My dad got a 1959 hillman husky back in the late 70s. He was told it Was one of 16 carrol Shelby and his crew put together They have 289s and mustang 2 front end narrows 9 inch rearends. Has any one Ever heard this story befor. I now have the car. And would like to know if I should hot rod it or try to take it back to what the story says it was.
I've read that the Husky had basically the same floor/ unibody frame as the Sunbeam Alpine. So it could have been that it was easy to change one to V8 specs with Tiger parts. But if they would have done that, in the period, it would have had Rootes Group Suspension parts, and a 260 V8. Sunbeam couldnt even get 289's for their own LeMans entries ( appearently because Shelby didnt want them to have the bigger engine, which would have made the performance more like his own Cobra's which he entered in the same race..) MustangII and 9" makes it street rod stuff and later than what was available when these cars were new. And later, Shelby would have had other things to play with. So this sounds like a complete bogus bullshit story to me...
So... Carol Shelby (who did apparently prepare fome Sunbeams (cousin of Hillman) modified weird little british station wagons? I seriously doubt it. but the Husky is a cool wagon. I'll give ya $500
Imagine, if you will...Carroll Shelby, a Mustang ll front suspension... Let's start over. Carroll Shelby, an AC Cobra, Mustang ll... Wait.
cough . . . bullshit . . . cough We're building a Ford powered '55 Hillman Husky right now, the Mustang II front end is a wash, wouldn't fit the body, frame was too weak up there, no room for reinforcements and still have enough for the mill, steering was a mess. NOT happening. Rear end is mounted to the unibody, It would take an entire sub frame to make it work and be strong enough to handle the 289. The Hillman body is as tall as a '55 CHevy and as narrow as an MGB, no WAY Shelby would waste his time on a box like that, and he certainly wouldn't use Mustang II crap for it. Just a rumor at best ! !
The responces here are priceless. Bullshit no matter what you call it is still Bullshit when you are trying to sell it.
I think the guys just trying to figure out what he has going by what his dad told him. Its not made by Shelby so hot rod it and post some pics.
The whole front of the car is welded solid. My dad has had the car since 1980. Originally it was a bright yellow car. And was painted farari red right befor he had got it. The car was left at a body shop. And that is how he ended up with it. The hillman from what I was told is a monster 1st and 2ed gear the front tires come off the ground. I have never heard it run. I just recently ended up with it after my parents devorce. I have tried to look up any history on it and can't find any. My dad says he ran across another one back in the mid 80s that was the same yellow guy had the same storie.
And I just looked at the paper work he got from the body shop it was 1980 not the 70s he got the car. And I'll try to get some pics of it Tom but it has been sitting for a long time
Yes Carrol Shelby did actually modify Hillman Husky's, I know for a fact it's true cuz I saw it on the Simpson's .
Rob, I'm sorry to tell ya the stories aren't possible unless Mr. Shelby had a time machine, hes good but...It's a 1959 and the Mustang II didn't come out till 1974, so the Mustang II front end wouldnt have been available till 74, also the 289 and Ford 9" came out well after 1959, this is why we're saying it's not true, and didn't happen, despite the stories you've been told. It is possible that at some point in the 1980's someone heavily modified their 59 hillman husky, people have modified some odd cars, so thats possible. I've seen some potent 289's before but unless that husky was almost a full tub dragger, I just don't see it lofting the front wheels off the track. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The 9" Ford was released in 1957. But the small block Ford came too late to be anything usable for this car, and the Mustang II was a '70s ride obviously. Sounds like someone's old hot rod with a tall tale. No big deal, still sounds like fun, enjoy it.
Thanks for the correction gas, I was thinking 60 or 61 for the 9" for some reason, my bad, I hate it when numbers get stuck in my head lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I heard ol' Carroll used Versaille rears in the Daytona coupes, for the disc brakes. Maybe your dad can verify this??
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