The Imp may not have been the sales or financial success that The Rootes Group had hoped for, even in it's best years only 29,000 were sold annually in the UK which was about a third of the cars originaly projected sales. But it was a real drivers car, with its high revving rear mounted light-alloy engine, while the carefully developed all-independent suspension and rack and pinnion steering provided fun but sure footed handling that was much exploited in motorsport.
The Imp modelled was first registered on 12th September, 1972 to Mr
Frank Surridge who purchased it from Rutland Hill Motors, High St,
Newmarket, Suffolk. The total cost was £835.15; metallic paint was £10
and seatbelts, which were by then a legal requirement, were also £10!
The delivery was £17.50 but Mr Surridge received £45.15 discount and
actually paid £790 for the car. He used it regularly until he decided to
give up driving on health grounds in May 1996, by which time it had
covered 58,000 miles. He intended to scrap the car but luckily his
son-in-law, Tony Canning, offered Mr Surridge £50 and was able to rescue
it.
Tony Caning started his working life at Rutland Motors and was based
there for 12 years, including his apprenticeship as a mechanic, so was
able to tackle the restoration. The car was basically sound but required
work on the brakes and a lower-half re-spray after the corroded wheel
arches had been repaired. Since being finished this largely original
family heirloom has become well known to fellow Imp Club members as
Norwich-based Tony and wife Hazel take her father's old car to classic
car events. At one rally they ran into Ted Rolfe, former salesman at
Rutland Motors, who remembered selling the car new. The only
modifications are disc brakes to improve safety and a water expansion
tank to save the notoriously weak head gasket.
Engine: 875cc OHC 4IL
Power: 37bhp@4800rpm
Torque: 49lb.ft@2600rpm
0-60mph 25.4secs
Maximum speed: 78mph
Unladen weight: 1530lbs