Simon Cars - Hillman Minx 'Audax'

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Designer: Raymond Loewy

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Hillman Minx Series I to VI 1956-67

The Hillman Minx Series I was launched in 1956 with the Raymond Loewy 'Audax' styling given to the Sunbeam Rapier the previous year. The Minx, and its Singer Gazelle stablemate, were offered as four door saloons, 5-door estate cars, and 2-door convertibles. The Series II cars from 1957 retained the 1390cc ohv engine until the Series III cars gained a 1494cc engine in 1958. From the Series IIIa cars of 1959 the Minx gained 'folded wings' at the rear, and a 1592cc engine in 1961. The Series IV Minx was launched as a new Super Minx range above the Minx in 1961, and the next iteration of the Hillman Minx was the Series V without wraparound rear window body in 1963 and the Series VI with 1725cc engine from 1965.

Hillman Minx Series IIIC. The Series IIIC Hillman Minx still had a 'Minx' badge on the bootlid, but no longer on the doors.	Hillman Minx Series IIIC. The '1600' badge on the door identified the Series IIIC Minx	Hillman Minx Series II	Hillman Minx Series III. Revised bodywork and a new 1494cc engone marked out the Series III from the series II Minx	Hillman Minx Series IIIa Convertible. The Series IIIa Minx can be identified by the new wide chrome grille and rectangular sidelamps, and the lettering on the bonnet. The 1494cc engine given to the Series III in 1958 continued.
Hillman Minx Series IIIB. The anodised aluminium grille differentiated the IIIB froim the IIIA which had a chromed steel grille.	Hillman Minx Series IIIC. This grille was Anodised aluminium whereas the earlier Series IIIA was chromed metal.	Hillman Minx Series VI	Hillman Minx Series I Convertible. The Minx Series I was launched as a 4door saloon in 1956 and as a 2door convertible. In 1957 a 5door estate version joined the Audax range	Hillman Minx Series I Convertible. Mechanically based on the 'Mark Minxes', the new Series got the Raymond Loewy designed body in 1956. This "Audax" (latin for 'bold') body was previewed in October 1955 on the Sunbeam Rapier, and shared some similarity with Loewy designed Studebakers.
Hillman Minx Series I Convertible, Convertible Minxes were available from 1956 as Series I, II, III, IIIA, IIIB until 1962, but were discontinued before the launch of the IIIC and IV.	Hillman Minx Series II, introduced in 1957 with mainly cosmetic changes. The Series II was known as "Jubilee" because Hillman had been existence for 50years, and the first Hillman Minx was launched 25years before.	Hillman Minx Series II, this retained the simple rear wings and lights of the Series I, as well as the 'portrait' rear number plate	Hillman Minx Series III, for the III a new 1494cc engine was fitted, chrome headlamp bezels, ' H I L L M A N' lettering above a wider grille, and a rectangular rear number plate.	Hillman Minx Series III. A new bootlid was introduced on the series III with a horizontal instead of 'square' number plate, and boot handle above the plate
Hillman Minx Series IIIa Convertible. In 1959 Rootes improved the Audax Series III models with the new (not Series IV), but Series IIIa, with 21 per cent larger screen, new grille, and the word 'H I L L M A N' spelled out above the new wide grille.	Hillman Minx Series IIIa Convertible. Audax convertibles were built by Thrupp and Maperley, from Pressed Steel bodies.	Hillman Minx Series IIIA Estate. Estate versions of the 'Audax' Minx and Gazelle had been offered since 1957 and were sold at a premium of 20per cent.	Hillman Minx Series IIIA Estate. As was common with estates of this period, the rear door was split into a lift-up rear window and a drop-down bootlid. Long loads could be carried with just the top or bottom left open.	Hillman Minx Series IIIA. Introduced in September 1959, the IIIA had slightly more power, a full automatic option, and externally the divided chrome grille and rolled-over rear fins.
Hillman Minx Series IIIA. Rolled over rear wings are the biggest visual difference from the Series III	Hillman Minx Series IIIb. The annual change for 1960 resulted in the Series IIIb now with an aluminium grille in plac e of chrome steel.	Hillman Minx Series IIIb 1960. The were few visible changes for the Series IIIb, but under the rear a new hypoid axle replace the spiral one.	Hillman Minx Series IIIC was introduced in 1961 to undercut the newly introduced Super Minx. Both cars had the new 1592cc engine.	Hillman Minx Series IIIC was introduced in 1961 asa a plainer version of the Minx to undercut the newly introduced Super Minx. Cheaper Bumpers and '1600' badge on the wings in place of 'Minx' distinguish it
Hillman Minx Series V. In 1963 Hillman carried out a major revision of the Hillman Minx, with a completely new cabin area, tail, front and rear screens and grille. The Super Minx, which had intended to be the Series IV was on sale so the Minx was positioned to sell beneath it.	Hillman Minx Series VI. There never was a Series IV, but when the Series V was introduced in 1963 the Super Minx was already on sale. Both had the same 1592cc engine and the Minx Series VI was given the 1725cc engine.	Hillman Minx Series VI. The last Hillman Minx.	Hillman Minx Series IIIa Convertible. The ambidextrous design of the dashboard is visible here, making the Minx suitable for left or right hand drive just by swapping the instruments around.	Hillman Minx Series IIIC - tail lights that were introduced with the Series IIIA rolled-over wings. Singer Gazelles got 3 individual lamps instead
Hillman Minx Series III. The two-tone line on the Series III was lowered from just below the windows to the side trim line	Hillman Minx Series IIIC. Launched in 1961 the IIIC was trimmed down to the level of the 'Standard' and sold to undercut the newly launched Super Minx	Hillman Minx Series V. The new cabin area gave a lot more light to the car, and an up-to-date European appearance which continued in 1965 with the 1725cc Series VI	Hillman Minx Series VI. The American styling touches of rear wings and wraparound screen were removed when the more upright Series V body	Hillman Minx Series II, square number plate and non-finned wings
Hillman Minx Series IIIa Convertible. Although only being incremented from Series III to IIIa, the 1959 update was quite extensive and at the rear included 'folded over' wings and new elliptical tail lamps, whilst at the front a new grille and a large windscreen.	Hillman Minx Series III, showing the long number plate and rolled-over wings that were introduced on the Series IIIA	Rootes 'Audax' Models 1955 - 1966	Hillman Avenger	Hillman Cars

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