​Quality custom & restoration sheet metal work & repair

I rolled it out side to get a good look at the stance and ride height while working on the design of new full independent suspension chassis. This is just fun to look at and will be a super unique 289 powered 4 person convertible driver.

​The motor is complete and it will get a rebuild over time with some mods.

​Rear rubber shot, We Have The Meats.

​One last thing I have a Washington state title from the person I bought the car from never changed it.

Mocking things up and checking for fit to see if my measurements where close. This will make it easer to mount the Ford 289 and is about 5 inches narrower than the Miata front suspension which I would of had to do a lot of rework, much cleaner this way.

The old very rusty x floor bracing is now gone its on the floor but still will need some more final trim work. Now I can start working on the main under floor chassis and the front frame rails.

More body to table bracing added and now the left side sill clamps are removed so I can replace the rusted inner rocker sill for a stronger body mounting to frame area.

With some of the firewall and the floor pan skin removed it shows  x unibody under passenger compartment frame. It will all go away not only ugly but very rusty, it also hangs down below the rocker sill for less ground clearance.

I bought a Ford 289, ah Tigers and Cobras come to mind.

My original vision is coming to life and I can see maybe a custom grill in the works that would have a British look.

One thing that makes this a little tougher build is the front fenders and front upper and lower core supports are all welded together it is a full unibody car. I haven't decided weather I will rework the front fenders and core supports to be removable or have the frame and drive train unbolt together. More on that as the build progresses along.

I was going to use a modified Miata front suspension things have changed it was to wide. 

​The inner body  bracing is in and with it anchored to the table in 8 places it isn't moving so now I can start removing some of the old floor for the new main chassis rails. 

​This will be a real fun one of a kind driver.

AFCO coil over shocks for the front and rear.

All new bushings and sleeves for front and rear control arms from Energy Suspensions.

​1959 Hillman Minx Convertible Restomod Project For Sale

Trying to keep a little of the retro look I went with ​15 inch Rota RB wheels, a knock off of the optional Sunbeam Tiger wheels they fit the style of the car 8 inch front wheels with 195x50  tires & 9 1/2 in rear wheels with 225x50 Kumho tires with an aggressive tread & handling it was sitting high here not at ride height.

New 28 spline hubs for the Ford CV  axels from Martin at Monster Miata.

I fired up my new Laser paint and rust removal high tec machine and removed the rust down to the bare metal with out a bunch of  warpage like when sand or media blasting, this part is now ready for zero rust paint protection and no media to clean up.

At present ​I am building a 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 by 3/16 wall tube chassis the extra wall thickness will make up for not using larger tubing due to ground clearance. I will fab up a removable IRS cradle using the Ford aluminum 8.8 center section with custom built control arms designed after the Miata and using the new 28 spline Miata style rear hubs, with narrowed CV axels. I am using the Miata style hubs because the Rota RB wheels only come in a 4 lug pattern. In my opinion these wheels were a natural fit for the retro look I am looking for. It will handle real well with independent suspension on all 4 corners, with the AFCO coil over shocks. With a reworked Ford 289 and a reworked AOD transmission  to run in automatic or shift mode it should be a real fun driver. I haven't decided on the fuel system yet. With any resto mod project things change at present this is my current plan and vison. 

Yes it is for sale as is present condition and you can finish your way or buy it and we can discuss your vision on the build.

At present it's on Craigs List Seattle 59 Hillman Minx for sale and the price will change as I do work and buy more parts.

New CV axels and hubs together.

New 28 spline CV half shafts that will need to be shortened.

​Ah yes it has rubber under it.

Halogen headlights with turn signals in lower edge.

​Setting on the frame jig table at ride height 4 1/2 inches front & 5 1/2 inches rear at the bottom of the rocker sills. Just a little bit of attitude base to start .

A ​traditional Nardi steering wheel will be used.

​If you have any thoughts or comments on this or any of my other projects please feel free to email me. 

​creativebillet@msn.com

This little gem has a ton of possibility's

​I do have the soft top mechanism its folded down at present with a new not installed white top.

​This was a unibody car so the front frame rails & tubs were cut out need room for the 289 Ford Power. A new chassis and wheel tubs will be made to fit. With independent suspension on all 4 corners and coil over shocks.

​Playing with  tire size ideas and the stance very important for the overall look.

​A little bling for the engine.

​The wheels and tires give it the look I was after

​Ah the thunder some power plant, a whapping 54 chipmunks I mean hp when new & one of them wasn't doing  well so maybe 36 chipmunks if real lucky.

After I cut out the rest of the main floor pan and trimmed of the edges I have decided that the inner rockers are not looking to good also. With the new just set in place main outer rails there isn't a lot of good material to build off of, so its more temporary supports from the body to the frame table. Than remove the rusty thin inner rockers.

This Ford  8.8 28 spline aluminum IRS rear center section will be used 3.26 gears.

​I like the overall look so far, it will just need's some minor wheel well rework for clearance I am thinking, I don't want to take away from the original look.

 ​If you wish to discuss this builder or one of my other builders or your possible project give me a call. If I don't answer leave a return phone number and message.

Shop Phone land line no text  425 433 0294

​Danny Pascoe

I put the grill back for temp looks might change later.


I put the stock at present Miata brake rotors on for spacing at present the tires just barely clear the inner wheel lip​ but workable.  

Edelbrock manifold I had as a 289 was the plan from the start.

​Table change time.

I had this front crossmember with control arms and  rack left over from a previous project, so I re machined the Miata spindles to match the ball joints and the Mustang type tie rod ends. I will rework the Upper and lower spring pockets and adjust the upper mounts for the control arms  for the AFCO coil over shocks.​​

​Sold off the motor, trans , front & rear suspension. I am building custom front and a rear IRS suspension's using Miata hubs.

Standard 289 motor mounts the frame part will need to be built. 

304 stainless 5/8 OD tubing I will be using for the new grill it will have a British flare to it.

More of the old firewall was removed.

​Flying Hillman extremely rare.

Laser rust removal time.

​I did say its quirky wright this interior is just plain fun and the wife loves it just needs some more padding to be added.

The body is now locked down solid to the chassis table at ride height the bottom of the rocker sills are 4 1/2 inches in the front and 5 1/2 inches at the rear . The front crossmember is bolted to the table centered in the wheel openings and square with the body and the front crossmember is also at its ride height with the lower control arms parallel with the table aka ground. The uppers will be set to proper angle.

Rear Kumho 225 x15 tires on The Rota RB wheels Miata rear cross member mock up pre measure before building new custom IRS unit.

DOM tubing for building the rear independent suspension control arms.

​Some of the 2 1/2 x2 1//2 chassis material plus the inner body temporary bracing.

​New Headman headers.

​Back a while ago I bought this quirky little 4 passenger convertible its got some fun lines & its a 4 person convertible. I like different cars not cookie cuter types, its rare to top it off. It was made by the Roots group in England the same people that made the Sunbeam Tiger as in Ford American Powered V8. Humm this gets me thinking, it's in my shop under construction towards my original vision now. It is For Sale in as it is built at the time with all the parts I have for it and you can finish the build your self your way or have me finish it the way you would vision it.