Hi:
My name is Dennis Casner and I recently came across your news group.
I am a 38 year old Computer Consultant and Teacher, married with 2 children.
I live in the area around Sacramento, CA.
I have a 1959 Hillman Husky, Series I, my wife says "Its so ugly its cute".
I bought the car nearly 12 years ago and I love it. Over the intervening
years I have enjoyed driving and restoring this little wagon. I have been
trying to restore it to near original condition. I have rebuilt the 1300 cc
engine, the "4 speed" transmission (3 speed with extra low) along with the
rear end and suspension as well as completely rebuilding the electrical
system. This has been a very time consuming project as the hunt for parts has
taken in some cases as long as a year.
The interior was drastically changed and almost nothing of the original
survived. I have found the stretcher rods for the head liner. The press
paper "pitch rack" under the windshield was destroyed and since I have found
no way to restore this I have replaced it with a home built dash board with
glove box. The front seats are from an old Triumph. I have been told, by a
guy I met who said he once was a salesman for Hillmans, that this car came
with a choice of a bench or a set of bucket seats - Does anyone know for
sure. I would like to keep the bucket seat style if I can. I have not been
able to find a rebuildable front seat for a car like this in any case - but I
am still looking. With those two exceptions the interior is complete now and
nearly ready for the upholstery shop.
Now, I am ready to work on the exterior. I am tying to locate body and trim
parts. I have called many auto wreckers in California who specialize in older
British cars but have had only limited success. Parts for Minx, Sipper Minx,
and Gazelles I find regularly but rarely do I find a Husky of any variety. I
still need the front and rear bumpers and the trim rings around the front
headlights - Can anyone point me in the right direction to find any or all of
the "missing" parts?
I have been driving this car off and on (more off than on ) since I bought it
but lately I have become concerned about accidents. The only type of
insurance I have been able to get is liability. In order to get full coverage
I need to get an appraisal of its value. I have been to quite a few appraisal
agents around the Sacramento, CA area, some have never heard of a Hillman and
none can give me a legitimate value - the best I have found was a company who
offered to write an appraisal for the value of the parts I have put into it
about $3500 so far. Does any one have any idea how much a 1959 Hillman Husky,
series I should be worth??? Have I over spent its value (with more yet to
come) or do I have a diamond coming out of the ruff?
I look forward to reading more about the Roots Group family of cars.
Dennis Casner
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