This makes an interesting contrast to the 1962 brochure I loaded earlier. This is very much a Rootes 1950s style brochure, using artwork instead of photography. I find this style delightful - of course it also allowed Rootes artists to draw really tiny people to make the cars look very spacious. Another interesting (to me) aspect is the side trim and two-tone painting used on the 1960 models. It is very much based on the early Sunbeam Rapier (but altered for 4 doors). Rootes in the UK never made a Minx with this side trim/paint style.

Here are the next lot...

Finally, the Express Estate, complete with more tiny people. This body style was unique to Isuzu. Rootes never built a 2 door estate (with side opening tailgate) on the regular Minx floorpan.

hat a great lot of shots thanks so much .......one thing correct me if i am wrong are thy the same spottys as the gt ?/ cheers davo

just checked google asked for minx spotlights and this came up 1960 minx s/w in part primer $700 ono also mentioned spotlights and sad part vic its in w.a check it on gumtree w.a might be ok for you best of luck cheers davo

Hey Davo, those lights do look alike, good spotting!

This shows the Express 3 door wagon was something the JDM liked. So it's probably just as rare & desirable as a Bellett Express?
It's somewhat flasher looking than a Husky wagon.(I think I've only ever seen 1 of those, at least in recent times.)
What about that a-la-Florian standing spare wheel in the sedan?

Thanks for posting Vic, and yeah, minature wastern people. Reminds me of display homes where they put in reduced sized furniture to make the rooms appear bigger. You don't really notice until you lay on a bed!

Cheers, Matt.

Davo, You're probably right about the spotlights - they look the same but I'm no expert on Belletts and Isuzu had changed many things on the Minx in moving to full local production. Thanks for the heads up on the wagon - it would be a fixable proposition and they are getting scarce but Perth is a fair way - I'll pass the details on our Hillman Yahoogroup and someone a bit closer can have a look.

Matt, I reckon the Isuzu Hillman Express wagon must be as rare as the proverbial.

The thing about the Husky is that it was specifically designed to be a poverty pack special, I think even a heater was optional in the UK. Of course it was built on a shortened (by 9 inches) Minx floorpan. Rootes built a full commercial version of the Husky called the Commer Cob. Rootes also built a Commer Express - but it was based on the old (1950) model Minx, not the 1956 Audax Minx on which the Isuzu Express was based. The Commer versions were full commercial designs with no rear seats or side windows.

The other thing about the Husky is that the floorpan was also used for the Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger. This brings up the obvious question, can you fit a small block Ford V8 into a Husky - the answer is yes, with some work. Here's one done by someone I know in the USA

http://www.dougscars.com/hillman.html

Cheers, Vic