Yep- that's the idea! I'm going to have some fun restoring this one (most likely sink way more money than I expected into it) drive it and then see what happens. If I don't get on with it I can sell it on and what ever I make can go into the Viva. I will work on the Viva engine swap once this Imp is on the road.
So yeah. I now have my very own little Hillman Imp!
A local fella by the name of Rob, who frequents these pages I think more as a reader, came up to me in the supermarket car park a few months ago. He said he'd read that I was after an Imp and offered me his Race Imp at a price I just really couldn't turn down. It does need lots of work as he had stacked it big time in a race a few years back. He pulled it all out straight on a chassis jig and continued to use it however it needs a really good tidy up. At Robs last race event with this car a large bump threw the gear linkage and it got stuck in gear, with possible damage to the box being unknown as yet. He took it home and it has then sat in his shed for a while. After a few ums and ers, a bit of consultation with Hannah I made the decision to sell the 120Y on to a mate from Oldschool to free up some space, time and money, I agreed to welcome this little Imp into my life.
Rob sorted the linkage out so it would roll and he kindly delivered last night...
Here it is being unloaded by Hannah and Rob with me excitedly taking some photos.
Off the trailer and after Rob left I snapped some more photos. Kevin approves...
I just love the look from the back. It has a fiberglass Imp 'sport' replica cover. I'm gonna brace that and add some hinges. Such a sweet shape...
The big bonus points that had me are the following. Its registration is on hold, its fully certified for the engine swap and other mods and its honest. Its come with enough spare bits, of which I'll work out what I plan to use and I can hopefully sell on some bits to fund the restoration.
The steels fitted to it are my old 13x6 Viva rims Rob bought off me ages ago. Luckily the Certfication plate is an older one which just states the wheel size, not material. This is great because these are well made wheels and I have a full set of stainless Viva hubcaps to fit them..
The previous owner Rob is a top bloke and seems keen on seeing what I make of it. This is also nice. He has bought a older Corolla race car and that's his new toy. So everyone is happy! (including Hannah I might add...her first classic she bought was a little Imp)
The cage is legal and has its ticket etc (or the car has its motorsport association nz card or what ever its called) but, and I realise some of you might cry at this, I am going to remove the cage. I really cant be dealing with it. All I want is a nice fun road Imp and I'm more concerned that its reliable and peppy) In order to legally drive the car on the road with a full cage I would have to join a local club, join manz, compete in 3 events a year. I'm just not interested in that. Fully caged road cars would become a pita for any daily use IMO.
The seats are just spare, not bolted in. It had a full on race spec seat fitted which Rob has kept..
The underside has had a beating but rot wise its pretty solid. There are a few repairs that have aged so I will just have to go through the whole lot and tidy it up.
I have also bought another Imp from down in Chch and that will hopefully be heading up this way in a few weeks time. Its pretty solid up top and is complete. I had previously looked at this Imp a while back, having first seen it when we visited the old car playground with a bunch of other oldschoolers. I had lined it up to buy for $200 along with whatever other Imp parts I needed. But I later decided it wasn't the time to take on a rusty imp resto. However, now was the time to take it on because its going to be mighty handy. Here it is in its field spot here for many years...
The inside..
Good headlining..
Luckily a mate, Will, from Oldschool has pulled it out for me...
Will has sort of become quite smitten with the idea of an Imp race car so and while he was there he has grabbed another plus will get as many parts as he can...
Another one for bits...
I'm now planning to swap the whole front ends over instead of trying to fix the bent front end on this. Big job but it will be a better result.
I can also swap over the interior too. I'll fit some suitable bucket seats. Not sure on rear seats or not yet.
Probably re-do all the wiring because well... I enjoy wiring and Imps don't have fuses as standard.. which just seems dodgy.
The engine. Its an A12 from a Datsun 1200...
Pretty standard I'm told so I figure around 65-70bhp? It did have twin weber carbs which he kept. I really wasnt into the idea of them and will either fit a standard Hitachi carb or a weber 32/36. Luckily it comes with a manifold made for the Weber I'm told. I was originally worried about the extra weight in the back compared to the standard Imp. However I have just learned that the A series engines have alloy heads and these little things are pretty light. Combined with the radiator now being in the front with the battery I reckon the balance wont be too bad. I'll find out. Anyway- what can I compare it to?...my old Viva wagon?....
I'll tidy the exhaust and make a sexy new can. I am a complete novice with these Datsun engines but luckily there's lots of information out there plus I know a man named Bart!....
I'm think I'll probably make a bespoke dash arrangement with a rev counter to suit. I also have a very nice older Momo wooden steering wheel I might fit...
So for now that is all. I have much work on right now. There is a truck cab swap going on and then the Datsun 120y is coming inside for rust work. As soon as that is completed the new 120Y owner, Greg, will come up with the Blue imp and take away the Datsun.
I can then start working on the Imp proper. In the meantime Hannah is going to start stripping it out when time allows.
I shall look forward to seeing it progress.