Garage find - Humber Sceptre and 2 x Hillman Minx up for grabs

[garycox]

That's a surprise - I was expecting 3 Arrow type cars!

[seth]

Money is not really that important and expectations are not at all unrealistic.  They aren't going to be free but the people would rather they went to a good home with a chance of being saved than just scrapped.  They appreciate that extracting any of them is also going to require time and effort and its not like just turning up and towing/driving something away.

[Wilko220]

While I don't have anywhere near the skills to do the sort of resto required on these, or easy/free access to any trailer transport, I could arrange short-term storage for at least one car and I probably do have enough spare cash for what's likely to be a low asking price. 

 

If it looks like these cars are going to be scrapped, then I'd be happy to contribute to some kind of Autoshite rescue mission - even if it's just a case of buying the cars a bit of time for responsible longer-term owners to be found. The Series VIII Minx in particular really needs saving.

[maxustaxus]

I have found some space so bought the MKVIII Minx....I have just spoken to the owner and the other two (8340 AR and KJJ 10D) are still available I believe.

 

As Seth says, the gentleman is not looking for a lot....he is really after an enthusiast....I can't speak on his behalf but after talking with him, I would not be surprised if offers in the region hundred pounds might be acceptable.

 

But bear in mind the cars are not moving, or documented, and are surrounded by stuff.

[Wilko220]

Brilliant news! Make sure you keep us posted - hoping for an epic collection thread, etc...

[v8 scania]

could you let me know about the blue minx,that would be an ideal project for me and my lad thanks

[Wilko220]

The blue one's a Sceptre mate - but would be gr9 to see it become an Autoshiter's project too...

[STUNO]

All on the wanted list and appear saveable.Result !

[maxustaxus]

could you let me know about the blue minx,that would be an ideal project for me and my lad thanks

 

There is not a lot more to say about this really, it has been standing for a very long time, and is not rolling, nor does it have any paperwork, and it is surrounded by stuff that will be moved very shortly.

 

But it is honest example and unmessed with, and appears quite solid based on that which was visible. It probably would make a great project. I may have more pictures tommorow.

 

I don't think the owner is looking for a lot of money for the car itself....but bear in mind the cost of having it removed and trailored away.

[maxustaxus]

Brilliant news! Make sure you keep us posted - hoping for an epic collection thread, etc...

 

Yes, I will post up something about the collection (and hopefully manage to remember to put the battery in my camera this time).

[Wilko220]

Maxustaxus or Seth - out of interest, did you get any idea of the story behind the cars? Who they belonged to, why they were stashed, etc?

[seth]

Really excellent news Maxus   I hope to speak to you tomorrow.

 

Wilko,  The old lady died about a month ago and was 94.  Her 'lodger' had run a local Rootes dealer/garage and she'd just hoarded the stuff.

[TagoraSX]

Well done Ozzie.

[wuvvum]

Hmm.  None of the cars are showing up on DVLA records.  I would have been interested to know what year 8340AR was.  I do like Minxes.  Mind you, that Sceptre looks quite tempting too, and would probably be a more useable car in modern traffic, what with the disc brakes and overdrive.  Sadly I'm brought up short by my lack of storage again - by the time I do manage to find somewhere to stash one of them they'll probably have sold.  I wonder how illegal it would be to pull a Sceptre on a trailer behind a Rover 400?

[v8 scania]

Seth could you sort out some details about the Humber for me thanks

[seth]

Well, I went back up to Croxley today to meet up with maxustaxus again and help out with clearing the two full garages.  He'd already done a van load by the time I got there but the Series Minx was now a it more get-at-able.

 

Another really mint looking interior.

 

 

An engine.

 

 

Front grill makes this a Series III? Not sure if an A, B or C though.

 

 

Back seat rubbish. New Citroen GS roadtest.

 

 

Then we moved down to the Sceptre Garage and cleared most of the rubbish that was alongside it.

 

 

Unfortunatly the news was not all good.  As I moved a piece of wood that was laying against the rear wing this appeared behind it.

 

 

It could be that this was the reason the car came off the road?  It looks like quite a nasty smack but might just be superficial of the wing itself and the bumper is obviously bent a bit too. The speedo is reading 12000 miles and I suppose there is a chance this is actually the genuine mileage if the car was retired rather than fixed.  No point hiding any of this from any prospective purchaser.

 

 

 

[Mr Lobster]

Nice to see you back here Seth. Would be great to see these rescued as they look like they could make superb projects for someone.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I'd love to have a crack at that with lankyTim's portapower!!!! Can't see it happening though realistically. Has anyone got a supa flyweight titanium car trailer I could borrow?

[wuvvum]

Floor shift and twin chrome side strips mark the Minx out as a IIIA or IIIB - so it will have been made between September 1959 and August 1961.  Unlikely to be MoT exempt then.

[scruff]

Best thread on here for ages - thanks for the pics. Wish I could give one a home. A shame there are no docs but if there's a old tax disc or MoT in any of the motors that'll be enough to hopefully reclaim the registrations.

[Angrydicky]

Hmm.  None of the cars are showing up on DVLA records.  I would have been interested to know what year 8340AR was. 

I can probably help you there. It is possible to date 'dateless' registrations, and I can take a guess at the month it was registered as well.

 

UAR 93 is a Hertfordshire registration used between March and July 1955, so I would say this MK VIII was registered in March 1955.

 

8340 AR is also a Hertfordshire registration, used from August 1959. Unfortunately the records don't say when it was used until, but I'd guess this Minx is a 1960 or 1961 model.

 

KJJ 106D is a London registration used between April and December 1966, so this car was probably registered around May '66?

 

The reason the numbers on the DVLA database is because the cars were off the road during the 1983 cutoff date for computerisation of the old logbooks and the then owner didn't update the records. As Mr Scruff says, a tax disc would be enough to reclaim the numbers. The cars would have to be inspected by the relevant club but it's not too hard to sort out.

[Lankytim]

Jon Cedric has one you could probably borrow, it weighs 200Kgs or something.

 

 

I'd love to have a crack at that with lankyTim's portapower!!!! Can't see it happening though realistically. Has anyone got a supa flyweight titanium car trailer I could borrow?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Is that the one we shifted the 1100 with?

[Lankytim]

That's it, it looks small but remember, it shifted an Austin Maxi. if the wheelbase is 10ft or less it will go on.

[maxustaxus]

Just an update...I now understand from the vendor that the remaining two cars 

(8340 AR and KJJ 106D) are now sold and will likely be collected shortly.

 

Here is a picture of the Minx after the garage doors were opened fully for the first time after digging away soil and plants that had accumulated over the last 30 years (and a couple of others)

 

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/326319/21907533

 

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/326319/21907535

 

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/326319/21907537

 

 

 

 

[Wilko220]

So glad to hear that all three have found new homes.

[eddyramrod]

Wow.  I turn my back for a few days and an entire epic thread appears!  Three hibernating cars, all looking restorable, and one of them even ends up in the hands of a Shiter.  Bloody brilliant!  Well done to all concerned.

[Guest Flickyhecky]

Went to help retrive one of the cars this afternoon, but here's the ones i took of the Hillman Minx today..

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97876744@N02/

 

..i know nothing about cars, but i liked this!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Nice pics! Cheers!

[Wilko220]

Yes, great pictures! The interior looks great.

Do keep us posted...