1970 Imp Super Restoration

[jetmech]

Inspired by my visit to this years excellent national I have decided that the time has come to start the restoration of our second Imp. This may be a slow process, hampered by a lack of good facilities and erratic funding, but it has to start sometime and has been talked about for years!
Some History;
The Car is a 1970/71 Hillman Imp Super in Baltic Blue, apparently delivered (according to the service book) on 1st January 1971. Did car dealers work on Bank Holidays back then?
We bought the car in 1991 as a non runner, the engine was seized solid having been left with a badly blown head gasket, also the previous owner had misjudged her gate post and damaged all the nearside panels. However the car has only 30000 miles indicated and was to all appearances completely rot free.
Initially I replaced the engine with a 1973 lump that had been in my Chamois, this ran fine, but as we were already running 2 Imps at that time this car just sat on the drive deteriorating for a few years before eventually moving to a lean-to shed behind my garage, here it has remained for the last 18 years or so.



As you can probably see it now has extensive surface corrosion, but apart from the bottom of the n/s front wing, it still looks to be rot free. I am still not sure how to repair the damage to the passenger door and rear quarter, they are heavily grooved and slightly pushed in, but there is no wheel arch rust. This makes me reluctant to replace the side panel.
Anyway here it is, I have told you all now so there's no going back!

Simon.

[colin rooney]

when you get her ouit and have better pictures of the side damage im sure some of us will be able to advise on how best to pull the wing

col

[graham_h_miller]

Can I just say that I love the patina on a car like that. Could you find a way to make it tidy, solid, legal and still keep some patina?

Just a thought

Graham

[jetmech]

Can I just say that I love the patina on a car like that. Could you find a way to make it tidy, solid, legal and still keep some patina?

Just a thought

Graham

If it's still as good underneath as it was, then that is a possibility, especially if that would mean getting it to Perth.
However ultimately I think this car deserves a full respray.
I had a quick look inside and the carpets still look very good, but I think there have been mice in the roof lining and under the back seat. The cats have all been sacked .

Simon.

[jetmech]

Before I can start taking this car apart it needs to be moved, so I have to begin by putting it back together!? Over the years it has donated various parts to the Chamois, including the steering rack. So today I took the side off the lean-to and fitted a recently repaired rack. It will be quite some time before I can get down to the proper restoration, I need to build a bigger garage first! However I intend to move the car out of this less than ideal shed and put it under a car cover in the back garden. This will allow me to try and get the engine running, I checked it yesterday and it still turns freely and even has some compression, despite standing for at least 15 years. I would like to have a back up engine in case the Chamois develops problems during this busy year.







Simon

[ImpManiac]

^^ That looks like a lovely lil' project!

I have often admired the car in your avatar at the national meets.

IM

[kilty]

Can I just say that I love the patina on a car like that. Could you find a way to make it tidy, solid, legal and still keep some patina?

Easier said than done Graham, unless it's garaged 24/7 and only used sparingly in the summer, it doesn't stay that way, sadly. Everything becomes more 'patinated' until the only two options are to let it get worse, or repaint.
Hence why my Deluxe is getting done soon.

Drew

[jetmech]

^^ That looks like a lovely lil' project!

I have often admired the car in your avatar at the national meets.

IM

Thank you Paul, it's nice to know that the Singer gets noticed, I have owned it for 27 years and tend to take it for granted. This year I plan to attend as many events as I can to celebrate the 50th anniversary.
I hope to restore the blue imp as a more personalised car, with Imp sport mechanics and modern front seats, my wife wants it finished in yellow, it's her car so I might let her choose the colour

Simon

[jetmech]

After sitting in a makeshift shed in the back garden for 15 years and for the last year just under a car cover in the back garden, the little blue Imp has finally escaped to the front garden, so that work can begin building a new garage where hopefully restoration can finally take place. It took a few thousand miles off the Volvo's clutch to drag it free!
WARNING. This will be a long slow thread.







Simon

[Grahame59]

Good luck with it Simon. Now that you have it out in the daylight it does look pretty solid and well worth restoring. Will be interesting to follow its progress.

[The Nun]

Its still got its Pentastar fitted as well

[Grahame59]

Its still got its Pentastar fitted as well

Ah, yes, the legendary 'puckered ar5e'!

[jetmech]

Its still got its Pentastar fitted as well

Yes, it's all there, but the general condition continues to deteriorate (unsurprisingly). I really need to get in the dry asap and start reversing this trend.

Simon

[The Nun]

A breathable outside grade car cover might be best as a temp solution if you can't get it inside for now?

[kilty]

Those dents shouldn't be a worry.

[ImpManiac]

That looks like a nice project.

IM

[jetmech]

Well it's been over 2 years since the car was dragged from a slightly less than weatherproof shed in our back garden. Since then it has moved from the back garden to the front garden, where it has spent nearly 2 years under a car cover. Today I managed to move it again, this time into a proper garage!
Construction of the garage has slowed considerably this year but, although unfinished, I felt that it was ready enough to receive the Imp. It will probably be another twelve months before I can start the restoration, but at least it's in the dry now.
Before moving it in to the garage I cleared out some of the mess left by mice nesting under the back seat. The seats and main carpet are in quite reasonable condition and there was no sign of rot under the back seat.













Simon

[ImpManiac]

Now that's what I call a garage!

IM

[MattorMatty]

It's good to hear the Imp is in the dry, and as IM said that's a proper garage!

Matt