Auctions invariably turn up some interesting cars and that of Historics at the Merc\u00e9d\u00e8s-Benz World at Brooklands was no exception, and a quick excursion into the museum at the old track also revealed one or two new exhibits as well.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.doubledeclutch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/DSCN1944.jpg\" "\\"DSCN1944\\"")
<\/a>1934 Hillman Aero Minx Streamline<\/p><\/div>\n
Conceived by Capt. J.S.Irving \u2013 designer of the \u201cGolden Arrow\u201d Land Speed Record car \u2013 and A.H. Wilde, the Hillman Minx was launched in 1931 and went on sale in 1932. Some six months later the Aero Minx was introduced.<\/p>\n
<\/a>1934 Hillman Aero Minx Streamline<\/p><\/div>\n
Mechanically similar with the same 1185 c.c. 4-cylinder side-valve engine, it was given a new under-slung frame, a high compression cylinder head and a remote control gear-change. To give a more sporting appearance the radiator grille was swept forward at its base. The standard bodywork style was a 2+1 fastback coup\u00e9 with the rear seat set crosswise. From late 1934 an all- synchromesh gearbox was fitted and the Streamline open two-seater body was available.<\/p>\n
<\/a>1934 Hillman Aero Minx Streamline<\/p><\/div>\n
By 1936 Rootes badge-engineering had taken over and the car evolved into the new Talbot 10.<\/p>\n
<\/a>1938 Lancia Aprilia<\/p><\/div>\n
Irresistible was this beautiful blue Lancia Aprilia, Vincenzo Lancia\u2019s last masterpiece. Of monocoque pillarless construction it boasted all independent suspension<\/p>\n
<\/a>1938 Lancia Aprilia<\/p><\/div>\n
and a little gem of an engine, the 1352 c.c. V4 .<\/p>\n
<\/a>1937 SS Jaguar 1.5-litre<\/p><\/div>\n
This was the smallest car Jaguar ever produced. Like all the stunning SS Jaguars introduced in 1935, it relied on Standard mechanicals, in this case the 4-cylinder Standard Twelve 1608 c.c. side valve engine. In the picture below you can see the name Standard stamped on the cylinder block.<\/p>\n
<\/a>1937 SS Jaguar 1.5-litre<\/p><\/div>\n
While by 1938 the bigger 2.5-litre and 3.5-litre models were using special Weslake-developed overhead valve heads, the 1.5-litre used the Standard Fourteen 1776 c.c. engine with Standard-produced o.h.v. \u2013 this engine went on to power the post-war Triumph Roadster and Renown models as well as the what-was-now the Jaguar 1.5-litre. The early small SS Jaguar can be recognised by the spare-wheel cover whose top is higher than the level of the bonnet.<\/p>\n
<\/a>1937 SS Jaguar 1.5-litre<\/p><\/div>\n
This \u201cbaby\u201d Jaguar easily outsold all the other models in the pre-war range.<\/p>\n
<\/a>1924 Peugeot Quadrilette Type 172 Grand Sport<\/p><\/div>\n
In the last days of 1919 Peugeot revealed their successor to the Bugatti-designed B\u00e9b\u00e9: the Type 161 Quadrilette which had a 4-cylinder 667 c.c. engine and the two seats mounted in tandem; this successful little car was made in the factory at Beaulieu in eastern France. In 1922 it was re-designed as the Type 172 and it acquired staggered seats. By 1924 production was moved to Peugeot\u2019s main plant at Sochaux and later the engine size was increased to 720 c.c.<\/p>\n
It was joined in 1924 by the Grand Sport, a 5CV model of which only 100 were made. It was clearly a tough little car as one of them won its class in 1926 in the car-destroying Circuit des Routes Pav\u00e9es, a demanding race around cobbled roads in the southern outskirts of Lille.\u00a0The standard model evolved into the 5CV Type 172 which appeared at the 1924 Tour de France and examples of the car took the first three places in its class in the first Mille Miglia in 1927. Certainly a rugged little car!<\/p>\n