OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC |
Why there wasn't one. Editorial by Brian Vogt |
OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC |
When you look through the list of Audax body Hillman Minx and Singer
Gazelle models, one is very conspicuous by its absence.
These Minx and Gazelle models were always produced in parallel, with matching Series numbers.
The Minx came as "Special" (plain version) and De Luxe, while the Gazelle had even more De Luxe features.
Was the Minx Series IV project running a couple of years late? If
not, the Series IIIB and IIIC model names would be hard to explain.
Mark VIIIa, Series IIIA and Series Va were all interim designations representing relatively
minor updates while waiting for the significantly improved successor models.
Imagine that you're a senior Rootes executive in early 1960 – the
technical experts haven't got the Series IV ready for production yet, but the
name is reserved, and you need a successor to what's now become the Series
IIIA. Just stall for time with another minor change – put a hypoid differential into the old
model, and extend the terminology to call it Series IIIB.
The public still seem to want to buy these Audax body cars while the engineering
updates continue, so keep promoting them strongly. Into the second half
of 1961, the new models are ready. How do you tell the public that the new
design is superior, just after spinning a great story about the
trusty Minx heritage? Sales figures have been steadily falling over the
years so you decide to sell both types. Good decision – the Minx is easier to park, while
the longer wheelbase Super Minx has leg room for adult rear seat passengers.
When Super Minx bodies started coming out of the
presses in October 1961, the Minx Series IIIC had already been in production
for 2 months. By that stage it might have become clear that the public
had more of a preference for the old Audax body cars anyway, so they had to stay.
Development of the new Series V body (for release in 1963) was probably
underway; it couldn't be called Series IV because that name was previously
reserved for the Super Minx. To avoid internal confusion at Rootes, it
remained Series V.
This mess is probably why manufacturers now often use codenames for the
development of new models.
I'd suggest that the Singer Vogue (badged as Humber Vogue in Australia) –
the De Luxe version of the Super Minx – was originally intended to be the
Singer Gazelle Series IV, as a parallel model to the planned Minx Series IV.
An extreme De Luxe version of the Vogue was later developed – the Humber
Sceptre – but that's another subject.
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