Was an Imp Owners Club meet at the campsite we use this past weekend.  Some nice old cars and always good to see them still going strong.

Will post up some pics in a bit once photobucket does its stuff.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0099.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0100.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0091.jpg

I prefer the replacement - nice to see them though

This one was really clean.  I man, REALLY clean.  Would give AA a run for his money....

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0089.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0088.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0087.jpg

But there was another, almost identical.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0077.jpg

Tried to be a bit arty with the iPhone....   :-[
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0081.jpg

A full race setup.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0076.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0108.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0107.jpg

Cracking little cars in their day - if looked after properly. I much preffered them to the mini. The engines could be made to put out a lot of power as well. I knew a bloke with a Davrian with an 1140 race tuned fuel injected engine in, and it went like excrement off a highly polished digging implement. :D
Nice to see a few Clan Crusaders there, havent seen one of those indonkeys years. :y

Wow, I didn't expect to get my Rootes fix on OOF!

Nice mix of cars too, particularly like the Ginetta and Crusader.

For Kevin, the kit car afficionado...

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0092.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0096.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0093.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0095.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0098.jpg

Now that takes me back  [smiley=dankk2.gif]

Interesting engines, their last use in a car was a waste as the Sunbeam was too heavy, and the push rod lump in the normal ones was one of the better push rod lumps (have taken them over 7000rpm).

Those engines were also popular in trikes.

Very light and compact.

Coventry Climax, was ideal for the Imp and to me better than the A series.

And commercials...

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0090.jpg

They are still out there waiting to be found...

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0104.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0106.jpg

and just in case it decides to mark its territory....   ;D

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/hotel21/OOF/IMG_0105.jpg

A bloke at work has a mint one.
I had one for a few weeks back in the 80's - horrible thing, hated it.
Took an age to replace the thermostat - then my brother told me that there was a plate behind the rear seat you took out....... ::)

Martin Imber wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 20:40:

I prefer the replacement - nice to see them though

Chrysler Horizon ? I thought they were crap myself. :-/

Oooh! I like that Orange Ginetta!  :-* :-* :-* :-*

Was privileged to work for Andy Chesman (Greetham Engineering) during college holidays, his 998cc  Imp race motors produced 114 BHP @10,000 rpm .

There were a couple of Imp vans used as the works run-abouts which had the 998 motors and huge "silencers" mounted crossways under the rear bumper.

I rallied a '66 shell with 998 motor in the 70's, it was built with bits from the scrap pile at Greethams and had a space frame rear-end similar to the race car in the photos, fibreglass engine cover and bonnet, front mounted radiator etc. Unfortunately performance and ambition exceeded ability and it all came to a sticky end on Hafren

I believe those engines were originally designed as a fire pump power source,amazing how tunable they were.

Albs wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 21:11:

Martin Imber wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 20:40: I prefer the replacement - nice to see them though Chrysler Horizon ? I thought they were crap myself. :-/

i had a chrysler sunbeam lotus after i remember seeing russell brooks in one. You would not beleive how fast them things were at the time and i remember thrashing a v12 xjs in one and it would beat std rs turbos and 16v astras no problem but there again it had a 2.2 16 valve motor with a dog leg zf box so it was well qualifed to be a bit tasty  :D

I had a chevette HS which was a similar thing. Unforgetable fun. :y

hotel21 wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 20:46:

This one was really clean.   .... But there was another, almost identical. ....

Apart from being a Sunbeam (Stiletto?)  ::) ::) ::)

Very pretty little car, the stilletoe. :y

Albs wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 23:00:

Very pretty little car, the stilletoe. :y

I don't know exactly what models had what now, but IIRC the Sunbeam Stiletto was the twin head light version but the Singer Chamois was the coupe/fastback version.  :y

Andy B wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 23:07:

Albs wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 23:00: Very pretty little car, the stilletoe. :y I don't know exactly what models had what now, but IIRC the Sunbeam Stiletto was the twin head light version but the Singer Chamois was the coupe/fastback version.  :y

The first car that ever really tickled my interest in cars was a rally prepped Singer Chamois - I was quite surprised to read the name at the time (I was probably 13 or so, and this would have been '91/'92) as the only other place I'd seen the Singer name was on the side of my mums sewing machine  ;D

Albs wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 21:11:

Martin Imber wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 20:40: I prefer the replacement - nice to see them though Chrysler Horizon ? I thought they were crap myself. :-/

Horizon was Simca shit

The replacement was same factory 3 door hatch with RWD and occasionally a Lotus engine

henryd wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 22:23:

I believe those engines were originally designed as a fire pump power source,amazing how tunable they were.

I have seen one - looks odd in its cradle

Martin Imber wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 23:15:

Albs wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 21:11: Martin Imber wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 20:40: I prefer the replacement - nice to see them though Chrysler Horizon ? I thought they were crap myself. :-/ Horizon was Simca shit The replacement was same factory 3 door hatch with RWD and occasionally a Lotus engine

Sunbeam replaced the Avenger, not the imp. ;)

Kevin Wood wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 22:06:

Oooh! I like that Orange Ginetta!  :-* :-* :-* :-*

Well if you got a couple of grand to spare ...

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C218068/

Ken

The vans were badged-up as Commer Cobs I believe! ;)

Seth wrote on 18. Apr 2011 at 01:21:

The vans were badged-up as Commer Cobs I believe! ;)

The van was the Husky  ;)  ;)

http://www.imps4ever.info/family/husky.html

Seth wrote on 18. Apr 2011 at 01:21:

The vans were badged-up as Commer Cobs I believe! ;)

The Commer Cobs were the van varient of the Hillman Minx, I think.   :)

Albs wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 23:23:

Martin Imber wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 23:15: Albs wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 21:11: Martin Imber wrote on 17. Apr 2011 at 20:40: I prefer the replacement - nice to see them though Chrysler Horizon ? I thought they were crap myself. :-/ Horizon was Simca shit The replacement was same factory 3 door hatch with RWD and occasionally a Lotus engine Sunbeam replaced the Avenger, not the imp. ;)

Nope made at same time - used the Avenger mechanics - hence rather underpowered with an Imp engine.

There may have been a bit of overlap between the end of the Avenger and the start of Sunbeam production, but the Sunbeam was the replacement for the Avenger,although admittedly some moron in the accounting or marketing dept did decide to make a version with the little hairdryer motor under the bonnet. ;)

Andy B wrote on 18. Apr 2011 at 06:45:

Seth wrote on 18. Apr 2011 at 01:21: The vans were badged-up as Commer Cobs I believe! ;) The van was the Husky  ;)  ;) http://www.imps4ever.info/family/husky.html

I stand corrected Mr B! ;D

hotel21 wrote on 18. Apr 2011 at 07:17:

Seth wrote on 18. Apr 2011 at 01:21: The vans were badged-up as Commer Cobs I believe! ;) The Commer Cobs were the van varient of the Hillman Minx, I think.   :)

Oops (again)! ;D

Dead right Brooce ;)

This thread takes me back.

In The mid 70's my boss used to take me out on work business in his Orange Ginetta and we used to listen to Fleetwood Mac on the stereo. I thought it was fab as we were getting paid whilst driving on scenic country lanes for an hour each way.

My ownership of Imps extended to one miserable water consuming example bought for £25 and sold soon after for £30. I quickly went back to what I knew and understood - Minis!

My friend rallied a genuine ex works car but fitted with a standard apart from 998 cc engine. I navigated on a few night events for him (remember those with "selectives"  :y).

Albs wrote on 18. Apr 2011 at 09:43:

There may have been a bit of overlap between the end of the Avenger and the start of Sunbeam production, but the Sunbeam was the replacement for the Avenger,although admittedly some moron in the accounting or marketing dept did decide to make a version with the little hairdryer motor under the bonnet. ;)

Sunbeam was definately Imp replacement, even same factory.

Avenger 71 to 82
Sunbeam 78 to 82

Imp finished in 76 or 77

Albs wrote on 18. Apr 2011 at 09:43:

There may have been a bit of overlap between the end of the Avenger and the start of Sunbeam production, but the Sunbeam was the replacement for the Avenger,although admittedly some moron in the accounting or marketing dept did decide to make a version with the little hairdryer motor under the bonnet. ;)

Not true; the Sunbeam and Chysler/Talbot Avenger were available concurrently from '78 through to '82.

Sunbeams use an Avenger structure, shortened by about a foot. Many panels are interchangeable, if not the same; wings, front panel headlights, windscreen, front doors are the same as a 2 door Avenger.
There are photos of the 'Avenbeam' that Chrysler built, using the front end of an Avenger on a Sunbeam body which looks decidedly odd.

My interest in these is for the usual reason, my mum had three Avengers in a row. The full set; a Hillman, Chrysler and a Talbot. My first car was a Sunbeam Ti(wish I still had it, they're rare and worth good money), and I'm currently prepping my own Avenger for paint.

Anorak is now back on the hook!