Japanese Rootes

[lemansvk]

I wonder how many people remember that Hillmans were once built under license to Rootes by Isuzu in Japan? Below is a link to a pic from a Japanese brochure showing an interesting estate car from 1962.

i122.photobucket.com/albums/o262/sunalp63/OddRootes/smallIsuzu62EstateCrop.jpg


This estate is not based on the short-wheelbase Husky, but on the longer wheel based platform. It's different to the regular Minx estate and looks like it was based on the Commer Express delivery van body (with two passenger doors and a side hinged tailgate) - although it's clearly set up for passengers in the back seat area. It's badged as a Hillman Express. (apologies for the lo-res scan, I'll replace it with a better one soon).

Isuzu borrowed heavily from Rootes for the mechanical parts of its own cars - the engine in the Isuzu Bellett was almost identical in appearance to that in the Minx.

Cheers, Vic

[nickbrad]

Would be very interested if you could dig out some more details on the japanese rootes vehicles.

[lemansvk]

OK, I don't really have a lot of information about it. Isuzu built Hillmans under licence between about 1953 until about 1962 when they started building their own models. Here is a link you can check out.

homepage.ntlworld.com/andymurkin/Hillman/Hillinfo/IsuzuMinx.html

I wonder if the Rootes Archive Centre has anything? I might drop them a line. It would be interesting to know if any Isuzu Hillmans remain among clubs in Japan.

[sunbeammadd]

I've seen photos of an Isuzu Minx on display in a museum in Japan. Might be the Toyota Museum perhaps?



Edit: Oh yes, here it is. It's the earlier type Minx though. www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/data_e/a03_08_6.html

[lemansvk]

OK, I have done some research and written a story about these cars. If you are interested in reading it please email me on [e-mail] and I'll send you a copy. You'll need Adobe reader to read it, but you probably already have that and if not it's s free download.

Cheers, Vic

[nickbrad]

Story definately wanted, email sent.

Nice one on writing this, i can think of quite a few people who would be interested in it.

[nickbrad]

Having read the article, I thought it was very well written. Have you given any thought to producing other articles on British manufactured vehicles? Doesn't have to be Rootes, if it's to the same standard of that article i'll read it.

[lemansvk]

Hi Nick,

Some years ago I wrote an article on th history of Rootes cars that were raced in the 1960s at the annual production car race at Mt Panorama, Bathurst (Australia). This race was a a 500 mile event over a pretty tough circuit and has always been a premier event in Australia - hence the interest. The article was published in Australian Classic Car magazine. Unfortunately because of a computer crash I lost the electronic version, but if you are interested send me your snail mail address and I'll send you a photocopy.

Cheers, Vic

[nickbrad]

Yes, I'd be very interested in a copy, thanks. PM with address now being sent

[lemansvk]

Hi Nick,

Message received, I will try to copy and post the article in the next couple of days.

If you like reading stuff on Hillmans, maybe you should check out this webpage:

www.whatsahillman.com/archive.html It contains links to download copies of "Melodies" - a Quarterly newsletter published by Jan Eyerman in the USA. Jan is a long time Hillman owner and fan (he helped me by checking the Isuzu article). He is probably one of the most knowledgeable people in the world regarding Hillmans (although he is too modest to claim that). You might also think about joining the Hillman Yahoogroup Here's a link where you can read all about it and join up.

www.whatsahillman.com/DiscussionGroup.html

The group has about 400 members worldwide.

Cheers, Vic

[nickbrad]

Received the article in the post yesterday, thank you very much for sending it. Haven't had chance to read it yet as yesterday was so hectic, but i'll definately find a quiet half hour today for it.

[dodgealpine]

Any chance of scanning it so we can all see it?

[lemansvk]

Feb 12, 2011 21:47:28 GMT dodgealpine said:

Any chance of scanning it so we can all see it?

I guess I could scan it - the article (on Rootes at Bathurst) is 4 pages and some period pictures are included. How would you envisage it being available? Posted here somehow, or just emailed to interested people?


BTW, how come I'm a Chrysler Avenger? Is this just a random allocation of cars to members, or can I become a Sunbeam Alpine Not that there's anything wrong with Avengers, I've just never seen one (they weren't sold over here).


Cheers, Vic

[nickbrad]

I don't know how it's allocated, at a guess it uses post count. I'd happily swap from a Minx to an Avenger