Slow Sled: 1962 Hillman Husky Mk II – Sold!
October 27th Update: While updating our Wagon Wednesday database, we confirmed the private seller of this Hillman Husky deleted their Craigslist ad, so we’re now able to call this one “Sold!” This one may have got away, but if you have your heart set on something similar, email us the details of what you’re looking for or call Rudy directly at (908)295-7330.
Straight from the “It’s a What?” Department was this 1962 Hillman Husky two-door “Shooting Brake” first listed in July 2020 on Craigslist in Irondequoit, New York with an asking price of $5,000. As a pricing benchmark, Bring A Trailer auctioned several examples for slightly more than what is being asked here. Oddly, the NADA Guides Classic Car Online Valuation Tool claims their “Low”, “Average”, and “High” retail value range on these rare two-door station wagons to be $18,700, $29,000, and $35,400, respectively. We’re leaning towards the BaT pricing as a better guide as those are based on actual examples.
Founded in 1907, Hillman Motor Car Company was a British automobile marque based near Coventry, England. Before 1907 the company built bicycles. Newly under the control of the Rootes brothers, Humber acquired the Hillman company from them in 1928. Hillman was used as the small car marque of Humber Limited from 1931, but until 1937 Hillman did continue to sell large cars. The Rootes brothers reached a sixty percent holding of Humber in 1932 which they retained until 1967, when Chrysler bought Rootes and bought out the other forty percent of shareholders in Humber. The marque continued to be used under Chrysler until 1976.
Hillman introduced the Mark I version of its compact Husky “Shooting Brake” for the 1954 model year. Based on the larger Mark VIII Hillman Minx., the two-door Husky rode on a nine-inch shorter wheelbase. The Husky was not a hatchback, having instead a single side-hinged rear door. Unlike other models in the Hillman lineup, the Husky continued to use the older 1,265 cc (77.2 cubic inch), 35 brake horsepower side-valve engine topped with a single Zenith carburetor. Unlike the “three-on-the-tree” column shifted Minx, Husky came equipped with a floor-mounted gear shift. Huskys featured front bucket seats and a folding rear bench seat. The trim material was a unique leather cloth. Both the heater and radio were optional extras.
The example featured here is a later Mark II produced from 1960 through 1962. These featured a four-speed gearbox, slightly lowered roof, a deeper windshield, and revised seats. The engine compression ratio was raised to 8:1 and the carburetor changed to a Zenith 30 VIG type. Testing the Husky in 1960, The Motor magazine recorded a top speed of 73.4 mph, acceleration from 0-60 mph of 26.9 seconds, and fuel consumption of 25.6 miles per gallon.
What the seller lacks in pictures he more than makes up for with this detailed walk-around video:
If you’re looking for a quirky but cute British car to tinker with that won’t break either your bank account or any speed limits, this Husky might just be the classic car for you. Good luck with the purchase!
Here’s the seller’s description:
“Car runs/Starts/Stops/Drives Well. Odometer quit at 49,000 miles, mileage unknown. Engine: Runs well,Rebuilt at some point, leaks a little oil. Lots of new parts. Transmission: Four speed on the floor shifts properly. Brakes: System completely rebuilt with all new wheel cylinders, brake lines, brake shoes and master cylinder. Wheels : 6 -sand blasted/primed/painted. Tires only have 10% wear. Six new port-a-walls. Interior: Seats and door panels professionally reupholstered. New carpet/floors insulated. Speedometer and fuel gage not working. Has after market Stewart Warner gauges.. Glass all original. Windshield has minor wiper blade scratches, comes with NOS windshield. Body: Repainted at some point a few spots starting to show through(view video). Overall car is solid. Spares: various engine parts, new windshield, used hood.
Car is inspected licensed and insured. Serious inquires welcome to a test drive.
I have a 42 inch lift, bottom of car can be viewed easily. Hood ornament (Nash) does not go with car.
$5,000 FIRM. Please text or phone calls ONLY. 585-944-6026 $5,000 FIRM. Thank You.“
Do you have a Hillman Husky story you’d like to share? Comment below and let us know!
Still for sale?
Hi Stephen, apologies for the confusion. We first featured that Hillman in July of 2020 when we came across it on Craigslist. The listing has long since been removed, so we assume the owner sold the car. We’ve updated the listing to prevent any future confusion. Thank you for looking!
I have a 59 husky panel truck drag car also a 59 husky wagon in good condition I thought it would be cool to pull drag car with the wagon but I’ve owned the panel for35 yes and wagon for 25 plus years and still dreaming
OMG a Place to tell My Story::
I am Gene K7GNO in America.. I learned to drive in a 1959 Hillman Husky.
My Dad was stationed @ RAF Schulthorpe near Fakenham England in 1960.
He brought home the Hillman & I believe he paid $150 Dollars for it. It had high miles & was owned by a Heavy Set Gentleman who SQUASHED the Seats.. Somehow Dad was able to source 2 BRAND NEW Seats.. (how did he do that) Anyway more to the story… I was 7 when he first taught me to drive her..
Then in about 1963 We were transferred to Mather AFB in California..
Now the funs starts.. We shipped the Husky from London to New Jersey..
Then Drove the HUSKY frrom NJ to Sacramento Ca.. a FAMILY of 5! & a huge Foot locker we took off the roof since top speed with it was 45MPH.
So across the USA we go. in Oklahoma the Generator Croaked..
A mechanic took the Generator off, Cut down some Chevrolet Brushes & charged us $3. 50 Labor & parts were $1.35… Can you imagine. Total $53
COAST TO COAST… Going over the Ca. Grapevine was Funny.
British Plated “XGO 135” going 40 miles an Hr , People screamed past us
we were like a Cirrus Show… Been Searching for a Husky for years & now I found 1 in running cond… I may have to buy & love it..It was MOM’s Car
she spoke of being Buried in it. Dad, Brother & I chased it down many times & noone would ever sell it back to us.. Blessings from Idaho Gene K7GNO