The Hillman Imp and Singer Chamois

First manufactured in 1963 in Linwood, Scotland, the Imp was first imagined in 1955 when the Rootes Group wanted a small affordable car to challenge the competition, mainly the Fiat 500, BMW 700 and the Citroen 2CV. Michael Parkes and Tim Fry proposed a car for 2 adults and 2 children with a rear engine, one that could do 60mph and manage 60mpg (don't think mine ever managed the 60mpg!) but they did achive the "must be fun to drive" vision (in my opinion anyway).

The board were presented with the first prototype, the team went back to the drawing board and came up with a second (guess the board didn't like the first one as they were more used to the solid made Humber type of cars). So they made it clear that even though they were willing to go ahead with the idea of a small car, it had to be a "proper motor car" which had a water cooled 4 cylinder engine and must be able to compete with small Fords and of course the BMC Mini.

By the end of the 1950's, the Imp (now known as Project Apex) had been through a number of design changes and, owing much to the Chevrolet Corsair, became quite a sophisticated little car. Borrowing the idea of an aluminium engine (which was actually a Fire Pump engine!) from Coventry Climax (who co-operated very well with Tim Fry), Tim managed to fit both the 750cc Coventry Climax racing engine and a radiator into the tiny engine compartment. Changing almost every component the engine continued to be unlike most engines having an overhead camshaft and the size being increased from 750cc to 875cc which produced 39bhp.

Bob Sawards styling department saw many changes and improvments made to the styling of the new Imp which is where the ideas and inovations from the Chevrolet Corsair came in and the subsequent shape of the Imp. But, before the car was ready for production many more changes were in the works. The opening rear window, what an inovation as hatchbacks were unheard of in those days. A fold down rear seat to provide better access to the luggage space.

An aluminium gearbox designed to match the engine which, unlike the Mini, had syncromesh on all four gears with the third and fourth gears being set high which reduced noise and improved the economy. It may even have been the best gearbox ever made and there are still not too many equals around today. Add a superior rear suspension to a basic front suspension and you neutralise the tail-happy handling that many rear engine cars were prone to.

So what did the press think about it? Well, The MOTOR magazine in its road test of May 8th 1963 were very enthusiastic:
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Handling: The fact remains, however, that the Imp can be hurled into corners at speeds which would be suicidal with most saloons and with very little roll and no tyre squeal it just motors round them. It is so close to being a neutral steering car that different driving techniques can tip the balance one way or the other.

Transmission: The gearchange, as we have said is quite certainly one of the best, if not the best we have ever handled.

Performance: For an 875cc car, the performance is astonishingly lively and bears comparison with many family saloons up to 1600cc.
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And there we have it, a nippy, economical, easily maintained, well designed great car with superior concepts all built into it making it so much fun to drive!

BTW: I know many people will find this boring but I can't help that. I just loved the cars. I had an orange one, a black one, a blue one and the only one I wasn't keen on was a white one (hmmm.. sounds quite a "girly" kind of description of cars that doesn't it?)

You will most probably find other sites about the Hillman Imp and Singer Chamois, along with the other derivatives on UK Classic Cars