Hillman Imp Mk I
Overview
| Produced: |
1963-1965 |
|---|---|
| Types: |
Saloon,2 doors,4 seats |
The Rootes group launched its answer to the BMC Mini in 1963, the rear engined Hillman Imp. The Imp was quickly "badge engineered" into Singer and Sunbeam derivatives including some pretty "fastback" models. The standard car used a two door bodyshell with a novel opening rear window/hatch, all Imp's were built in a brand new factory built in Glasgow with government grants.
Power for these small saloons came from a an all-alloy engine developed from a Coventry-Climax unit. Despite only having 875cc the Imp engine provided plenty of power and was matched to an equally good gearbox. Despite some early teething problems the Imp range remained in production until 1976.
Buyers Guide Hillman Imp featured in Practical Classics Spring 2005 – available from our sister site Bookbase. Click here to view.
Source: Motorbase
Engines
| Capacity | Config | Model | Bore/Stroke | CR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 875cc | S4 OHC | Hillman Imp engine | 68mm x 60.375mm | 10 |
Fuel System
| Type | Number | Capacity | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solex | 1 | (30 Piht carb) |
Drivetrain and Suspension
| Drivetrain | Steering | Front Suspension | Rear Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
Performance
| Top Speed | 0-60 | SQM | MPG | Engine Pwr | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mph | 25.4 s | 45 mpg | 42 bhp 5000 |
Brakes
| Front | Rear | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Drum | Drum |
Auction Sales History
Magazine Articles
| Title | Pages | Options | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Article |
Group Test - Family value |
20 |
 |
|
| Publication | Practical Classics November 2008 | |||
| Group Test - Family value- Ever see those sad words in the classifieds? 'Baby forces sale'. Not with these four cars, it doesn't. We reckon you can enjoy classic motoring, family style, just the way it was 30 years ago. 1974 Saab 95, 1972 Triumph 2500PI, Range Rover Classic, Hillman Imp. | ||||
| Article |
Group Test - Small Estates - 1959 Austin A35 Countryman, 1965 Citroen AMI 6 Break, 1967 Mini MK I Countryman, 1969 Imp Husky, 1972 Fiat 500 Giardinera. |
42 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics April 2006 | |||
| Little load Luggers - Group Test - Estates - Every one less than a litre, Dale Drinnon looks for happiness in a pint-sized practical classic - 1959 Austin A35 Countryman, 1965 Citroen AMI 6 Break, 1967 Mini MK I Countryman, 1969 Imp Husky, 1972 Fiat 500 Giardinera. | ||||
| Article |
Intelligent Minis |
94 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Cars August 2005 | |||
| Cheeky, Compact, Cute, Clever, Cheap! - In the early Sixties, manufacturers came up with different ways of feeding an affluent new market with useful, affordable cars. The BMC Mini, Triumph Herald, Ford Anglia and Hillman Imp offered the cleverest solutions. | ||||
| Article |
Buying Guide - Hillman Imp (1963-1975) |
108 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics Spring 2005 | |||
| Buying Guide - Hillman Imp - Impish Driving Delight - Cheap to buy and run, easy to maintain, smooth riding and reliable too - now’s the time to buy a Hillman Imp. | ||||
| Article |
Young, free and shingle - Flashback |
104 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Cars July 2004 | |||
| Young, free and shingle - Flashback - Young things didn’t know how much fun they could have, until the marketing men sold them a lifestyle. All they needed was a Hillman Imp, and some rust protection. | ||||
| Article |
Modified IMPS - Little Devils |
56 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics Spring 2004 | |||
| Modified IMPS - Little Devils - Hold the head gasket! Wind down the water pump! Keep away from the kingpins! And meet a sextet of imps that shows what imps can really do once the power potential is unleashed in that little aluminium engine. | ||||
| Article |
Heroic Failures - Group Test |
8 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics January 2004 | |||
| Heroic Failures - Group Test. Thousands of car manufacturers have fallen by the wayside since the car's inception. Richard Dredge looks at one from each of the last five decades to find out what ultimately went wrong. | ||||
| Article |
Hillman Imp Rally car - Rollcage, harnesses and paint - Part five |
116 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics April 2002 | |||
| Hillman Imp Rally car - Rollcage, harnesses and paint - Part five - Got a rally driver? Get a cage to keep him in. Simon Goldsworthy sees how to fit one. | ||||
| Article |
Hillman Imp rally car - Moving the radiator - Part Four |
126 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics March 2002 | |||
| Hillman Imp rally car - Moving the radiator - Part Four - With a tuned engine thrashing its way round a track, it can be hard to keep your cool. Simon Goldsworthy discovers how to get the best from a hard-pressed system. | ||||
| Article |
Body repairs |
122 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics February 2002 | |||
| Body Repairs - You can buy repair panels for pounds, or you can make your own for pennies. Simon Goldsworthy watches our expert to see what it takes. | ||||
| Article |
Sill replacement |
134 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics January 2002 | |||
| Restoration Hillman Imp Rally Car. Part Two. Sill replacement. Rally winner, shopping trolley or concours contender, they all need good sills. Simon Goldsworthy explains the process of replacement. | ||||
| Article |
Buyer's Guide Express - Hillman Imp |
76 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Weekly 16 November 2011 | |||
| Buyer's Guide Express - Hillman Imp - Cute, sprightly and great fun to drive - can there possibly be a catch to owning a Hillman Imp? MIKE LE CAPLAIN has the answers. | ||||
| Article |
Group Test - Rear Guard |
84 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics Monthly February 2011 | |||
| Group Test - Rear Guard - Well packaged and fun to drive, these three saloons offer something a little different. Simca 1000, Hillman Imp, NSU 1000C. | ||||
| Article |
Buying Guide - Hillman Imp & Derivatives |
48 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Weekly 7 April 2010 | |||
| Buying Guide - Hillman Imp & Derivatives - Are you after a cheeky rear-engined saloon that offers bags of fun at a bargain price? You should try a member of the Hillman Imp family, says BEN WANKLY, fresh from doing just that. | ||||
| Article |
How to buy a Hillman Imp |
106 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics Monthly January 2010 | |||
| How to buy a Hillman Imp - Forget the Mini - if you want an entertaining small British car from the 1960s, try Rootes' little gem instead. | ||||
| Article |
Buyer's guide - Make a big impression |
84 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart April 2009 | |||
| Buyer's guide - Make a big impression - Despite the fact that it's a four-seater supermini with brilliant handling, the Imp has always suffered from a bad reputation. CCM sets the record straight. | ||||
| Article |
Buying Power - Hillman Imp and Singer/Sunbeam Variants |
28 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Weekly 5 April 2007 | |||
| Buying Power - Hillman Imp and Singer/Sunbeam Variants - Chief British rival to the Mini during the Sixties and Seventies was the Hillman Imp and its various offshoots. RICHARD GUNN looks at buying the machine that approached the small car concept a little bit differently, with advice from Ben Boult of Corley Conversions, one of the UK's leading Imp specialists. | ||||
| Article |
Mission: Impossible |
36 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart February 2007 | |||
| Mission: Impossible - Reader Clark Dawson faced a difficult challenge - restore not one but two works Imps...and then rally them. By David Bowes. | ||||
| Article |
Six of the best...compact saloons |
25 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart October 2006 | |||
| Six of the best...compact saloons - Every month, Six Of The Best brings you the most diverse and fascinating groups of vehicles we can conjure up. Paul Guinness is your trusty tour guide. Hillman Imp, BMC 110/1300, Austin A30/A35, Ford Anglia 105E, Triumph Vitesse, Mini 1275GT. | ||||
| Article |
Tricks in the tail |
160 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic & Sports Car August 2006 | |||
| Tricks in the tail - Andrew Roberts entertains a little rear-engined action with four smart '60s baby saloons: Simca 1000, NSU 1000, Seat 850 and Hillman Imp. | ||||
| Article |
Rootes Rocker |
66 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics Monthly August 2006 | |||
| Hillman Imp Rallye Standard - Rootes Rocker - Everyone has fond memories of their first cars, but none more so than Andy Hennessy, who liked his so much he bought it back 30 years on. | ||||
| Article |
Shootout - Mini vs Imp |
38 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Weekly 23 June 2005 | |||
| Shootout - Mini vs Imp. 1962 Morris Mini Minor, 1963 Hillman Imp de Luxe | ||||
| Article |
Road Test - Hillman Imp |
38 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Weekly 8th September 2004 | |||
| Road Test - Hillman Imp - Built 1963-1975. Two-Door, Four-Seater, various body styles. Rear-Engined, rear-drive. Four-Cylinder, 875cc engine. | ||||
| Article |
Your Classics - Hillman Imp - Chris Valentine |
174 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic & Sports Car September 2004 | |||
| Your Classics - Hillman Imp - Chris Valentine - Little devil is cheap performer. | ||||
| Article |
Drivers Diaries - 1964 Hillman Imp, 1975 BMW 2002 - Tim Morgan. |
78 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics June 2004 | |||
| Drivers Diaries - A busy month for the Morgan fleet - 1964 Hillman Imp, 1975 BMW 2002 - Tim Morgan. | ||||
| Article |
Modifying Classics - Strictly Rootes - The Imp |
42 |
|
|
| Publication | Classics March 2004 | |||
| Modifying Classics - Strictly Rootes. The Imp was an advanced Mini beater, but build quality and politics let it down. It needn't be that way though as Greg Whitaker discovers. Hillman Imp | ||||
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