My Car- 72 Imp Super (56k beware)
Discussion
Hi all,
I've been lurking on here a bit with the odd post here and there so thought I'd introduce myself properly.
I'm Frank, from Essex, uni in Leeds where I've just dropped out of my second year of a Mech Eng degree. Anyways, that's the boring stuff over with.
I drive a 1972 Hillman Imp Super.
I'd never seen one in the flesh before I went to pick mine up having previously sent my Dad round to check it out and seal the deal for me.
Bought it in completely original condition with just 22,000 miles on the clock in September '06. Thermostat jammed shut and it overheated on the motorway the day I picked it up... d'oh!
Unfortunately, in December not long after buying the car I crashed it quite majorly into a field.
Driver inexperience, stupidty, etc was the cause. I was out on a late night drive in the lanes on my own when I got to a very tight, very steep downhill left hand corner. Not knowing the road well enough I didn't scrub off enough speed and the rest as they say is history.
Since then I've put the Appliance 4 spoke rims on, replaced the drivers seat with a cobra classic, lowered the front slightly and replaced the nakered original engine with a +60 thou 915cc lump.
The last pic is what I want the car to look like when I'm done with it.
Sorry about the copius amounts of pics :P
I've been lurking on here a bit with the odd post here and there so thought I'd introduce myself properly.
I'm Frank, from Essex, uni in Leeds where I've just dropped out of my second year of a Mech Eng degree. Anyways, that's the boring stuff over with.
I drive a 1972 Hillman Imp Super.
I'd never seen one in the flesh before I went to pick mine up having previously sent my Dad round to check it out and seal the deal for me.
Bought it in completely original condition with just 22,000 miles on the clock in September '06. Thermostat jammed shut and it overheated on the motorway the day I picked it up... d'oh!
Unfortunately, in December not long after buying the car I crashed it quite majorly into a field.
Driver inexperience, stupidty, etc was the cause. I was out on a late night drive in the lanes on my own when I got to a very tight, very steep downhill left hand corner. Not knowing the road well enough I didn't scrub off enough speed and the rest as they say is history.
Since then I've put the Appliance 4 spoke rims on, replaced the drivers seat with a cobra classic, lowered the front slightly and replaced the nakered original engine with a +60 thou 915cc lump.
The last pic is what I want the car to look like when I'm done with it.
Sorry about the copius amounts of pics :P
Edited by skamanfrank on Sunday 8th June 04:29
Cheers guys. I have huuuuuuuge amounts of photos of it, can't help myself!
The older looking ones were taken on an old SLR camera (with film and everything!)
As you say, I know better now. This thing is my baby and absolute pride and joy so now I see it as my duty to restore it to it's former glory. It's a long way off, but it will get there one day!
Nigel- tbh I hate hearing people blame crashes on other things. I'm a firm believer that more often than not in single car incidents the driver is at fault for whatever reason. I was simply driving too fast on a road that I didn't know well enough. Couple that with going from a peugeot 106 to a rear engined, rear wheel drive, 30 year old car....
The older looking ones were taken on an old SLR camera (with film and everything!)
As you say, I know better now. This thing is my baby and absolute pride and joy so now I see it as my duty to restore it to it's former glory. It's a long way off, but it will get there one day!
Nigel- tbh I hate hearing people blame crashes on other things. I'm a firm believer that more often than not in single car incidents the driver is at fault for whatever reason. I was simply driving too fast on a road that I didn't know well enough. Couple that with going from a peugeot 106 to a rear engined, rear wheel drive, 30 year old car....
Love Imps, you really don't see/hear enough of them. I'd prefer one over a Mini any day.
However, one thing that I always noticed from friends that had them years back .... (and this is tongue in cheek!), are you 18+ stone? It always seemed that every owner was a little on the "portly" side
Are there still a few of them on the road? It'd make a lovely project in years to come, and a great first car for my son.
However, one thing that I always noticed from friends that had them years back .... (and this is tongue in cheek!), are you 18+ stone? It always seemed that every owner was a little on the "portly" side
Are there still a few of them on the road? It'd make a lovely project in years to come, and a great first car for my son.
Thanks for all the nice comments guys 
Hahaha! No I'm not 18+ stone... I doubt the car would move very much if I was! I'm a measley 70kgs.
Oh yeah........
The car is my only form of transport, so is often required to tackle the motorway getting me to and from uni (Essex to Leeds!!). In a couple of weeks I'll be returning to Essex and emptying my room up here, so the poor thing will be loaded up with copius amounts of stuff... including an 88note, fully weighted stage piano/keyboard!
Also- after the crash, I got some mates down and we flipped it over, the next day I got home and assesed the damage... broken exhaust manifold and I lost an indicator lens!
Ordered the new manifold and returned to Essex (from Leeds) the following weekend! Pretty incredible little car if you ask me
Did an autosolo in it a little while ago.
Had great fun, I wasn't very good or quick, but had a fantastic time so I wasn't too bothered.
Here's a video.
http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn39/Chrisbenoy...
Ok.... so I was useless... but it was fun
Hahaha! No I'm not 18+ stone... I doubt the car would move very much if I was! I'm a measley 70kgs.
Oh yeah........
The car is my only form of transport, so is often required to tackle the motorway getting me to and from uni (Essex to Leeds!!). In a couple of weeks I'll be returning to Essex and emptying my room up here, so the poor thing will be loaded up with copius amounts of stuff... including an 88note, fully weighted stage piano/keyboard!
Also- after the crash, I got some mates down and we flipped it over, the next day I got home and assesed the damage... broken exhaust manifold and I lost an indicator lens!
Ordered the new manifold and returned to Essex (from Leeds) the following weekend! Pretty incredible little car if you ask me
Did an autosolo in it a little while ago.
Had great fun, I wasn't very good or quick, but had a fantastic time so I wasn't too bothered.
Here's a video.
http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn39/Chrisbenoy...
Ok.... so I was useless... but it was fun
Edited by skamanfrank on Monday 9th June 12:40
Edited by skamanfrank on Monday 9th June 12:49
Frank! didn't realise you were on here mate! got any new pics? i've seen all them haha!
how's the old mpg (metre's per gallon) going at the mo, u sorted it?
managed to pick myself up a set of revo's yesterday for mine(too mainstream for you i know!), ready for after the respray, can't wait!
good to see the car is appriciated and you deserve all the compliments you get for that car!
how's the old mpg (metre's per gallon) going at the mo, u sorted it?
managed to pick myself up a set of revo's yesterday for mine(too mainstream for you i know!), ready for after the respray, can't wait!
good to see the car is appriciated and you deserve all the compliments you get for that car!
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