1961 Hillman Minx Convertible. British Car. Rootes Group.

My 1961 Hillman Minx ConvertibleThis Blue 1961 Hillman Minx Convertible was my first car. I bought this vintage Hillman in 1971. It's been in my family for over 45 years. I learned to drive in the little British rag top. My first date with my wife was in the Hillman. A few years later I sold it to my dad when I bought my obligatory college VW Bug. My dad drove the Hillman around North Portland every summer. He loved that car. People would honk at him and he would wave back like he was in a parade. I have now inherited the car. I have a lot of sentimental attachment to the Hillman but I can't store it forever. It's time to let go. The Hillman has been in my dad's garage since about 1972. He drove it every summer until about 2005. The roof fabric needs replacing, nd isn't very expensive. There are lights and fuses that need attention, he upholstery is rough and the starter is temperamental. I have a variety of manuals and photos. I have started the car annually since my Dad died. The car is solid and has been kept out of the weather. I drove it last week (see video). The Hillman runs and needs TLC.... It's 54 years old, nd we need our garage back.Thanks,Jim LommassonSee my recent Hillman Vimeo video. Just Google: Hillman Minx Convertible 1970 - 2015 Buyer responsible for arranging and paying for shipping. I will help facilitate.U.S. and Canada only.-------------------------------------------------------------General Hillman Minx history:The Hillman Minx is a series of middle sized family cars produced under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group (1932-70). There have been many versions of the Minx over the years, s well as various badge-engineered versions sold under the Humber, inger, nd Sunbeam marques.For most of the 1960s, he Minx and its derivatives were the greatest-volume sellers of the "Audax" family of cars from Rootes, hich also included the Singer Gazelle and Sunbeam Rapier. The final version of the Minx was the "New Minx" launched in 1967, hich was part of the "Arrow" family and essentially a basic version of the Hillman Hunter. Generally, he Minx was available in four-door saloon and estate forms, ith a 1494-cc engine.The Hillman Super Minx was a slightly larger model offered during the Audax era.Throughout the life of the Minx, here was usually an estate version; and, rom 1954 to 1965, here was also a short-wheelbase estate, he Hillman Husky, nd a van derivative known as the Commer Cob.Audax design Hillman Minx (Series I to Series VI, 956-67)The Audax body was designed by the Rootes Group, ut helped by the Raymond Loewy design organisation, ho were involved in the design of Studebaker coupés in 1953. The car went through a series of annual face lifts each given a Series number, eplacing the Mark number used on the previous Minxes; there was no Series IV. The engine was new for the model with overhead valves - a first for a post war Hillman. Over the years the engine grew from 1390 cc (in the Series I and II) to 1725 cc in the Series VI. A variety of manual transmissions with column or floor change, nd automatic transmissions were offered. For the automatic version, he Series I and II used a Lockheed Manumatic two pedal system (really only a semi-automatic), he Mark III a Smiths Easidrive and the V/VI a Borg Warner.A Series III deLuxe saloon with 1494 cc engine tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1958 had a top speed of 76.9 mph (123.8 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 25.4 seconds. A fuel consumption of 31.8 miles per imperial gallon (8.9 L/100 km; 26.5 mpg-US) was recorded. The test car cost £794 including taxes of £265.Rootes GroupThe Rootes Group was a British automobile manufacturer, hich was based in the Midlands and south of England. Rootes was the parent company of many well-known British marques, ncluding Hillman, umber, inger, unbeam, albot, Commer and Karrier. At its height Rootes had plants in the Midlands at Coventry and Birmingham, n the south at Acton, uton, unstable, Maidstone and Canterbury, nd in the west of Scotland at Linwood. The company no longer exists, aving been taken over in stages by Chrysler, and subsequently sold to Peugeot and, n part, enault.----------