Isuzu Hillman Minx

Isuzu Hillman Minx
Isuzu Hillman Minx PH10
Overview
Manufacturer	Isuzu Motors
Production	1953-54
Body and chassis
Body style	4 door sedan
Powertrain
Engine	4 cyl sidevalve 1265 cc
Transmission	4 speed column shift
Chronology
Successor	Isuzu Hillman Minx PH11

The Isuzu Hillman Minx was a series of middle-sized family cars produced by Isuzu Motors in Japan under licence from the Rootes Group between 1953 and 1964. The models were broadly equivalent to the Hillman Minx Mark VI to Mk VIII and Series 1 to Series 3A produced at the same time in the UK, although some notable divergence occurred in the later years as production became localised in Japan.

Isuzu traces its history back to the Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd. which was established in 1893. In 1918, this company entered into an agreement with the British automaker Wolseley Motor Ltd. In 1922, Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding & Engineering localized production of the Wolseley A9 - the first passenger car ever made in Japan. During the 1930s “Tokyo Automobile Industries” was formed and in 1949 the company name was changed to Isuzu Motors.

After World War 2, car companies from Western countries were anxious to sell vehicles in Japan. By April 1952 six companies – Rootes, Renault, Standard, Opel, Fiat and Chrysler - had conducted Japanese market research studies. In June 1952 the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) issued a policy in respect the entry of foreign manufacturers. MITI stated that it would allow foreign firms to enter the market only through technical agreements with existing local “chassis makers”. They also stated that smaller European cars were more suited to Japan than larger American ones. MITI also controlled the amount of foreign currency that could be spent on auto imports and said they would only allocate enough to allow 1200 cars per manufacturer (per annum).

MITI released a further policy statement in October 1952 which provided:

MITI were basically forced to develop these policies after both Rootes and Chrysler had applied to set up car manufacturing arrangements earlier in 1952. Rootes first proposal was to set up their own CKD factory, which was opposed by MITI. Rootes then proposed an agreement with Ikegai Motors by which Rootes would import parts, Ikegai would assemble them and then Rootes would sell the vehicles. MITI rejected this too and finally Rootes entered into an agreement with Isuzu – under terms set by MITI.

While there were doubtless many fine details, the broad terms of the agreement were;

On 28 October 1953 the first Isuzu built Hillman Minx rolled off the assembly line at Isuzu’s new Oomori factory. Known in Japan as the PH10 model, these were basically the normal Mk VI Hillman Minx; 1265 cc side-valve motor, column shift manual gearbox etc. They were assembled from Knock-down kits. The Isuzu Hillman Minx was sold through the Japanese Yamato Motor Company from 12 November 1953.