Description
NJ5454 is a car that epitomises classic car enthusiasm. This characterful Hillman Aero Minx Tourer was first registered on the 5th February 1935. Over the next 24 years the Hillman had several owners before coming into the hands of a young man in his twenties who bought it as his first car. The Minx saw plenty of miles throughout his ownership attending the Farnborough Air Display, the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood and various other events. After two and a half years of thoroughly enjoying his first car he sold it on to a friend. In 2008, the earlier owner then in his twenties discovered that his first car had survived after all these years. Having thought no more of the Hillman until this point, he wanted to be reunited with the car but had to wait fourteen years before the owner would sell the car back to him. In 2022 the West Yorkshire based gentleman was reunited with his first car, able to relive his memories of joy rides in this super 1930’s sportscar.
In the late 1960s, the car was rebuilt and used regularly before being taken off the road for a long period being stored on a farm. By the stroke of the millennium, the Aero was in the hands of a new owner who partially rebuilt the Hillman, repainting it in the Blue it presents in today. In 2009 the Minx was sold again to a gentleman who finished off the rebuild and retained ownership for over a decade. By 2010 the Hillman was taken for an MOT and fitted with a new hood, the next year the steering box was rebuilt. In 2014, the 4-speed all synchromesh gearbox was fully rebuilt. Accompanying the car is a plethora of invoices detailing the expenditure along with the original buff logbook and photographs of the car before and after its colour change.
The Hillman Aero Minx is a very rare car to find on the roads today. Hillman Motor Company was founded in 1910, ran by William Hillman until his passing in 1921 where the brand continued for eleven years before the Rootes brothers took ownership in 1932. As many car manufacturers of the time did, Hillman branched out into the sportscar market. By 1933 the Hillman Aero Minx was unveiled, while it shared the engine with the saloon car, the Aero was enhanced by a high compression head, a downdraught Stromberg carburetor, and stronger valve springs transforming the power output from 29 to 37bhp. In true sportscar fashion, the chassis was shortened, lowered at the front, and equipped with 18-inch wire wheels. The Aero Minx enjoyed a relatively successful competitive career with plenty of gold, silver and bronze awards in trial events despite competing with cars powered by engines with overhead cams.
Overall, this Hillman Aero Minx is a very rare prewar car with a wonderful history and provenance. While it isn't a show quality example, the Aero Minx is a very tidy and usable vintage car.
