Hillman Imp Sport ?

That is a car that really never was, they dropped the Hillman and used Sunbeam, then Singer but never the name Hillman.

However, much as I have copied the Sunbeam Sport vented engine lid I have now badge engineered my 1967 Hillman Imp Californian and added the badge with the the words 'Imp Sport ' on it.

This is a once off using a 1966 Sunbeam Sport 'Imp Sport ' badge.

If you want such badges, Join The Imp Club, they have a member who manufactures the inserts.

Roy

Sunbeam Stiletto type engine cover fitted

This took a while, say a week and a half, I converted a spare engine cover to the sport vented type.

The bumper mounter number plate lights were fitted yesterday.

Imp Californian up grades

The 1967 Imp Californian has now been fitted with front disc brakes, ex  Ford Focus, plus steering rack ball joints from the same make of car.

Also now fitted is a set of Monte Carlo road springs.

All parts were new and ex stock.

Roy

The book No Way Back by Terence Tracey

The book about the epic drive right across Africa in a Hillman Imp has now been published.

The trip went across 19 countries and 3 continents, all done be two guys in a near standard Hillman Imp with an 875cc engine.

The book can be bought from the Imp Clubs regalia sales office.

Roy

Imp coupe side window rubbers

The originals used a body painted metal trim on the side of the rubber. Those rubbers are no longer available so a set of replacement ones in the plain rubber were imported.

They fit well and look really good.

Roy

Engine bay Imp works

This is now just about finished, there is a lock keep to fit on the engine cover and we are nearly finished.

The original engine is still in this car, it has the same pistons and bearings that came out of the factory February 3rd 1067.

Roy

Hillman Imp speedometer in kilometers

This I am told is quite a rare item, the speedo pods are normally in MPH, as this was an export car and to Mozambique it came fitted with a speedo in Kms.

The speedo had a broken hair spring, it was rebuilt and now works as it should.

Roy

Inside the restored 1967 Imp Californian

This was being re trimmed while the rest of the car was in the process of being restored.

The idea was not to over do things, so the seats and door cards are as original and in vinyl, the steering wheel was re covered in genuine leather as the original.

Imp Californian back on the road

The car was fully able to drive there but with no window glass in the car sending it to the trimmers by road truck made a lot of sense.

Fully insured by the transport company, they know us quite well now.

Roy

Imp Californian in South Africa

This one is my own, now at a two year period of restoration.
The body work and painting was done by myself .

Click on the images to make them larger.

The car was taken apart, then refinished inside and out.

Retrimed inside to the original Hillman Imp seat patterns, the car is now close to as it was when it was first released back in February 03 1967, yes this car will be fifty years old next year.

This standard of work is still available, we can ship world wide.

Roy

Hillman Imp timing chain tensioner re facing

This can now be done.

Post cure of the special glue now used is part of the method to reach a full strength.

Re faced tensioner springs can be supplied, we need your old spring in exchange.

Roy

Hillman Imp for sale in South Africa

An Imp that I owned may be for sale?

The car is in fine condition with a quality paint job.

The engine has new pistons etc, plus the sport series 180 cylinder head and twin Stromberg carbs.

It also has front disc brakes.

The car is a 1967 model.

Please advise if you know of anyone who may be looking for such a car?

Regards

Roy

The picture shows a similar set of Imp brakes we fitted.

Im;p Californian with palm trees

Seen here and with an interesting sky.

The car is quite a regular driver now and has become fun to travel in.

Roy

Imp Californian on the road transporter

The car has now been sent to the motor trimmers to complete the cars interior.

The ride there  was an interesting one.

Roy

Hillman Imp front disk brake sets

This has been posted before but well worth a mention again.

The mounting plate kits are an import, we have stock now.

Fitting should take more than a morning to do both sides?

You may or may not want to change the Imps standard 0.65 master cylinder for the 0.70 master cylinder, in both cases the fluid cylinder needs enlarging, we can advise how to do this .

Roy

Bronze valve guides and BMW oil seals for the Hillman Imp

We have the bronze guides made locally.

They accept the BMW oil seals.

Roy

Todays Imp Californian pictures

The 1967 Imp Californian is now a good driver, pictures show the car with the engine running, it uses very little oil and thats over a twelve month period.

Made in Scotland in 1967 then restored in South Africa over the past 21 months.

This really is a nice car now and still on the original matching numbers engine block, which has the same pistons and crank bearings that the Rootes factory fitted some forty nine years back, I fitted new piston rings about eight years back.

Click on the last two images for a larger image?

Roy

Hillman Imp front end strength.

The Hillman Imp frontal crash zone

A mention on the Imp Clubs forum of the front petrol tank  had me remembering this picture.

 

This is not a picture I would normally post but given that the old style phone box was made from cast iron and really strong it does show the result of a rather spectacular crash.

 

Did the Imp roll into the phone box I wonder?

 

I have owned eleven Imps I think, the front petrol tank has never bothered me, its the same with millions of VW Beetle cars too.

 

Both designs have a spare wheel in the area and the Imps is right across the front of the petrol tank, which itself is a crumple defence?

 

http://forum.theimpclub.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=27572&p=286726#p286726

 

Roy

 

Roys Imp racing years

This was mainly at the Killarney circuit just outside Cape Town City.

About 1972 to 1978 or there abouts, the car was quite successful, so much so that they banned it!

As I remember the 998cc Hillman Imp was lying forth in the Argus Saloon Car series, not bad for my first year and I still have the silver cups to remind me.

Driving my 1967 Imp Californian

Driving the car does make a nice change after working on the car for over a year and a half.

I even got to park it outside when it rained just to show we do have rain here from time to time.

Roy
 

Inside Roys Hillman Imp garage

There have been many Hillman Imps restored or worked on in this garage, right now and unless I get a new order, the 1967 Hillman Imp Californian will be my last Imp project?

I do know of an Imp saloon of the same age that just may be for sale?

Contact me for details.

Roy

Kangol magnetic seat belts

I have the one unbroken plastic Kangol seat belt end on the way from NZ to me, it may arrive this week?

I have also found a pair in the UK, with luck I will have a matched set then?

My 1967 Imp Californian had them as a standard fitting.

 

Sand on the road and my Imp Californian

The summer South Easter winds are the cause of all the sand.

Imp Californian at Mariners Wharf

I have been driving around more than working on the car these days.

 

The Rostyle rims are back on!

The rims I had specially made up for me about twenty years back are now on the car again.

Chris Walters of Parrow did them, he took some 13" rims off an Opal of some sort, removed the center hub and reversed the rim, aka Lotus Cortina Chris told me.

The wide wheels for an Imp

There are two sets of 13" available for me, both sets were specially made.

These are 5 1/2" wide.

Roy

Imp mark 2 cylinder head

These I have worked on an set up so many times that I have no idea how many?

Two hundred?

It could be.

Roy

Imp cylinder head valve seals

These I have developed using bronze for the guides and a press on oil control seal.

Seen here with a new  Imp Sport valve 

Contact me for pricing.

Roy

Imp Californian export car

This car has an RCO export Vin plate.

The car was found with Mozambique plates on it and was originally painted white.

The original engine block is still in the car, only the piston rings were changed and a Sport cylinder head and manifolds fitted.

Roy

We have a lot of sand in Hout Bay

Seen here and inside one of the now useless car parks near the local beach.

The engine is running and never smokes or uses any oil.

The crank is still on its original bearings, the pistons are the originals, I changed the piston rings about eight years back.

Roy

Wider rims for the Hillman Imp

These suit the Imp Californian and are very much part of the car and how it looks.

New tyres!

Imp with new tyres all round

The Rostyle rims have been on the car at least twenty years.

They are 13" sized and were original equipment on an Opal I was told.

The rims were reversed to give the wide rim effect.

Even the spare has a new tyre fitted, that is the original 12" size to allow it to fit in the space supplied in an Imp.

Roy.

Engen filling station in Hout Bay

This is quite close to where I live.

An award winning Engen petrol station too.

The car is my 1967 Hillman Californian Imp.

Roy

The Imp Club Forum

This is open to none members who have to register, the idea being that in time you then join The Imp Club, which is the best thing you can do as an Imper.

http://forum.theimpclub.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=27572&p=284672#p284672

New red 2K paints work for me, I applied the paints myself.

Roy

Hillman Californian Imp

The interior of the car still needs the head liner and the carpets, once they are installed the window rubber stainless trims can be re fitted.

One and a half years into the restoration I can see the end of the works will be in the next few weeks.

Roy

Engen petrol people

This is in Hout Bay and Sunday morning today January 24th 2016

Ten litres was just short of R120 and I use the LRP option petrol.

Roy

Hillman Imp Californian progress in South Africa

The work continues but the main part and the body restoration is now behind me.

The cars 13" Rostyle wheel rims are now back on the car.

Roy