1948 Hillman Minx

This car is offered from outside of the European Union. It has been imported under temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to Dutch import tax (9%) on top of the winning bid price. Cars less than 30 years old will pay 10% Dutch import tax plus 21% VAT on the hammer.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, as their proof of purchase.

This vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and the documented history available is limited to that displayed in our photography section.

We have not tried to drive the car, and cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality.

It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

As CARS Europe BV is the guarantor of all customs duties and taxes for vehicles within Dutch customs bond, the car cannot be released to the buyer or transporter immediately after the sale. For all enquiries relating to Customs, please contact CARS Europe BV.

Purchases will only be released once cleared funds are received. All vehicles must be collected after the payment of funds.

All storage charges must be paid in full prior to the vehicle’s collection or onward transportation. Storage charges payment must be arranged with the storage company. Collection is strictly by appointment only.

Please send a booking email to the storage centre to ensure vehicle(s) are ready at time of collection. Photographic ID will be required at time of collection. If a third party is collecting for you, then written authorisation is required in advance from you and photographic ID of the third party is required at the time of collection.

Collection either by buyer or third party is only possible for vehicles within customs bond if applicable import taxes paid are paid to import into country of bonded storage location.

As soon as The Market by Bonhams receives your payment, the accounts department will send a release note to the manager of the storage facility where your car(s) is stored.

CARS Europe BV will contact you just after the sale to confirm onward transport requirements. Direct contact at CARS for enquiries is as follows; Joanna Herlihy, +31 (0) 252 682 526, +44 7483 433912, joanna@carseurope.net.

STORAGE CHARGES - €30 + local VAT per motor car per day commencing from the sixth day following the auction end.

CUSTOMS CHARGES - €500 per motor car (plus applicable permanent import taxes from bond).

This 1948 Hillman Minx Phase II Drophead Coupé is a LHD manual model and has clearly been thoroughly restored to a high standard, inside, outside and underneath, at some point.

Chassis No: 1869530LCX.

The car’s odometer reads 38,488 and is calibrated in mph.

In common with many vehicles from the vendor’s collection, the car comes with no history or service records.

We understand that the car entered the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles in 2012.

With the proviso that we haven’t tried to drive this vehicle and can therefore only comment on its aesthetics, we think this 1948 Hillman Minx is in exceptional condition and, save for some cosmetic issues we’ll address later, this is probably one of the best examples you could hope to find anywhere.

This is a very pretty car, by any measure, and the pale blue paintwork and cream-coloured fabric hood combine extremely well to present the car to optimal effect.

The paint work has held up very well and still has plenty of shine and depth. The panels are pretty straight and even, and the panel gaps and shut lines seem consistent and even, although the passenger side of the bonnet doesn’t sit completely flush with the bodywork nearest the door.

The most obvious flaw is a big dent in the driver’s door, at the bottom of which there is a crack in the paint.

All the chrome work, lights lenses, badging, and exterior fixtures and fittings seem to be in good order, as do the wheels.

A few residual streaks from some unknown liquid can be seen running down the rear sills on both sides of the car.

The 3-position fabric hood is intact and taut, but it could do with some soap and water in a few places, particularly at the base of the hood at the rear.

The interior is really very impressive indeed and mirrors the exterior colour palette of cream and blue.

The two-tone upholstery looks virtually as good as new from what we can see.

The door cards, roof lining and carpets are all excellent, although the carpets in the driver’s footwell would benefit from being thoroughly cleaned.

There are numerous cracks and splits in the rim of the steering wheel and the rubber trim is coming loose on the odometer.

As far as we’re aware, all buttons, levers, toggles and switches do what they’re supposed to do.

All seems to be present and correct in the engine bay, and the undersides of the car look to be in good, post-restoration condition as far as we can tell.

This car doesn’t come with any history or service records.

It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this.

None of the paperwork shown in the gallery in any way constitutes any kind of licensing or registration certification.

There are few more quintessentially English cars than a Hillman Minx, and this drophead version with its blue and cream livery looks good enough to win a starring role in any film or TV series set in rural England just after the war.

Provided, of course, that the engine, electrics and mechanicals are as good as the rest of the car, we think this apparently very well restored and cared-for example is just a few remedial tasks away from being possibly the very best out there.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of €4,000 - €8,000.