Michael Beston explained: "My wife first saw the vehicle for sale in a local newspaper when we lived in Kent in 1987."

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"It really appealed to her as this was the same model of her first car she purchased after passing her driving test. I also learned to drive in a Hillman, so the attachment seemed quite natural.

"We viewed the car a few days later, and we both fell in love with it right then. The car had covered very little mileage and was in extremely good original condition, albeit, a little neglected. We could both see the potential in the Minx, and after a very short negotiation with the owner, we bought our first and only 1950s classic car time capsule.

"The day of collection was very moving, the ex-owner was shedding a tear as we drove away. We knew we had to look after it and promised we would be in touch after it was renovated. Which we did."

The Minx was first registered by Humber Ltd in September 1959 and the road tax cost £4.00, 7 shillings, 6 pence (£4.7.6).

Optional extras fitted from new included a single front fog lamp, chrome bumper over riders, chrome wheel rings, electric windscreen washers and audio radio.

All these items are still on the vehicle and it has only had five owners from new and has covered just over 31,000 since 1959.  It still retains the original green log book, or vehicle registration document as it is known now. 

The original log book.

During Michael's 33-year ownership, the car has been included on a film set of the 1999 Bill Bryson TV series, Notes From A Small Island.  The car was used in a Folkestone street scene along with other age related vehicles, although the filming took around seven hours to complete, the final cut of the scene only lasted three minutes or so! It has also been used for weddings, various family outings, picnics and numerous other events over the years.

Michael said: "As the years have gone by, I find the comments are now; ‘My grandparents used to have one of these’— a true sign of getting older!"

The Minx has attended various classic car shows, rallies and fetes with the Minx over the years. The longest round trip journey was from Medway to the Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford to attend a Hillman car show, clocking up over 260 miles that day. Michael said: “The Minx performed faultlessly and managed to keep up with the modern day traffic, although it was a bit hair-raising at times, especially on the M40!”

The Beston family moved to the Isle of Wight in 2001, where the Minx is a regular attendee at the Havenstreet Steam Railway Festival of Transport and the Isle of Wight International Charity Classic Car Extravaganza, as well as Vectis Historic Vehicle Club events and fundraising events for charitable causes.

Collecting for the Mountbatten hospice at Newport Minster with the Vectis Historic Vehicle Club.

Michael is a member of the Vectis Historic Vehicle Club, which hosts its annual show at Arreton Barns and raises funds for the Mountbatten hospice.

He recalled: "On one occasion, the Minx won second in class for the 1950s vehicle section, a certain bass guitarist bloke by the name of Mark King from Level 42 presented me with my prize, a very proud day to remember indeed.

"You may also see us each Christmas at Newport Minster, rattling the collection jars. I use the Minx to attend local carnivals such as Shanklin and Sandown too." 

You may have seen the Minx at the Landguard Road Co-op store, promoting Shanklin Theatre while working alongside the Co-op team in the Community Funding Initiative.

Michael concluded: "I have had many offers from people to buy the Minx, all of which have been rejected, besides, it’s not about the money, it’s about the memories, something money cannot buy.

"We will eventually donate the Minx to the Beaulieu Motor Museum for all to enjoy at some stage, unless of course, the Isle of Wight can attract an investor to build a much-needed motor museum here on the Island, I’ll leave that thought with you!"

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