Imp at 50 (years not mph)
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Discussion

LotusOmega375D

Original Poster:

9,314 posts

182 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
quotequote all
Nice little homage to the Imp on the BBC website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/0/22294640

Just like the first one on display in Scotland, mine also had a dent in the bootlid. However that came about following a particularly amorous session with my then girlfriend! Classy.

onomatopoeia

3,526 posts

246 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
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Pretty fair appraisal of what went wrong all in all.

Skyedriver

23,320 posts

311 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
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Very under rated car, far superior to the equivalent mini (and I have a mini now)
The Imp was more spacious, more comfortable, easier to work on.
I had a few before moving ont to a Clan (imp based).
TBH I would happily swop my mini clubman for a imp now - values of imps are lower than the mini so i'd get money back. a win-win situation.

onomatopoeia

3,526 posts

246 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
quotequote all
We need some Imp pictures for this topic wink Mine :



Skyedriver said:
Clan
Mine:


Setch993

195 posts

259 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
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Mine

dave stew

1,502 posts

196 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
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"Linwood was hit by a series of industrial disputes, with 31 stoppages in 1964 alone. The factory was operating at a third of capacity, producing just 50,000 vehicles a year."

And you wonder why there are NO British owned mass produced car manufacturers any more. The trade unions ruined them.

onomatopoeia

3,526 posts

246 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
quotequote all
Setch993 said:
Mine
Like!

Hugo a Gogo

23,437 posts

262 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
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didn't engines and other bits have to be transported back and forth to and from Coventry during production?

mikey77

707 posts

217 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
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So they say.

I had Imps in my youth because I didn't want to be like the herd and drive a Mini.
I had all the well-known problems but I still remember them with affection. And in my whole motoring life they have been the only manual transmission cars that didn't need the use of the clutch at all once on the move.

Justin Cyder

12,624 posts

178 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
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I have it on good authority that Wheeler Dealers are on the lookout for an Imp to wreck do up in a forthcoming series.

LotusOmega375D

Original Poster:

9,314 posts

182 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
quotequote all
I bought a mint 12 year-old 21,000 miler as my first car and ran it for about 5 years. I also chose it to be different from the Mini crowd.

The engine was bullet-proof although most of the ancilliaries soon failed: couple of water pumps, exhaust, radiator, alternator, clutch. I also added twin Stromberg carbs, which may have helped save my life when I made an ill-judged overtaking manoeuvre and just managed to get past the slower vehicle and pull back onto my side of the road before I hit an oncoming car. nono

Still I learned a lot from driving and maintaining that car and you could have eaten your dinner off the engine. I was pleased when another PH'er recognised the car from an old photo and showed that the car is still on the road and in fine fettle.

mikey77

707 posts

217 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
quotequote all
>>And you wonder why there are NO British owned mass produced car manufacturers any more. The trade unions ruined them<<

If you are old enough to remember I think you would have to agree there were faults on both sides.
If you want an illustration of what I mean, look at the French motor industry right now.