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Hillman | Pre War British Sports Cars


The Speed Model



Although the name Hillman had not appeared on the bonnet of a sports car for many years prior to World War 2, at one time the con­cern produced some excellent high-performance pieces of machinery. Just after the Kaiser war, the Hillman Company marketed a 10-h.p. (63 x 90-mm.) vehicle entitled the Speed Model. There was nothing especially outstanding about the car beyond the fact that its construction was exceptionally good for the period. A side-valve power unit was used which had die-cast aluminium pistons and much-lightened flywheel and crankshaft.

Raymond Mays and the Quicksilver



Owing to its light weight, a high back axle of 3.5 to 1 ratio was fitted, and the car was good for a genuine 65 m.p.h., which in 1920 was real speed - especially with a light car! These Hillmans were consistently good in all manner of speed events, and it is interesting to recall that a youngster named Raymond Mays was carving his way up the ladder of fame by his skill in piloting his "Quicksilver" Hillman in events of the period. The official works car, driven by George Bedford, was entitled "Mercury," so Mays' choice of a name was not merely haphazard. Incidentally, the Hillman "Mercury" held the 1500-c.c. hour record at one time with a speed of 78.23 m.p.h.

The standard "Speed Model" was a most attractive little car with its polished aluminium body and fully swept wings. At the time, it offered real speed and reliability, and must be reckoned as having contributed a great deal to the subsequent sporting types which began to set a fashion throughout the world. One has to go to the middle 'thirties before the name Hillman again appears as belonging to a sports car. The Aero-Minx was a sporting version of the side-valve 1185-c.c. Minx. Beyond the adoption of an aluminium cylinder head, a downdraught Strom- berg carburetter, and some small detail alterations, the standard chassis was practically identical with that used on the Minx.

It was mainly in bodywork that the cars differed, and the March series of Aero-Minx Specials were most attractive little cars. The two-seater, especially, was a grand performer, and was lavishly equipped to boot. Although not particularly fast as sports cars go, it gained a reputation for reliability and was capable of really high average speeds owing to its excellent com­fort. It was no doubt the success of the Aero range that decided the Rootes group to make the car the basis for the Talbot Ten and subsequently the handsome Sunbeam-Talbot vehicles. Although the latter are considered more gentlemanly than the original Aeros, it cannot be denied that their post-war reputation for reliability and high-cruising capabilities was a direct outcome of the care and attention to detail which went into the making of the grand little Aero-Minx.
1935 Hillman Aero Minx March Special 2 Seater
1935 Hillman Aero Minx "March" Special Two-Seater.
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