Lord Montagu of Beaulieu has presented award certificates at the National Motor Museum (NMM) to students who successfully participated in the Mechanix course and restored a classic Hillman Super Minx personally donated by National Motor Museum’s Chief Executive, Jon Murden.

Jon Murden says, “About a year ago I donated a Hillman Super Minx mk3 I had rescued from a farm in Worcestershire to a local youth group who run an annual course for young people to learn about cars. I had acquired the car with the intention of restoring it and had made gradual progress. However, following a personal set-back, I re-assessed what I could now reasonably do and decided that the project was beyond me.

“When I met the organisers of the ‘Mechanix’ group I was so impressed with what they do for young people in Hythe, on the spur of the moment, I offered it to them as a gift in the hope that it would do some good in our community and inspire some new classic car enthusiasts. This week, twelve months on, I saw the car at the end of their project, and they have done an amazing job of restoring the car. I am so delighted the Hillman has gone on to a good home and has a new life. And I was utterly thrilled to have met the young people who worked so hard and learned so much restoring it.”

The presentation of certificates in the museum was followed by a tour of the collection given by the museum’s Learning team. Lord Montagu said: “Whilst we are a national museum, this course happens to be run on our doorstep, so I am especially pleased that we have been able to host the presentation once again. The course offers a great opportunity for students to learn the skills which will be needed in the years ahead when some of the cars of today are in need of repair and restoration.”

Mechanix sees a group of young people aged 14-17 with no prior car mechanic experience challenged to bring cars up to MOT level during evening courses. The students used manuals as their guide as they repaired the Hillman and a VW Beetle in a working garage in Dibden, learning essential car maintenance activities and carrying out practical MOT test procedures in the process.

Local vocational centre Totton College guaranteed that all Mechanix students who passed the course could progress to an interview for Higher Level mechanics courses, providing them with an opportunity to develop their skills further and become professional mechanics.

This Mechanix course was organised by St Andrew’s & All Saints’ Church in Dibden, Hampshire. Major local businesses including ExxonMobil, Draper Tools and Shawfix Autos played a pivotal role in supporting the course.

Reuben Shaw from Shawfix Autos says, “This was the first-time students will have encountered tappets, or carburettors and the students had no diagnostic tools. We are really pleased that these students have stuck with the course and got their qualifications. Over the last months, they have gained several practical skills and learnt about teamwork. The personal development goals that they each achieved are a real credit to them.”

There’s a chance to see the Super Minx when it returns to Beaulieu on short-term loan this summer, and a chance to buy it! When it leaves Beaulieu it will go to auction and the proceeds will be used to fund future courses.