Hillman Minx Staff Car

William Hillman was a late nineteenth century bicycle maker who turned to automobiles when he entered into partnership with French designer Louis Coatalen in 1907. The first Hillman-Coatalen was a large, 25hp, touring car powered by a 6.4-litre, four-cylinder, T-head, side-valve engine and was manufactured in the new company’s Coventry workshops.

Hillman was taken over by the Rootes family in 1928 and merged with their Humber marque, the plan being for Humber to make large cars and Hillman smaller ones. The first Minx was announced in 1932, with 1185cc (L-head side-valve) engine, and the same basic model was to continue in production – with mechanical and styling modifications – until 1948. The Minx of 1934 was the first mass produced car to have a four-speed gearbox with synchromesh on all forward gears.

About this vehicle

When the Second World War broke out in 1939 nearly all military staff cars (Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force) were basically civilian models given a coat of matt paint of the appropriate colour. Some came from showrooms, from factory stocks, and some were privately owned.

This Hillman Minx type would have been used by ‘other sections’ of the RAF - officers of the rank of Group Captain, Wing Commander or Squadron Leader – and would normally have been driven by a chauffeur from the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).

The vehicle, with 1148cc engine allowing a top speed of 60mph, was purchased from a main dealer in Leeds and privately owned until it was commandeered in 1939 by the Ministry of Defence. It was later owned and restored by Graham Church, of Kempston, Bedford, and displayed locally at military pageants and similar displays. It is painted in RAF Bomb Disposal 15 Squadron colours and markings.

It was purchased by The Collection in 2006, and – like all bomb disposal vehicles has red painted front mudguards.