1963 Hillman Superminx Convertible

First registered on the 11th June 1963, 446EGU is a rare convertible Hillman Super Minx Series II fitted with the automatic gearbox. Both options were infrequently chosen by the same buyer, a state of affairs we’re struggling to understand having driven it in the recent sunshine; tootling along with the roof down and the gearchanges slurring nicely from ratio to ratio was a match made in heaven and the world seemed a much gentler, nicer place after even half-a-dozen miles behind the wheel.

The first owner owned the car until his death in 2017. Originally a Harrods company car, he worked in PR and used the Super Minx to woo clients at events such as the Henley Regatta, a role we imagine it would have excelled at.

It then passed to his neighbour, who registered it in his name before selling it on to the vendor, a chap who specialises in sourcing cars for TV and film use. This means it’s had its moment of fame thanks to a starring role in this year’s Antiques Road Trip, episodes of which are available online via YouTube if you’d like to check it out!

A previous show-winner, it’s almost unblemished MOT history and extensive service history stand as third-party endorsements of the care with which it has been maintained over the years.

Now fully fettled and in great condition, we’re delighted to offer you – with no reserve - the convertible automatic you hadn’t realised you needed in your life…

The subject of a bare metal respray in 2018, the bodywork was, as you can see from the photos almost pristine, with only the bottom of the hand-fabricated doors requiring any work. This means the panels are all the originals, which must be something of a rarity given the model’s propensity to rust. This is hugely unusual and all the confirmation you need that this is a car that has been pampered throughout its life.

The Old English White paintwork is now in a great condition – and the colour works wonderfully with the deep red upholstery, a contrast that works even better with the roof down. Thus set, it looks utterly fabulous and very American, which was, of course, the whole point…

The red fabric roof is new too, and adds to the car’s cheery demeanour. Fitted at a cost of around £2,000 - including shot-blasting and painting the roof frame - it is in a good condition and free of rips, holes and other damage.

The chromework is good too, being shiny and straight and only lightly pitted here and there. None of it is anything to worry about, and a decent polish with Autosol would bring it up a treat; one of the joys of driving a car that isn’t a 100-point concours winner is that it frees you up to use it with impunity – and cars with a developing patina have a charm of their own and say only good things about the folk that drive them.

It is also fitted with a set of Dunlop Formula D steel wheels. These were a period aftermarket modification and, charmingly, the car still has the letter dated 4th April 1969 from Dunlop explaining the advantages of fitting them. White, with chromed hubcaps, they are shod with Maxxis tyres, all of which have good tread, including the spare.

Overall, we think the Hillman Super Minx is in a great shape and very presentable, which is just as you’d expect, given its recent TV exposure!

The combination of red leather with white piping, a huge chrome steering wheel, and flashes of brightwork here and there only add to the American-themed charm this car has. Worlds away from its contemporaries like the Morris Minor convertible, the Super Minx has a rakishness to it that we adore.

It’s in a cracking condition too, with the seats being comfortable and supportive. Sure, there is a bit of grubbiness here and there - and the seat base has sagged a little - but it’s nothing more than a gentle patina and wouldn’t concern us at all.

The only repairs the vendor had to make prior to handing it over to the BBC were a few localized repairs to the piping, which had come adrift in places. So, the leather and interior trim is all original, which makes the fact that the rear seat looks barely used even more remarkable.

The dashboard is full-width wood, and in great shape with an absence of the usual peeling veneer or cracks to the finish. Fitted with three dials in front of the driver, it is also fitted with the optional Rootes electric clock, which works and still even has the original typed instructions for how to fit it.

The door cards are good, as is the underside of the folding roof and the hood frame itself.

Being over-critical, the carpets are a bit grubby, but they’re in good shape and should respond nicely to being washed. Importantly, the floor underneath is solid.

The boot is neat and reasonably clean, and protected by a decent carpet. Lifting it shows a solid floor, albeit one that has the odd spot of surface rust. We can see that the new owner would want to sort that out sooner rather than later, but it’s a job that can easily wait until the warmer weather arrives.

Similarly, the jack and wheel brace are a bit rusty and grubby, and if it were ours we’d be tempted to invest a weekend to restore them as they let an otherwise very good interior down.

The replacement engine block was professionally refurbished in 2016 (please see attached invoices for details of the work that was undertaken) and mated to the car’s original cylinder head. You can imagine the cost and inconvenience of having a car breakdown while the TV cameras were running, so the vendor also ensured that the mechanical components were all checked over and fettled and/or replaced as necessary.

The car therefore benefits from a refurbished braking system plus an alternator and various service items like a coil and battery. The carburettor was refurbished too. It is now running beautifully and starts on the button. It is, in the words of the boss: “A delightful little thing.”

The engine bay itself is pretty good, being reasonably clean and decently organized. Dominated by a huge silver air-cleaner, the two diagonal braces are present and correct and doing their job to stiffen the front end up.

The underside has been properly undersealed to protect it, and it appears to be utterly solid, something the MOT history supports.

The Hillman’s MOT certificate expires in February 2021. It did fail initially, on a dodgy earth on the rear lights. Quickly sorted, we can only imagine the owner’s chagrin as the failure had ruined the Hillman’s unblemished record, a record that had been sans advisories or failures since 2007…

As such, the online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and confirms the car’s mileage. The car also comes with a number of expired MOT certificates, plus a thick sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years. Charmingly this includes many from the 1960s and 70s.

It also comes with a copy of Hillman Cars 1945-1964 by Malcolm Bobbitt (we are assuming that he’s no relation to John Wayne…) a Hillman Super Minx lubrication chart, the original Rootes/Shell service record wallet, a photographic record of the engine and bodywork being refurbished, three sets of keys, and the original owner’s handbook with the automatic gearbox supplement.

It also has a charming notebook in which the previous owner has recorded his journeys in the car, including the length of each trip, and the petrol added.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very high standard.

NB. We know that you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on. Or, even better, contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call, where you can direct us in real-time.

The Hillman’s MOT certificate expires in February 2021. It did fail initially, on a dodgy earth on the rear lights. Quickly sorted, we can only imagine the owner’s chagrin as the failure had ruined the Hillman’s unblemished record, a record that had been sans advisories or failures since 2007…

As such, the online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and confirms the car’s low mileage. The car also comes with a number of expired MOT certificates, plus a thick sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years. Charmingly this includes many from the 1960s and 70s.

It also comes with a copy of Hillman Cars 1945-1964 by Malcolm Bobbitt (we are assuming that he’s no relation to John Wayne…) a Hillman Super Minx lubrication chart, the original Rootes/Shell service record wallet, a photographic record of the engine and bodywork being refurbished, three sets of keys, and the original owner’s handbook with the automatic gearbox supplement.

It also has a charming notebook in which the previous owner has recorded his journeys in the car, including the length of each trip, and the petrol added.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained in recent years to the very highest standard.

NB. We know that you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on. Or, even better, contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call, where you can direct us in real-time.