Hillman's most famous model, first launched in the 1932 with an 1185cc sidevalve engine. Hillman was now under Rootes control and it was the new owners who determined that Hillman should explore the cheaper areas of the market. The gearbox gained a 4th speed in 1934 and the bodywork a modest restyle. In 1933 the Hillman Aero Minx was announced with a tuned engine, better carburettor, better gearchange and a different axle ratio. They sat lower on a shorter chassis, and the standard bodywork was a small fastback saloon, but many were sold as a chassis only for coachbuilders to clothe until 1935. The Minx Magnificent was anounced in 1936, mechanically as before but now clothed in a much more rounded body. For 1938 a restyle was given, most notably to include an opening boot, and in 1939 this body was used to house new mechanics for the 1939 Minx. However, whilst retaining the same looks, this 1939 Minx had a unitary construction body. Production of a pickup Utility ('Tilly'), plus a few staff cars, was carried on during WW2. When production restarted after the War the Minx, now called 'Minx Phase I', was essentially the same car, that is until 1947 when it was restyled to become the Phase II. In 1948 a new '3-box body' was given to the Minx styled by the Raymond Loewy Studios and this was known as the Hillman Minx Mark III.