139 replies to this topic

[Christian]

Let me introduce you to my latest 'new old car' - a 1971 Hillman Imp





One or two owners from new (still waiting on the replacement V5), 52k miles and garage stored since 1987!

Check out this screen shot from the DVLA website of when it was last taxed!



I'm still grinning from ear to ear with excitement.

I've wanted an Imp for years, but wasn't really looking for a retro replacement for the Cavalier, when I ended up with it two hours before the Cav went!

It popped up on a local eBay search while I was looking for a sub £250 car to compete in a charity run next month, and I just knew I had to have it.

Apparently it had belonged to an old man from London, who put it in his garage when he stopped driving in 1987, which is where it remained until his death earlier this year! His grandson then had plans to restore it, but lost interest and put it up on eBay.

I had a quick poke around it last night and its amazing solid - the sills, doors, front inner and outer wings, roof, boot and bonnet are all rot free, with just some small patches of surface rust which should be fairly easy to fix. The inner front wings and under the fuel tank looks brand new!

Immediate plans: strip it, restore it and repaint it.

Future plans: front mount radiator conversion, disk brake conversion, roll cage, wider wheels, lower suspension, poly windows, heated front screen, tuned 998cc, bike carbs, megajolt.

New plans: Toyota 998cc Aygo engine conversion!

Any pics for inspiration, suggestions and web links much appreciated!

[Mallyd]

Pure retro-ness, I'm liking that

[vauxsenb]

Nice one Christian, Are we gonna see this at the 'ring' next year? (instead of that modern piece of J-tin you brought this year, lol.)

Cheers, Colin.

[Christian]

vauxsenb, on 06 October 2009 - 09:03 PM, said:

Nice one Christian, Are we gonna see this at the 'ring' next year? (instead of that modern piece of J-tin you brought this year, lol.)

Cheers, Colin.

LOL it's possible but entirely depends on how much rust I discover.

[Christian]

I stripped out most of the interior last night and couldn't believe my luck...





















No rot! Literally none anywhere!

Most of the brown you can see is actually the old soundproofing fur.

I'm very happy with it.

[EXILE]

Love it Christian. What a great find.

[slammed 66]

My god! that really is clean!

Lovely colour too

[kayleigh redtop nova]

after cing this imp @ wheelsday erlier this year ive wanted one good luck with the resto!!

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[Christian]

Yeah that Imp was awesome, I was parked just a couple of rows away in my old mk1 Cavalier. So did you take your Nova down to Wheels?

[ultimatecombination]

Jealous! Thats a really good find, good luck with it. Be interesting to see how you get on, sure it'll be good based on what you did with your Cav

[Christian]

ultimatecombination, on 09 October 2009 - 10:45 PM, said:

Jealous! Thats a really good find, good luck with it. Be interesting to see how you get on, sure it'll be good based on what you did with your Cav

Thanks mate! Hopefully it'll be much better than the Cavalier.

[kayleigh redtop nova]

no before owned her! i went in my mates 71 baja you can just see the roof above the imp@s roof on the second pic green.

[Christian]

I whipped the radiator and fan out on Monday night ready to drop the engine out tonight and I was amazed to find half decent looking coolant in the system. Funny really, as most of the pipes just split off in my hands.

[alex]

keep it orriginal. thats too clean to play about with.

[Christian]

alex, on 21 October 2009 - 04:54 PM, said:

keep it orriginal. thats too clean to play about with.

Too late!

[vivalavox]

oooooohhhh wot choo dun brothafromanothamotha?

[marky4]

that's nice, can't believe how clean it is amazing good luck with the resto

[Christian]

Thanks mate.

[moomin]

Looks lovely buddy

[Whiteblock]

Lucky sod!

There is a good chance that it has been garaged for most of its life to stay in such sound condition, they were notorious for water leaking in and causing floor rot...there was even a 'leak finding' test booth in the factory!

Your plans for it sound good, I've always fancied a proper low, light weight one with a buzzy 1-litre motor on 13" minilites shod with modern rubber....Mmmm.

Nothing wrong with that, but why not keep all the original parts so that it can be changed back again?


Just please don't cut such a nice one about and put a Hyabusa engine in the back seat or anything like that!


P.S. It would look great in Moss green metallic paint

Edited by Whiteblock, 20 November 2009 - 11:16 AM.