Happy 50th 'Birthday'

[seth]

Not me Obvs.

 

On 1st January 1968, East Berks Services (a Rootes dealership)  received an order from Mr Kenneth Jordan for a HIllman Minx Estate in Shore Beige with a Brown upholstery.  He also wanted to go for the upgrade to Michelin X tyres.  A week and a bit later, such a car was registered and then on 12th he took delivery. This was where he lived.

 

 

And this is the garage that housed it for the next 40 and a bit years, during which time he covered 95,953 miles

 

 

Then, since he hadn't really driven for four or five years, it was put up for sale with the help of his neice and after they fended off a couple of scrap dealers I phoned up and arranged to actually go and see it.  A deal was struck.

 

 

Sadly Mr Jordan died about a month later and once the neice and family had sorted through some of his piles of stuff I was invited back to collect the paperwork that gives me this information and some tools etc.

 

 

I've since added over another 50,000 miles using it as our primary family car, rebuilding the engine and pepping it up once it had reached about 130k total.  All but the first few hundred of those miles have been done with an apparently impractical level of ground clearance too.  Pehaps this year will finally be the one to see some proper fresh paintwork over the various parts I have, or will be, repairing/replacing. I think it deserves it.

 

[spartacus]

Nice one Seth, that look is probably going to see a more favourable reception on 'the Blue', but I think it looks great, as I'm sure others will. Props for using it as a proper daily too.

[chaseracer]

...that look is probably going to see a more favourable reception on 'the Blue'...

 

AS is a broad church; we don't judge here.

 

Much.  And then generally only to take the piss 

 

As you were...

[mk2_craig]

What a great story! Can't be many folk that buy a new motor and hang onto it for four decades.

[HMC]

Brilliant backstory! I Passed you on a Dutch motorway a couple of years back- looked like you were going camping? Very distinctive vehicle- it could only have been you, here's to all the road trips yet to come!

[eddyramrod]

I think it's just lovely to see a car still out and about, in proper daily use, at this age.  Having the backstory too, with date of registration, is a real bonus.

[mercrocker]

Happy Birthday Hillman!   

 

Sadly, I never got to meet the owner of my Cowley but he had it all its life, too.....Great story.

[nigel bickle]

Love all your cars Seth.

 

Nice write up.

[seth]

Thanks all, and nice to hear from you NB, had been thinking of you recently.

 

HeritageMotor, pretty coincidental to have spotted us on a continental jaunt.

[hairnet]

Not 50

 

Riiiiiiight

 

Ten years - the way it looks isn't a fad unlike some places/cars

 

Nice won seff

 

Herald been owned million years too innit??

[outlaw118]

Always a pleasure to see the Hillman of Much Lovliness Mr Seth - I've confessed my admiration for this a number of times and will do so again.

 

Paint? Only if YOU want to, don't feel like you HAVE to....

[hairnet]

Lighter shade of beige [/cheeky plagerise]

[chaseracer]

HeritageMotor, pretty coincidental to have spotted us on a continental jaunt.

 

It happens!

 

As FPB7 and I drove north into Denmark last March, we saw mcqueenmachine (late of this electronic parish) heading south to the Puttgarden ferry on his round-Europe adventure in a 1946 Austin 16.

[Junkman]

It even was at The Junktowers once.

 

[Jams]

I love seeing slammed retro motors!

 

Keep up the good work!

[Junkman]

I love seeing classic cars with proper ride height!

 

Keep up the good work!

 

FTFY

[holbeck]

I came across this photo of the last Hunter estate body made at Pressed Steel Cowley the other day.

 

This seems like an appropriate place to put it.

 

[Junkman]

Were all these people smiling their last smile before they got the sack?

[eddyramrod]

Herald

Wait a minute, you have a Herald too?  Are you me 35 years ago?  (No, clearly not, as my Minx was a saloon and I didn't have the cars together...)

[Uncle Jimmy]

Fantastic! This is what Autoshite is all about

[holbeck]

Were all these people smiling their last smile before they got the sack?

 

The sack? they still have 10 years before your 1986 deadline expires!

[Pillock]

I think I saw this in the metal at one of the Coventry motorfests. A lovely car.

[nigel bickle]

Seth's Herald wears Mx5 running gear, sporting carbs. Truly my hero.

[Mat.T]

Lovley car, its nice to have such a great history. I've always loved the Herald too

[bigstraight6]

Nice one Seth, I’ve also just turned 50 though I don’t look as cool as the old Rootes wagon.....

[Zantimisfit]

Same birthday as me, and I have also been lowered!

 

Love seeing these. I have soft spot for 'Arrows' as Father Misfit had a couple when I was a small annoying child - a 68 Singer Vogue followed by a 72 Hunter GT, both gold. They seem amazingly thin on the ground these days. I know there is one in Sweden and it is my mission to track it down.

 

Look forward to many updates.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

FTFY

 

 

Stance yo.

 

"You know that long travel compliant suspension we fitted? Well....................."

[JeeExEll]

Seth's Herald wears Mx5 running gear, sporting carbs. Truly my hero.

Really?!! Wow.

 

Any info links?

[Lankytim]

This car (and Seth) are absolute heroes in the old car scene. Absolutely lovely!

[AlabamaShrimp]

It's a nice story and good that you've kept it in use, shame about the hight and wheels it's just something I don't get* but still better than it being some highly polished show thing.