1969 Hillman Imp Sport review from UK and Ireland
"The original pocket rocket with an almost un-burstable engine"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Clutch failed.
Cylinder head gasket went due to incorrectly torqued bolts.
Water pump failed
Camshaft chain snapped.
General comments?
I modified my car quite extensively during the time I owned the car, but this was mainly because as parts wore out (shock absorbers, exhaust, tires, clutch, various engine parts) it was preferable for me to uprate rather than just replace.
The car was much more interesting to drive than my friends' Minis and was quicker too once I'd replaced the exhaust and carburettors.
I also fitted a negative camber kit, which drastically improved the handling, and then went on to fit 175/70HR12 tires to the front and 195/60HR13 tires to the rear. Suddenly the car out-cornered almost anything on the road, except a Porsche.
The list of modifications I made is too long to list here, but the car was always economical (38mpg+) and fun.
A shame Chrysler didn't develop it a little more.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1969 |
| First year of ownership | 1977 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1979 |
| Engine and transmission | 875 Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 66000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 105000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 3rd June, 2003 |