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Hilman Imp.
- Thread starter beau
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Hilman Imp.
No matter how good the car was, and it had a lot of good points, it was never
going to work as a business. If you went to a bank and told them you wanted
to build a car by making all the components in and around Birmingham, then putting them all on a train and sending them to Scotland where they would be
assembled and put on a train back to England (the main market) they'd laugh you out of the room.
Having said that, I think the Imp was launched 10 years too late, or 40 years too early. In the '50s the public was looking, all over Europe, for a small, compact, light car. The same now. But, in the 60s people were looking for a bigger, smarter, more sophisticated car and the Dimp wasn't it. It was also a little too advanced for buyers who were buying Anglias, Escorts, Vivas and Cortinas. Shame really because they had a lot going for them and arguably the prettiest car of their generation.
One of the maddest Imps I've ever seen was one that used to turn up a saloon car races in the '70s. It had been completly stripped out and then, gradually, one by one, every body panel with the exception of the roof had been replaced by glass fibre. Then they fitted a Cosworth BDG Formula 2 engine with about 300 bhp matched up with a Hewland gearbox and weighing only about 300kgs that gave you a power to weight ratio of about 1000 bhp per ton.
going to work as a business. If you went to a bank and told them you wanted
to build a car by making all the components in and around Birmingham, then putting them all on a train and sending them to Scotland where they would be
assembled and put on a train back to England (the main market) they'd laugh you out of the room.
Having said that, I think the Imp was launched 10 years too late, or 40 years too early. In the '50s the public was looking, all over Europe, for a small, compact, light car. The same now. But, in the 60s people were looking for a bigger, smarter, more sophisticated car and the Dimp wasn't it. It was also a little too advanced for buyers who were buying Anglias, Escorts, Vivas and Cortinas. Shame really because they had a lot going for them and arguably the prettiest car of their generation.
One of the maddest Imps I've ever seen was one that used to turn up a saloon car races in the '70s. It had been completly stripped out and then, gradually, one by one, every body panel with the exception of the roof had been replaced by glass fibre. Then they fitted a Cosworth BDG Formula 2 engine with about 300 bhp matched up with a Hewland gearbox and weighing only about 300kgs that gave you a power to weight ratio of about 1000 bhp per ton.
The point about finance and credit is well made. Until the easing of credit restrictions in the (80s?) people had to save up for a car and, having bought it had to wait until they'd saved up for another one until they could replace it.
last september, there was a nice imp there, and it was awsome
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She looks great Charlotte
Thanks - Still in the process of getting him properly on the road. He is MOT'd taxed etc but am fine tuning the engine, changing bits over and getting him ready for the Spring
3140 Tipo - Where was that Imp?
Thanks - Still in the process of getting him properly on the road. He is MOT'd taxed etc but am fine tuning the engine, changing bits over and getting him ready for the Spring
3140 Tipo - Where was that Imp?
it was at shefield in september, at a hot rod show, its been there for a couple of years and won 1 or 2 prizes,
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It's been a month now and since then Sammy has had new plugs, dizzy cap, and leads. The timing has also been set, all the nuts and bolts underneath tightened up and the valves on the tyres replaced Hopefully they will stop going down now Starts much better but think I'll need to splash out and buy a battery for the Spring.
He also had a quick wash
BTW The drive is on a slope
He also had a quick wash
BTW The drive is on a slope
Attachments
There's a white 1970's Imp Super, white, 25k miles for sale on Autotrader, I'm very tempted because it's only £1295.
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Tatty white Imp
It's not tempting me at that money.. It's also listed as a 1970 when it's on an N plate. Seller hasn't done his homework, or there's something dodgy.
Cheers,
Plug
It's not tempting me at that money.. It's also listed as a 1970 when it's on an N plate. Seller hasn't done his homework, or there's something dodgy.
Cheers,
Plug
could be a typo
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could be a typo
:chin:
Are you after an Imp FiatDrivingFan?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HILLMAN-IMP-S...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:7|39:1|240:1318
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HILLMAN-IMP-D...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:7|39:1|240:1318
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1967-HILLMAN-...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:7|39:1|240:1318
Or if you really felt like buying a "fixer upper", check out this one
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HILLMAN-IMP-S...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:7|39:1|240:1318
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with abit of tlc, that should me up and running, and a show winner car.
This post contains affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
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limjamrace
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The closest Fiat to a Hillman Imp would be the Fiat 850 (saloon) and 850 Sport Coupe(Stiletto) all around the same period of time..
I have been involved in Hillman Imps for 40 years(competition and road use) and can tell you putting a bag of cement or heavy weight in the boot(front) is nonsense!!
If you have a problem then it is something worn or wrong tyre pressures!
Imps handle magnifient...Just look at the class limit in todays Historic Saloon racing...
The old up to 1000cc clas was probably dropped because no one could beat Imps in that category..
I have also a 1969 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe which is gorgeous to look at but overall it's running gear and engine don't hold nothing to an Imp set up..
Although i'd say the chassis's are both superb!
Like everything else you have to know what it is all about to get the best out of historic cars.
I plan to run both the Imp and Fiat in Hillclimb and Sprints in due course.
For a website to dream of in way of the most exciting Fiats ever (rear engined & under 1100cc) visit
The guy who runs it is a genius!!
David L.
(Llewellyn Imp Motorsport)
I have been involved in Hillman Imps for 40 years(competition and road use) and can tell you putting a bag of cement or heavy weight in the boot(front) is nonsense!!
If you have a problem then it is something worn or wrong tyre pressures!
Imps handle magnifient...Just look at the class limit in todays Historic Saloon racing...
The old up to 1000cc clas was probably dropped because no one could beat Imps in that category..
I have also a 1969 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe which is gorgeous to look at but overall it's running gear and engine don't hold nothing to an Imp set up..
Although i'd say the chassis's are both superb!
Like everything else you have to know what it is all about to get the best out of historic cars.
I plan to run both the Imp and Fiat in Hillclimb and Sprints in due course.
For a website to dream of in way of the most exciting Fiats ever (rear engined & under 1100cc) visit
The guy who runs it is a genius!!
David L.
(Llewellyn Imp Motorsport)
limjamrace
New member
Apparently i have to post 5 threads before i am allowed to give out a website ..So here is no 2!
limjamrace
New member
Or do i mean 5 posts!
limjamrace
New member
Ah well just 2 to go!
