes went IIIC straight to V; the missing number went to the Super Minx. Finally the Arrow Minx of 1967–70, which is a decontented Hunter and shares nothing with the Audax car — look under Hunter for its parts.

Inside the Audax run, four changes decide which part fits. Series IIIA, September 1959: the windscreen is 21 per cent bigger than the Series III. That is why screen rubbers are catalogued as “Series 1–3” and “Series 3A–3C” and never as one part. Series IIIB, October 1960: the spiral-bevel differential is dropped for hypoid — axle parts do not cross that line. Series IIIC, July 1961: the 1592cc engine, new C-section bumpers, a single side strip in place of twin, and door badges reading “1600”. And Series V, 1963: front discs, a restyled roof and rear window, 13in wheels in place of 15, and Super Minx front suspension. One more that catches people rebuilding a front end: the later upright has ball joints and is not a bolt-in swap for the earlier swivel-joint type.

Hillman Minx — specification & changes within the model

Brakes — the answer: Front discs arrive with the Series V in 1963. Everything before that — every Phase car and every Audax Series I to IIIC — is drums all round. A widely-read buyer’s guide says the whole Audax generation was drum-braked and the Arrow Minx was the first with discs. That is wrong, and three independent sources say so.
There is no Series IV: Rootes went IIIC straight to V. The missing number became the Super Minx. If a listing offers you a “Series IV Minx” part, something is wrong.
September 1959 — the screen breakpoint: The Series IIIA windscreen is 21 per cent bigger than the Series III. Screen seals split into Series I–III and Series IIIA–IIIC, with the Sunbeam Rapier Series III a third listing again. The Series IIIA also brought tail fins, a wider grille with rectangular side lamps and twin chrome side strips.
October 1960 — the axle breakpoint: Series IIIB dropped the spiral-bevel differential for hypoid bevel. Axle parts do not cross it. The IIIB also changed the grille from chromed steel to anodised aluminium.
Which Audax series is it: I (May 56) wrap-round backlight, reverse-slope rear side glass, hooded headlamp bezels · II (Aug 57) new grille, raised bonnet badge, chrome screen surrounds · III (Sep 58) 1494cc, wide grille lettered HILLMAN · IIIA (Sep 59) tail fins, bigger screen · IIIB (Oct 60) alloy grille · IIIC (Jul 61) 1592cc, C-section bumpers, single side strip, “1600” door badges.
Series V or Series VI: V — painted metal facia with a circular speedometer, dipstick in a tube beside the sump, 1592cc. VI — fake-timber facia with a linear speedometer, dipstick in the block, 1725cc five-bearing engine, all-synchromesh gearbox, “1725” badge behind the front wheel. Australian-assembled Series V kept 15in wheels; every other Series V and all Series VI are 13in.
Front suspension — not a bolt-in swap: The later upright has ball joints; the earlier one has swivel joints, and they do not interchange. Early cars need annual greasing of track rod ends, idler arm, drag links, swivel pins and wishbone trunnions; Series V and VI joints are sealed for life.
Wheels and tyres: 560-15 crossply for 1956–63 (Series I to IIIC). 600-13 crossply, later 165SR13 radial, for 1964–67 (Series V and VI). The wheel diameter changes with the Series V.
Same car, other badges: The Audax shell is also the Singer Gazelle (Singer overhead-cam engine on Series I–II only, Hillman pushrod after), the Sunbeam Rapier (its own pillarless two-door upper body — roof, doors and glass are not Minx), the Husky, the Commer Cob, and in New Zealand the Humber 80.
Not claimed: Earth polarity. Also not established: front drum diameters for Series I–IIIC, the Series V/VI disc diameter, chassis numbers past Series IIIC (the published table stops at B0 200 001, July 1961), and reliable bhp for the 1390 and 1494 engines. Rear drums go from 8in early to 9in later, but no source gives the changeover point.