The change from the original Mk1 Hillman Imp to the Mk2 version was noticable, not huge but the change was there, there were many new engineering parts, plus the front wheels lost the adverse camber.
The release of the new Sunbeam Sport was a totally different matter, this was a smart car inside and out!
The car had new badges, the Sunbeam name, special stainless steel hub caps, radial tyres, a brake booster and softer brake linings by Mintex (M75), this car would reach 100mph and had the stability and brakes to stop it.
The inside of the car saw better trim, more instruments and also reclining front seats.
The engine was worked on too, the cylinder head had a higher lift camshaft and was specially ported, with larger inlet valves, plus double valve springs and an external oil drain pipe to take the oil away from the top of the motor faster. The engine also sported a special oil cooler, I have used one for years on my 1967 Singer Chamois, it does a great job.
The carburation became the twin Stromberg CD125s and there was a special water heated alloy inlet manifold. The exhaust gasses were handled by a new mild steel fabricated exhaust system with a four into two system and twin pipes into a special exhaust silencer. The car had more power, now up to 55bhp, so some thicker drives shafts were fitted.
The front bonnet also had a round Sunbeam badge emblem, this swung sideways and down, revealing a locking button. The engine bay had a special ventilated rear panel and was fitted with square number plate, which was lit by three bulb fittings over the single one on the standard Imps.
Later cars had twin head lights, any of the Sports from around 1966 are still the most collectable, find one if you can, as they only made 10,000 ! This is an amazing package over the standard Imps specification, we got a lot for the money back in 1966.
How hard can that be?
For the later Sunbeam Stilletto dash, check this link.
Roy
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