Showing posts with label Hillman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hillman. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 April 2017
Hillman Imp spares for Africa
Not only that they are in Cape Town and right now, a set of spares bought in for future engine rebuilds of the Hillman Imp.
There are gasket kits, piston rings, bearings for big ends and mains bearings, plus thrust bearings and camshaft bearings.
How easy can this be, buying was easy!
Roy
There are gasket kits, piston rings, bearings for big ends and mains bearings, plus thrust bearings and camshaft bearings.
How easy can this be, buying was easy!
Roy
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Hillman Imp windscreens in South Africa
The new ones we have just imported have the required markings to ensure they will be acceptable in any country.
They can also be supply as a heated element screen.
Clear or with a top tint as required.
The unsold saloon screen we have is clear.
Roy
They are laminated for maximum protection to the cars occupants.
Clear or with a top tint as required.
The unsold saloon screen we have is clear.
Roy
Tuesday, 11 April 2017
A red paint day for the Hillman Imp Californian
Early days but progress!
This car is a pleasure to restore.............
Roy
This car is a pleasure to restore.............
Roy
Monday, 10 April 2017
Hillman Imp Californian
Now in red!
The details like badges and related stickers can really make the car.
Roy
The sticker advises you to leave a 1" (25mm) slack in the fan belt, this is so as not to stress the bearings in the water pump and dynamo.
The details like badges and related stickers can really make the car.
Roy
Friday, 7 April 2017
Restoring a 1967 Hillman Imp Californian coupe in South Africa
With a large selection of Hillman Imp spare parts available to me I can normally select whats needed as I go along, that or have one of a number of service shops remake parts such as brakes and clutch plates.
Some Items have to be IMPorted, vent light windows were needed and a pair sourced in Northern Ireland, UPS delivered them yesterday, this with purchase,UPS and Vat left very little change from R3000, even then one turned out to be the wrong type, its off the Hillman Imp saloon!
So we now have an Imps passenger side window vent in stock and the search for one to fit the Imp Californian will continue..................so it goes.
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The Hillman Californian as I had it some years back and before selling it, then recently buying the car back.
Roy
Some Items have to be IMPorted, vent light windows were needed and a pair sourced in Northern Ireland, UPS delivered them yesterday, this with purchase,UPS and Vat left very little change from R3000, even then one turned out to be the wrong type, its off the Hillman Imp saloon!
So we now have an Imps passenger side window vent in stock and the search for one to fit the Imp Californian will continue..................so it goes.
Part of the work had to be done outside, with the 1971 Imp Deluxe in the workshop, space was tight.
Parts are taken apart and reduced to the bare bones, we then have them re plated or re painted prior to re assembly and fitting back in the car.
The black hose is the air box pipe that brings clean air from the cars air box and Lucas 12v electrice fan at the front of the car to the heater box in the drivers cabin.
The new wheel cylinders were ex stock, we still have more, the front linings were over from another Imp project when we later fitted new front disc brakes.
With the front hubs being fitted with new SKF bearings and rear lip seals, this assembly will last decades longer now.
The entire front suspension assembly was taken apart and bead blasted free of any dirt or rust, then the clean metal was spray painted with DTM gloss black paints.
Roy
Saturday, 25 March 2017
The first Hillman Imp
Having sent a picture of a Hillman Imp in a museum to a friend, his comment was that its nice to see that the car has been recognised.
It gets better than that really as the first car made to the Hillman Imp design is still in existance and also in a museum.
http://www.imps4ever.info/algemeen/history.html
Roy
It gets better than that really as the first car made to the Hillman Imp design is still in existance and also in a museum.
Above is a later Hillman Imp deluxe
The original Mk1 and first Imp built in the Glasgow Motor Museum. I am assuming we are discounting pre production cars? many of which were damaged in testing and often by the Rootes Car Co, apprentices!
The original car, I read last year that the man who spray painted this car was still alive, given that the car was fifty years old last year I would like to think he still is with us now?
http://www.imps4ever.info/algemeen/history.html
Roy
Thursday, 16 March 2017
Hillman Californian Coupe fitting out begins
This car was not an expected return to my ownership, its a long story but it now seems the car while having been sold was never transfered licence wise so in legal terms was mine all along? and has been some twenty years or so now.
Click on the picture to enlarge it.
So I bought the car back, paid the unpaid four years licence fee (ouch!) and started on this 1967 Imp Caliornians restoration.
I have since found out just 2600 or so were made, of those maybe 55 to 60 are left? this one came off the Rootes Car Co assembly line at the Linwood factory in Scotland February 3rd 1967 and was an export model sent to Mozambique.
The car has its original engine, the Vin plate and all numbers match, the engine is still on its original 875cc bore pistons also.
Easy work? well the above front end took me three weeks and at this stage I am far from finshed!
It may be for sale.
Roy
Click on the picture to enlarge it.
So I bought the car back, paid the unpaid four years licence fee (ouch!) and started on this 1967 Imp Caliornians restoration.
I have since found out just 2600 or so were made, of those maybe 55 to 60 are left? this one came off the Rootes Car Co assembly line at the Linwood factory in Scotland February 3rd 1967 and was an export model sent to Mozambique.
RCO stands for Right Hand Drive, Coupe and Export, the number 108 is for the cars original White paint job.
The car has its original engine, the Vin plate and all numbers match, the engine is still on its original 875cc bore pistons also.
Easy work? well the above front end took me three weeks and at this stage I am far from finshed!
It may be for sale.
Roy
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Hillman Imp Californian returns home
In this case the home is my own, after selling the 1967 Imp Californian some four and a half years back, I was able to buy the car back last week.
The car after restoration about twenty years back, it does not look like this right now but will eventually!
The car came off the Rootes Car Co Scotland production line dated February 3rd 1967, destined as an export model it still has its original Vin plate and engine, still on its 875cc pistons and running really well.
The car was an export to Mozambique, the speedo is in kilometers and shows just 771119.9 Ks,
Nice to get the car back again!
The Imp Club know of only 74 Californians left, of around 7000 of this model sold, 6100 were sold in to the UK, so some 900 went out as exports, how many other export cars still exist I wonder?
Roy
The car after restoration about twenty years back, it does not look like this right now but will eventually!
The car came off the Rootes Car Co Scotland production line dated February 3rd 1967, destined as an export model it still has its original Vin plate and engine, still on its 875cc pistons and running really well.
The car was an export to Mozambique, the speedo is in kilometers and shows just 771119.9 Ks,
Nice to get the car back again!
The Imp Club know of only 74 Californians left, of around 7000 of this model sold, 6100 were sold in to the UK, so some 900 went out as exports, how many other export cars still exist I wonder?
Roy
Saturday, 11 March 2017
Who designed the 1967 Hillman Californian Coupe
This was a question I posted on The ImpClub forum last week, the answer took a few days to appear but then lots of info came in, plus a super picture of the designer and the man who assisted with the aerodynamic styling.
It turns out that the designer was a very tallented man named Ron Wisdom, seen on the left below, thats Richard Sozanski center and Bob Saward to the right.
An amazing photo and reply to my question!
I asked where and when the picture above was taken?
My car seen at the Killarney circuit some years ago. The car is now in the process of a full restoration, it seems there are no more than sixty or so left world wide?
Roy
It turns out that the designer was a very tallented man named Ron Wisdom, seen on the left below, thats Richard Sozanski center and Bob Saward to the right.
Hi Roy
Att is a photo Of Ron Wisdom (L) yours truly and Bob Saward (R) so now you have the stylist of the Coupe, Husky , Van and Asp ( Ron) and the stylist of the saloon Bob .An amazing photo and reply to my question!
I asked where and when the picture above was taken?
Roy, it was at the NEC cannot remember which show ,( with this year's show I shall be on my 25th NEC show ,)
Ah that was the Going Imp Places stand ,England .Scotland, France and of course Australia.See pics.
My car seen at the Killarney circuit some years ago. The car is now in the process of a full restoration, it seems there are no more than sixty or so left world wide?
Roy
Wednesday, 8 March 2017
Hillman Imp timing chain
New and the correct size and quality, in stock now.
At R85 this is a good purchase, thats about GBP4.77 right now plus postage.
Roy
At R85 this is a good purchase, thats about GBP4.77 right now plus postage.
Roy
Monday, 6 March 2017
Hillman Imp Californian 1967 body and paint works
This car is back with me and I have decided to give it a total rebuild, only four and a half months into the program I am already planing on spraying some pale grey body primer this week.
Applying the paint is of course the easy part!
The car was a rare exp,ort and used to carry Mozambique licence plates, the original engine is still with the car and not only that , the original pistons and bearings are still in the engine! When I rebuilt the engine about seven years back I did fit new pistons rings. The engine runs a genuine Sunbeam Sport series 180 cylinder head, sport camshaft and sport twin Stromberg 125 CD carburators.
Imp Sport engines all came with an oil cooler but not this type and not in this position.
The special air cleaner has two oval filters in it, one per carburetor and works well drawing its clean air from as high as possible.
The car came off the Rootes production line on February 3rd 1967, said to be one of only fifty five to sixty cars of this model known to the Imp Club in the UK, its now quite a rare car to find.
Roy
Applying the paint is of course the easy part!
The car was a rare exp,ort and used to carry Mozambique licence plates, the original engine is still with the car and not only that , the original pistons and bearings are still in the engine! When I rebuilt the engine about seven years back I did fit new pistons rings. The engine runs a genuine Sunbeam Sport series 180 cylinder head, sport camshaft and sport twin Stromberg 125 CD carburators.
The engine is running in this shot, check the yellow fan on the left.
Imp Sport engines all came with an oil cooler but not this type and not in this position.
The special air cleaner has two oval filters in it, one per carburetor and works well drawing its clean air from as high as possible.
The car came off the Rootes production line on February 3rd 1967, said to be one of only fifty five to sixty cars of this model known to the Imp Club in the UK, its now quite a rare car to find.
Roy
Saturday, 4 March 2017
Out and about in a 1967 Hillman Imp Californian
The place is Hout Bay, 7806 in South Africa, which is a super place to be driving any kind of Hillman Imp.
The images should enlarge when you click on them.
The Chapmans Peak Drive toll road is a great place to be driving on, the views are World famous.
Living and working here is, well, a pleasure!
The beach and the sea is a big draw card to visitors to Hout Bay.
This car is now driven on a regular basis,
How easy can this be? well not to bad really.
Roy
The Chapmans Peak Drive toll road is a great place to be driving on, the views are World famous.
Note the Sport ventilate engine cover, that was hand made to convert this car to suit the sport engine under the cover.
Living and working here is, well, a pleasure!
The beach and the sea is a big draw card to visitors to Hout Bay.
This car is now driven on a regular basis,
How easy can this be? well not to bad really.
Roy
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