Rootes Cars of the 1960s Photos and bits of history and bit of the story of the Hillman Imp
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- čas přidán 26. 12. 2020
- The Hillman Imp was a small economy car produced by the British manufacturer Hillman from 1963 to 1976. It was designed to compete with other small cars of the era, such as the Mini and the Ford Anglia. The Imp was known for its rear-engine layout, which was relatively unusual for a small car at the time.
Here are some key features and details about the Hillman Imp:
The Hillman Imp had a distinctive and compact design. It featured a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, which allowed for a spacious cabin despite its small overall size. The car had a sleek and modern appearance, with a curved roofline and a rounded front end.
Engine: The Imp was powered by a rear-mounted, all-aluminum, water-cooled, inline-four engine. Initially, it had a displacement of 875cc, although later versions were introduced with larger engines, including a 998cc and a 1,147cc option. The engine was known for its compact size and good fuel efficiency.
Performance: The performance of the Hillman Imp varied depending on the engine size and model. The smaller engine versions had modest power output, with around 39 to 46 horsepower. However, the larger engine options offered improved performance, with top speeds ranging from 80 to 90 mph (130 to 145 km/h) and 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) acceleration times in the range of 15 to 20 seconds.
Variants: The Hillman Imp was sold under different brand names and variations. Besides the Hillman Imp, it was also marketed as the Singer Chamois, Sunbeam Imp, and Hillman Husky (an estate version). These variants often had minor differences in trim, branding, and features, but they shared the same mechanical platform.
Innovative Features: The Imp introduced several innovative features for its time, such as its aluminum engine, all-independent suspension, and disc brakes on some models. It also had a spacious interior considering its size, thanks to its rear-engine layout.
Popularity and Legacy: While the Hillman Imp had some positive aspects, it faced various issues during its production run. The early models had reliability problems, particularly with the engine's cooling system. Additionally, competition from other small cars, including the highly successful Mini, affected its sales. As a result, the Imp's production ceased in 1976, and it didn't achieve the same level of popularity as some of its competitors.
Despite its limited success, the Hillman Imp still has a following among car enthusiasts and collectors today. Its unique design, rear-engine layout, and historical significance as one of the few British mass-produced cars with a rear-mounted engine make it an interesting piece of automotive history.
Rootes Cars refers to a range of vehicles produced by the British automobile manufacturer, the Rootes Group. The Rootes Group was a conglomerate that existed from 1913 to 1967 and consisted of various brands, including Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam, and Talbot.
Here are some notable Rootes Cars and information about them:
Hillman: The Hillman brand was known for producing affordable, mass-market vehicles. The Hillman Minx, introduced in 1932, was one of the most successful models, and it underwent various iterations over the years. Other notable Hillman models included the Hillman Imp, as mentioned earlier, and the Hillman Avenger, a compact family car introduced in 1970.
Humber: Humber cars were known for their luxury and higher-end positioning. The Humber Super Snipe, introduced in the 1930s, was a prestigious model with features like advanced suspension and a powerful engine. The Humber Hawk was another popular model that offered a combination of style and comfort.
Singer: Singer cars were positioned between Hillman and Humber, offering mid-range vehicles. The Singer Gazelle and Singer Vogue were well-known models. The Singer Gazelle was a compact executive car, while the Singer Vogue offered more luxury and refinement.
The Rootes Group experienced financial difficulties in the 1960s, leading to a takeover by the American automaker Chrysler Corporation in 1967. Chrysler's ownership eventually transitioned into the creation of Chrysler Europe, which later became part of the Peugeot-Citroën group (now Stellantis) in the 1970s.
Rootes Cars, particularly models like the Hillman Minx, Hillman Imp, and Sunbeam Alpine, have left a mark in automotive history and continue to be appreciated by collectors and enthusiasts for their unique designs, performance, and historical significance within the British automotive industry.
Car Photos of Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam, humber sceptre, singer vogue, singer gazelle, hillman minx and humber hawk etc
humber sceptre, singer vogue, singer gazelle, hillman minx, humber hawk
Edited and Produced by John C Guest
#JohnsWorkshopDiary #RootesCars #hillmanimp #chrysler #Hillman #Imp #Talbot - Auta a dopravní prostředky
This is a great video, brings back some great memories of these cars and the Root's Group. Thanks Bob
I owned a hillman husky , which was the estate model. Before this I had a singer vogue which I sold as my wife was expecting our first baby and thought I needed something more practical Nippy little car but the alloy head was a pain as I recall ! both were Rootes cars . I had a few singer vogues later but none were as good as my first , and the one I really loved !
Served my apprenticeship with Rootes going on courses in Coventry … I’m now 69 and still love that era
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great film ,really enjoyed it, love the old rootes cars, my dad had a hillman superminx and later a hillman hunter, great memories
As a Rootes Apprentice body design engineer in the mid to late '60s based in Coventry, I am proud to be a part of the design work on the IMPS, AVENGERS, AND THE ARROW RANGE. I took part in the testing at MIRA, was in the Styling studio and drawing office, along with the experimental department! Unfortunately, the whole atmosphere changed with the arrival of Chrysler, who did not understand the IMP and refused to give its development the proper funding that would have made it unbeatable!
what do you feel the imp needed? ps i think the arrow cars make a better car than cortina mk2 very nice cars when specced up also the sunbeam rapier was a bit of lovely too
@@raycroal I own 3 early Cortinas in various states of ' disrepair' & I envy the way that the body shells on the Arrow & Avenger are similar layout to the Cortinas, Escorts, Capri , Corsair etc & yet the Rootes models being similar weight, size etc , nearly always have few corrosion problems to the MacPherson Strut top mount/ inner wing areas . Floor pans are far stronger than Ford's. Iam sure the Ford panels like Rootes were from BMC/ BL owned Pressed Steel Fisher.
I think Chrysler in the US were a bit anxious about the imminent invasion of Japanese makers like Toyota, Mazda & Honda in the 1965-69 era , Then they teamed up with the huge Mitsubishi Corp, circa 1971 to produce the captive import Dodge Colt , a great name, but on a competent though modest car. The British Hillman Avenger should have been a good car in the USA for value for money , economy & ease of maintenance, but they dropped the 'Avenger ' name & badged it ' Cricket' after an insect! Why did they not keep it's Avenger name for the US? They lost their bottle in marketing Rootes car in USA. Ford made the same mistake in 1969/70 with the British ( Halewood) Capri.
@@mikemartin2957 did they not have a mercury capri in usa ?
@@mikemartin2957 do you think ford used thinner steel. or was that just rumour
Was and still am very much a Rootes fan . Aged now 83 my cupboard is full of Rootes models and literature . Couldn’t,t afford one as a youngster ,so persuaded my parents to by themselves a Sunbeam Rapier which they had for 110,000 miles . They also owned a 1958 Mink for 90,000 miles . I later also owned a 1961 twin cam
Singer Gazelle for 90,000 miles and a 1725 Mink . I am still a member of Rapier and Sunbeam /Alpine clubs . Later a became a Vauxhall owner .My wife and l owning 23 Vauxhall’s between us . Sadly they are now being killed off by Peugeot as happened to Rootes .l would still have a Rapier / Alpine if l was younger . They should never have been allowed to go out of business .
My era of cars and nice too.
Moves to fast on still shots to be able to read all the text. No mention of the Sunbeam Stilleto or the Imps styling cue connection to the Chev Corvair.
My first car Hillman minx second car super minx convertible reg no 7174 pg great cars
I lived in the Philippines during that era We have the 67 Hillman minx as the !st car and 69 hillman Hiunter 69 Ford cortina great cars I remember we have to change the clutch on the minx once a year
P
Never, ever liked the Hillman Minx model, featured at 9:57.....Why, that is exactly the same bodyshell as the Hillman Hunter/Paykan in Iran, and I NEVER ever liked that model of car.
My era of cars and nice too.