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The IMPact of poor choices - the Hillman Imp Story

Big Car

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The Imp is a car of contradictions. While it sported a cutting edge, aluminium engine with a motorsport pedigree, it was mounted at the back when the rest of the car industry was moving to front wheel drive. It was built in a brand-new facility with the latest machinery, but hundreds of miles away from its suppliers. This all produced a car that was modern, yet outdated. Why did Rootes Group, a car company with a long history of making conservative, reliable cars in the heart of the car producing Midlands, decide to make their first economy car near Glasgow?

Optional Extra video: Hillman Imp - Optional Extra

Music: "Jazz Organ Trio Cool Blue" by Doug Maxwell / Media Right Productions from the YouTube audio library.

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Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Cr...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventr...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_25
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillman...
Linwood in the 70s part 1 of 3
UK TV Program 2006 BBC1 Linwood and The Hi...
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ar...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_An...
https://www.imps4ever.info
https://www.aronline.co.uk/concepts-a...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_R...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunbeam...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysle...

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20 Comments

@peterread239 4 years ago

The story of the Hillman Imp really sums up the story of the entire British car industry.

@charlesflint9048 4 years ago

I had an Imp some years ago, and I loved driving it; the handling was superb. One night I was trying to outrun a Ford Granada behind me, I would lose them easily on the bends, but they would catch up on the straight. Then they put on their police lights and pulled me over, fortunately it was all very amicable.

@jonadams7608 4 years ago

My Dad competed in the British Saloon Car Championships in 1972 with a Hillman Imp, winning the private entrants award that year. Really enjoyed the video, thank you

@craigjones2878 4 years ago

When Chrysler took over the Rootes group the Australian factory had ‘Rootes Australia’ in big letters atop the roof. Chrysler wanted to add their name to make it say ‘Chrysler Rootes Australia’ until it was explained to the Americans what that meant in the local vernacular.

@JohnWilliams-ld9xg 4 years ago

First car I every owned. Bought it for £165 to learn to drive in. Passed my test, bought something newer and left the Imp to rust on my mum's driveway for nearly two years. Then one day, out of the blue, I was contacted by a "cherished" registration plate outfit, who offered to take the vehicle for £250. Decided to try for a cheeky £500, but happily to settled on £300.

@briansellers604 1 year ago

Hearing that the manager of the Rootes group was Lord Rootes is the most British thing I’ve ever heard

@Mars-zgblbl 1 year ago

My parents bought an Imp new in Canada in the 1960’s. It was nothing but trouble. My dad tried fixing a wiring issue and ended up connecting the horn to the turn signal.

@princesssolace4337 4 years ago

I watched this car rip around Penang GP in late 70s till early 80s driven by part time drivers full time RAF pilots base in North Malaysia Butterworth airbase. It was awesome

@Notvotingyourewayoutofthis 4 years ago

I found one of these 15 years ago in an abandoned garage in Hamilton Ohio. The garage was being torn down. I tried to get it but the new property owner was a jerk about it. I watched them drag it out with a backhoe and proceeded to destroy it and threw the pieces in a dumpster. It's the only one I've ever seen in my life.

@stephen9462 4 years ago

Ahh memories from the summer of 76 driving with my parents down to Plymouth and breaking down with a broken water pump

@projectno5 4 years ago

i live quite near the old linwood factory and the hillman imp is still considered a cool car around here. dude in the workshop across the street has 3 of them and loves em.

@garyneilson1833 4 years ago (edited)

The engine from the Imp was still used into the late 1980's as the power unit for the Rapier missile system. It was used to power a generator to produce the 3 phase supply required.

@rotax636nut5 4 years ago (edited)

Back in the early 70's I had a twin headlamp, coupe roof Sunbeam Stiletto with a tuned 998cc engine, there was twin Weber DCOE40 carbs, loud tubular exhaust manifold, hot cam, ported head etc and the car made nearly 100 bhp on Jon Mowatts rolling road in Basildon Essex when I got Jon to set the engine up. The rev limit was over 8K and with lowered suspension, upgraded brakes and wide wheels and painted Daytona yellow bodywork and with gloss black wheels the car looked brilliant and was seriously quick with it's light weight and 100 bhp and was an absolute riot to drive on the road with the most perfectly controllable oversteer you can imagine, I had so much fun with that little car you can't imagine! If only they came that way from the dealer Roots might have had a real hit on their hands like Ford did with their RS2000 cars

@lagrasta666 3 years ago

I was born in 1970 in the island of Malta. When I was young my father used to take my brother and I every Sunday to an old RAF airbase and where car and motorbike races were performed by entusiasts. I remember very well Hillman Imps taking part in these races thrown in the midst of Mini Minors, Ford Escorts and Ford Capris, Fiats 600 Abarth and Simcas. Those were the good old days.

@ciaranburke3243 4 years ago

Despite all the disastrous decisions that destroyed this little car, overall it was very cool and interesting 👍

@chusan55 4 years ago

Had an Imp as my first car in 1972 and loved it and had some fun times back then with it

@MonicaandMervyn 4 years ago

My dad had a forest green Hillman Imp. I remember as a kid going with him to pick it up. I also remember there was fear about the aluminum engine and head overheating (which never happened on our car), although the clutch would overheat in stop-start traffic. We loved that car, and my dream car as a student was a clan crusader.

@exceed5914 4 years ago

Enjoyed this and brought back memories!
My father bought a new metallic Aqua Marine Sunbeam Sports Imp in 1972, can still remember it’s reg EOX 277L. We were a family of 6 and I can remember the Summer Holiday trip to Devon from Birmingham where we spent 13 hours in the thing.
It spent more time back in Coventry than our drive, replacement engine, replacement gearbox and assorted bodywork issues.
After a year he and we had had enough and he changed it for a Hillman Hunter. My mother would never let him forget what a lemon and poor choice the Imp was!

@gone547 3 years ago

Had one in 73 in Singapore when I rode a Honda 750. Used the Imp as an umbrella during the Monsoon season.

Actually it was a fun little car but used to overheat due to the extreme tropical climate and lack of maintenance. It was given to me by a departing colleague and only had about three months road tax left on it and which I did not renew.

Found a fitting home when it was gutted, floor pan removed and the lightened shell space-framed and then fitted over an Elfin 600 F2 for track use. Wonder what happened to it.

Oh, the memories. Those were the days.

@nalakprince6376 4 years ago (edited)

I had 2 Imps and absolutely loved them. They were so easy to throw round corners and wave the front inside wheel in the air while doing so! My friend rallied an Imp with his brother and I spent many long nights working to get the car ready for its next Rally. I used to compete in Production Car Trials in an Imp as well...