Hillman Super Minx

__NOTOC__Infobox Automobile


"Hillman Super Minx (prior to 1964 facelift)"
name = Hillman Super Minx
manufacturer = Rootes Group
production = 1961–66
predecessor =
successor = Rootes Arrow
body_style = 4-door saloon
5-door estate
engine = 1592 cc straight-4
1725 cc straight-4
transmission =
length = Auto in|165|0)
width = Auto in|62.8|0
height = Auto in|58|0
weight = Auto lb|2239|0 (saloon)
Auto lb|2368|0 (estate)
wheelbase = Auto in|101|0cite book |last=Culshaw |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |id=ISBN 0-333-16689-2]
track = Auto in|52|0
related = Hillman Minx
See article for badge-engineered variants
designer =
fuel_capacity = Convert|10.5|impgal|L usgal|0|abbr=onThe Hillman Super Minx was a motor car from the British Rootes Group. It was a slightly larger version of the Hillman Minx, from the period when the long-running Minx nameplate was applied to the "Audax" series of designs. (The Minx underwent many changes throughout its history.)

Launched late in 1961, the Super Minx gave Rootes, and particularly its Hillman marque, an expanded presence in the upper reaches of the family car market. It has been suggested that the Super Minx design was originally intended to replace, and not merely to supplement, the standard Minx, but was found to be too big for that purpose.cite book |last=Culshaw |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |id=ISBN 0-333-16689-2] The Super Minx featured the 1592 cc engine as used in the Hillman Minx. Engine capacity was increased to 1725 cc for 1965. (The larger engine outlived the Super Minx, to be used in later models too.)

In 1964 the Super Minx was facelifted, and the wrap-around rear window gave way to a new "six-light" design with extra side windows aft of the rear side doors.

Related models

Like many other Rootes products including the Minx, the Super Minx was one of a badge-engineered series of models, sold under various marques.

The Singer marque was represented by the Singer Vogue, and, from 1964, Humber by the Humber Sceptre — both names which would be retained by the successor Rootes Arrow model range. Unlike the Hillman and Singer versions, the Super Minx based Humber Sceptre retained the striking panoramic wrap-around rear window till the model was replaced, in the Humber's case in 1967, by a Hillman Hunter based successor

The cars differed in subtle ways, with the Singer being positioned slightly above the Hillman and gaining such extras as quad headlights, and the Humber topping the range, commensurate with Humber's traditional role as a producer of upmarket and luxury models. The styling of the Sceptre (as well as the Vogue) somewhat recalled previous, larger Humbers.

There was a Singer variant of the smaller Minx as well (the Singer Gazelle) but no equivalent Humber version of the Minx, which would have been uncharacteristically small for the Humber marque; conversely there was a sporty Sunbeam version of the Minx (the Sunbeam Rapier) but no Sunbeam version of the Super Minx.

A variant of the Singer Vogue was produced by the Rootes Australia from 1963 to 1966 as the Humber Vogue and Humber Vogue Sports. [http://hometown.aol.com/crooksnipe/humberausthistory.html Australian Humber History page from Enthusiasts Group Of NSW website - Retrieved on 18/6/08]

Replacement

The Super Minx and its relatives were replaced by the Rootes Arrow range when the Hillman Hunter and Singer Vogue were launched at the London Motor Show in October 1966.

References

External links

* [http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/ The Rootes-Chrysler site]
* [http://www.geocities.com/tazydevilbear/hmhumbervogue.html Humber Vogue Mk2 image - Retrieved on 18/6/2008]