I have been looking at Imps for a couple years. I've lOoked at both ends of the spectrum, $800 cars that need everything to $$$5500 cars that are quite well sorted. I have read the sites and whatnot but I'm lOoking for first hand experience. What should I be looking for?
It will be a weekend, occasional commuter and auto-Xer. If it is a bottom tier car I will modify it but if I start with a nice car it will be kept stockish. Thanks!
I was able to find the Imp story we did in the November 2009 issue since I saw this on GRM yesterday.
Early cars had a pneumatic throttle assembly, but many have been converted to use a cable. (Seems like a good idea to me if originality isn't a priority.)
The article says it's happiest around 60-65 mph, and above that "the front end gets light". Take it for what you will.
I've been keeping an eye open for them for a while (albeit casually) but haven't seen many at all; the ones I have seen were either already racecars or near basket case condition. If you've got a line on a good one, I'd suggest you make it yours; they're less common than Minis by a mile, and don't seem to have sky-high prices despite their rarity.
See also:
The Imp Barn
I used to own one and was in the process of restoring one until our house burned down in 1992 and included the Hillman Imp. very nice and capable cars.
I checked out the links, when I get home I will see if I have that issue. C&SC had an indepth buyers guide in 2006 that I've read a number of times.
The Imp barn link suggests less than 50 survive. I think that is off since I have looked at ten myself. Thanks!
What's in your garage?
http://classicmotorsports.net/media/img/users/Picture_007___t355.jpg
I see an Opel, but that's just a squinty-eyed guess.
Chandler, I'm amazed that you've found 10! Care to share some of them? I love temptation...
I've had two; one a MK1 and the other a MK2. The MK2 must have been one of the last brought into the US as it had a Chrysler Penstar on the lower fender as did the last of the Alpines imported. Acquired it after getting a call from a friend telling me if I wanted three Imps in NM (I lived in Denver at the time), that if I could get there by the weekend, I could have whatever I wanted for $100. Hooked up the trailer, made the 10 hr drive, and brought back only the MK2 and a load of parts. Unfortunately, the other MK1s went to the crusher the next week.
Both cars started out as unrestored but with low mileage as Imps traditionally blow their head gaskets at 30K miles. The MK1 however was complete and had been preserved by Paul Dierschow / Sportscar Craftsmen in Denver. I prepared it to more or less stock with a Sport intake (twin carbs). The MK2 I acquired several years later was full blown built, taking advantage of the better suspension geometry and having a Hartwell built 998cc engine. I prepared it in anticipation of running with Rocky Mt Vintage Racing but then converted it to street use before selling it in 2002. In fact, the MK2 was featured in GRM back in Feb. 2003.
Both cars were from the southwest so rust was not an issue except for around the battery tray and beneath the rear window where the rubber gasket had leaked. Rubber pieces were unavailable for doors and windows back in the '90s; maybe that has changed. Mechanical bits were readily available for suspension and engine. Impwerkes in NZ was my biggest source of parts as they were easy to work with and shipping use to be more reasonable from NZ than from England (don't believe that is so any more). Malcolm Anderson in England was also another good source for stuff but don't know whether he is still in buisness. Unfortunately, Hartwell has long since closed their competition department where all the best modified stuff came from.
Were I looking for another Imp (other than to keep an eye on eBay for one of my old cars), I would join the Imp Club and contact the US representative. Years ago, that was Brent Kassel out in Nebraska (I think). Contacting individual owners might result in someone selling their car. Word of mouth is your best bet for finding one.
Ironically, I just found out the fate of my MK1. Back when I sold it (12 years ago?), it went to an ex-Rootes Group employee who had moved to the US after Chrsyler bought them out. Being English, he had always wanted one. I recently sold a BMW R80RT to a gentleman from upstate NY who also worked for Chrsyler. Turns out, Bernard, who had purchased my MK1 Imp had been his boss when he worked in Detroit and reportedly the car is now back in the southwest where Bernard retired to.
Good luck with your search. Of all the cars we have had over the years, it was the Imps that put the biggest smiles on our faces. Always lived in fear of something breaking on them as they seemed so fragile but they were a hoot to drive. If you find one, hang on to it. My MK2 is on my short list of cars I wish I had kept.
Tony
Hey guys, thanks for the comments. The car is that picture is 71 Datsun 1200 that I set up with a redtop SR20 and a 710 5spd. I never finished it but sold it in pieces.
Tom if you are interested I will pass you the info in a mint one about ten miles from my house. I think a beater would serve my purpose better.
This is one I have chased for three years. I first saw it in the paper at an estate sale. It was listed as "no sales before 10am" so I ran out there at ten and said I would take it; however, someone had come the day before and bought the three cars avaialable as a group. My understanding is that he expected about $800 for it. Not sure what they gave for all three cars(the other cars were a Cartier Lincoln and a Chevy Sprint). Car was one owner, now two owner. I tracked the car as they took it to different shops to have it worked on but no one could find parts for it..
So after all this time it showed up in the front lawn of the house I figured it had gone to (the Cartier Lincoln was for sale there for awhile) painted and somewhat restored. I wish they wouldn't have painted it but most people think new paint trumps originality. Rubber seems to be non-existant for these so the paint is over old rubber and a few chrome pieces are missing. There were some spots where the old paint was thin and pulling away from the seams and whoever did the paint didn't feather that out so it shows through the new paint.
It is as nice as it looks. They just cleaned up the interior. And since I don't think I want a nice one here is the for sale sign.
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