Is there such a thing....

[CanMan]

....As a nice looking Hillman Imp? *Insert pictures here* I'm in the market for a small Rwd classic and i cant make up my mind on them? Google brought up Fack all, I'm thinking Low and Superlites maybe. I assume they run mostly Mini running gear, hubs etc etc (Thinking of wheel pcd)

Thanks

[Seth]

Dec 20, 2010 22:52:54 GMT CanMan said:

....As a nice looking Hillman Imp? *Insert pictures here* I'm in the market for a small Rwd classic and I cant make up my mind on them? Google brought up Fack all, I'm thinking Low and Superlites maybe. I assume they run mostly Mini running gear, hubs etc etc (Thinking of wheel pcd)

Thanks

PCD is the same as a Mini yes, but since they were made by a completely different, competing, company...

A quick Google image search seemed to give me quite a few nice results!

[mk14dr]

Theres loads of good looking imps about.
Don't think they share anything with a mini though.

[Gilesy]

Yep, 4x4" PCD and 7" round headlamps is where the similarities end. It's be like asking what parts a Focus and Astra share. The Imp nearly had the measure of the Mini, but Rootes build quality managed to be even worse than BLMC's. Pity, it's a great looking car, especially the Chamois/Stiletto/Californian coupes.
Oh, the other thing in common with the Mini, check for rust between the front and rear bumpers.

[bstardchild]

Imps you say





RWD you say (not imp content)

Nippy little things thro the corners

He opposite locked that past the Volvo



Did it all day long - to pretty much did everything else as well (quite tail happy too)



Me mum owned one years ago I like that one too ;D

[camerashy]

I find them to be a little love/hate Canman.

Just can't get past the rear side window and roofline. Just doesn't do it for me

[Copey]

if you decide against an imp what about a Ford 100e Pop?

[composimmonite]

I loved my 1968 Imp. Would have another. Once problems sorted out (standing many years before I bought) totally reliable. In the end we needed something bigger (1976 Saab 95 estate) but Imp then sat in garage for years as couldn't face getting rid. In the end decided to put it back on the road as second car and when cutting out rot found massive previous accident damage repaired with 2" thick filler so decided to break. At least everything, other than main shell, went to others to keep their cars on the road.

Paul H

[rmad]

I have to say that, unless you're going for a significant increase in power or are planning to go on a lot of slippery surfaces then whether it's RWD won't make much difference.

I grew up in a time when most cars were RWD - mums, dads, grannies and people from all walks of life managed to drive them all the time without the roads being a scary/fun driftfest.

[CanMan]

Thanks for the replys, bit of a fail from my knowledge there about the minis >_< But i they're RWD? ANd when i say google didnt bring much up i was thinking low and wide , Banded steels maybe a tiny bit ratty. But thsnks for the piccys! 100e would be absoutle mint but as of yet i havent found one thats close enough as a project, only finished cars, cause once i found something I'm looking at between £500 to a grand tops, tight budget right >_<

[Maxxxer]

Dec 20, 2010 23:59:20 GMT bstardchild said:

Imps you say



RWD you say (not imp content)

Nippy little things thro the corners

He opposite locked that past the Volvo



Did it all day long - to pretty much did everything else as well (quite tail happy too)



Me mum owned one years ago I like that one too ;D

Woah now - what is that?!?

I'm aware of the Volvo, but the other little motor - I like that a lot... ;D

[CanMan]

Thats a point i didnt think of Rmad, is there a common engine swap for these, cant say ive seen one paticuarly close but there cant be much room in the back of these?

[rysz]

Dec 21, 2010 11:52:03 GMT CanMan said:

Thats a point I didnt think of Rmad, is there a common engine swap for these, cant say ive seen one paticuarly close but there cant be much room in the back of these?

I believe that the Imp engine was actually really advanced for its time and weighs about as much as an empty fag packet!

Rysz.

[stevehowes123]

Dec 21, 2010 11:50:21 GMT Maxxxer said:

Dec 20, 2010 23:59:20 GMT bstardchild said:

Imps you say



RWD you say (not imp content)

Nippy little things thro the corners

He opposite locked that past the Volvo



Did it all day long - to pretty much did everything else as well (quite tail happy too)



Me mum owned one years ago I like that one too ;D

Woah now - what is that?!?

I'm aware of the Volvo, but the other little motor - I like that a lot... ;D

that's a austin A 40

[Gilesy]

Isn't it technically and A40 MkII or A40 Farina? The first A40 is a (slightly) grown up A30/35

[Eidolon]

Dec 21, 2010 12:32:48 GMT Gilesy said:

Isn't it technically and A40 MkII or A40 Farina? The first A40 is a (slightly) grown up A30/35

The first A40 was the Austin Devon/Dorset/Somerset/Cambridge/Outer Mongolia.*

*One of these may be a lie.

[jrevillug]

How about this?


Generally speaking, Imps tend not to be slammed that often - mostly they are just lowered a little: the one above is about as low as I've seen. Imps seem to be owned largely by people (me included) that are more interested in the way the car drives than how it looks.

The front suspension (which is a swing arm set up) changes camber as the car is lowered, so you end up with a lot of negative camber on the front if you go very low. Add in wide, low profile, square shouldered tyres and you'll end up with nasty snap-understeer.

It is possible to correct the camber by modifying the kingpin carriers - but you still want to avoid tyres with a square shoulder, since the camber changes under hard cornering could reduce the tyre's footprint.

I don't want to put you off - but they are such fun to drive both as standard and slightly lowered (on "Monte Carlo" springs) that it seems a shame to spoil it for the sake of appearances.

This is mine - more than a bit ratty (it's not fake patina though), but solid and reliable enough underneath. It's sitting on standard steels and Monte Carlo springs (same rate as standard, but about an 1.5" lower).



As has been said, watch out for rust and poor rust repairs - the bodyshell is complex, and expensive to repair well. The mechanical bits are generally reasonably priced and simple to work on - although if the car has been standing for any length of time it will probably have teething troubles from brake hydraulics, the cooling system and possibly the fuel and ignition systems.

The club is an excellent source of advice and parts - and the club insurance scheme is worth the price of membership alone, especially if you're under 25.

Oh, and the Imp also shares it's distributor (and thus points, condensor, rotor arm and dizzy cap), charging system (dynamo and control box/alternator), and starter motor with Minis.

James

EDIT - oh, yes. While Imps share their PCD with Minis (4x4"), the offset is different.

And the Imp's engine, while not enormously powerful, is revvy, fun, and surprisingly tough if looked after. They don't like neglect though - especially the cooling system.

[CanMan]

Cheers for the info dude, from that picture i quite like the stance its got, don't suppose youve got any more pics (side on?) Does it handle ok as it is? And i know you say theryre easy enought o work on but is there much space to play with around the engine bay?

Thansk

[aled930]

this is one I have always liked


here is one I had after standing in a field for a few years, I did the brakes and done a very small amount of welding and it had mot, then I drove it over 1000 miles over a long weekend.

before


and later on(about 1year)when I painted it


forgot to say I have about 11 at the mo in varying stages of dissrepair

have a look at this site for a load of imps.
www.imps.me.uk/index.html

[optima21]

well if you want a low imp, they don't come much lower than Perry Watkins Flatmobile ;D ;D

flatmobile.co.uk/