Not sure if link will work but a really interesting program on STV Player, might also be available on ITV player.
All about the history of the site in Linwood, interviews with workers and history of the car.
player.stv.tv/episode/4nap/sgeul-media-linwood-the-imp-and-me/
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Great cars but for the head gasket. I had a Husky.
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I had one, briefly, in about 1974.
It was great to drive, with very light and direct steering, and better than the Mini, I thought.
But it developed the dreaded leaky head gasket, and I could not afford the repair, so it went.
I think the aluminium engine was derived from a Coventry Climax fire engine pump.
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I had a heavily modified Imp in the early 70s - the previous owner had used it for sprint meetings. The cam was wild and it was almost undrivable (by wife) in sensible mode at less than 3000rpm. Never had head gasket problems, but the cam chain tensioner spring broke and it cost a lot of money to replace the grossly oversized Inlet valves. Re-shimming valve clearances with shims was an art not a science. The only car I have owned where it was possible to remove engine and gearbox quicker than changing No4 spark plug in situ! No4 always oiled up. a common problem I believe, despite using a hotter plug in that position. Well sorted suspension, ride height made it so much better than Mini Coopers at the time.
Hated by the ordinary garage trade, probably because aluminium engine required a degree of finesse and an accurate torque wrench, which probably accounted for many of the head gasket problems.
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Early ones had a pneumatic throttle activation (think bike pump). Colleague who collects them was delighted when he acquired one with it still working.
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Learnt to drive and passed my test in one in 1970. Loved it and really wanted to own one but lack of funds meant I had to settle for a 1956 Morris Minor instead.
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Hillman Imp - Manatee
