Solved: Wendax 962 - Hillman Sunbird

[Wendax]

Easy Rookie point, or not?

For one point, please respond and identify this car.

[Wendax]

up

[Hiawatha]

Hillman Minx seems a little too obvious, isn't it?

[Wendax]

Let's say that it is a good point to start looking. It is a Hillman, but it didn't go by the name of Minx.

[Bill Murray]

I am probably going in the wrong direction, but can this be a Hillman Paykan as assembled in Iran?
Bill

[mekubb]

Could it be Isuzu PH400 ?

[Bill Murray]

Much better choice, mekubb.

The LHD threw me off but further looking reveals the Paykan was based on a later Hillman platform.
Bill

[Wendax]

Not a Paykan and not an Isuzu. It was sold under the Hillman brand.

[Bill Murray]

To correct myself, a closer look at the puzzle photo shows it is RHD, judging by how the windscreen wipers are parked.

For further clarification, was it actually sold as a Hillman "XXX" or sold by Hillman dealers/distributors under perhaps another name in the same family?
Bill

[Wendax]

To clarify, it is LHD with the driver at the wheel, and it was sold as an Hillman "XXX".

[D-type]

From Wikipedia

The New Zealand importer/assembler Todd Motors created the Humber 80 and Humber 90, badge-engineered models based respectively on the Minx and Super Minx, as a way to secure scarce additional import licences for CKD assembly kits.

So, is the correct answer a Humber 80 - or is it more obscure?

[Hiawatha]

My first idea was Humber 80/90 but lhd confused me.. From what Wendax says the car is actually a Hillman but not a Minx

[Bill Murray]

Well, botched the LHD/RHD part and I too am a bit confused.  The base car is a Hillman Minx Series IIIC for sure and they were assembled in NZ as the Humber 80 and a later variant, the Series V in Australia as a Gazelle but still using the Hillman name.

But, as you say, neither country would have had a LHD variant.

I have now visited over 25 sites dealing with the history of the Hillman Minx and have come up with nothing but the above two and the Iranian and Japanese versions.

Good luck!!!

Bill

[Hiawatha]

I am a bit of a Rootes aficionado (I own the only Singer Vogue estate ever imported into Italy), but I have to say I am baffled.
A very long shot.. Touring in Italy assembled the later Hillman Super Minx. Is there any connection?

[Bill Murray]

Yes, I saw that too but it is still called a "Hillman Minx" and I understand that it did not go under the name of "Minx" according to Wendax.
Bill

[Bill Murray]

I go where no man dares to go......

Maybe I can get a point for identifying the Lucas Beamsetter machine??

That at least seems to give us a UK venue for the photo.  Or, maybe Canada, now another place to look.

Bill

[Wendax]

Nice discussion, folks. 

It has nothing to do with Australia, New Zealand or Italy. The picture was not taken in the UK or Canada.

[Hiawatha]

Belgium?

[Wendax]

No

[D-type]

Could it be South Africa?  I think some Rootes cars were assembled or built there.

[Wendax]

No. I'm quite sure we are not talking about a foreign assembly, but just of a local model with a different name.

[Bill Murray]

Oh Snap!! And I thought I was going to con you into giving me a point for the "Prince of Darkness" identification.

And, yes, another good International effort, 5 countries plus the originating country participating.

BTW, I thought of SA too but that is a RHD country last time I looked.

Bill

[D-type]

Could it be Hillman Husky.  I know the Husky was generally a sort of Minx estate but they may have used the name for a saloon somewhere.

[Wendax]

No

[Bill Murray]

I continue to go to the Dark Side.

Hillman Sceptre?