5184 x 3132 px | 43,9 x 26,5 cm | 17,3 x 10,4 inches | 300dpi
Aufnahmedatum:
24. April 2016
Ort:
Dundee, Angus, Tayside, Scotland, United Kingdom
Weitere Informationen:
The Hillman Imp is a small economy car made by the Rootes Group and its successor Chrysler Europe from 1963 until 1976. It was the first mass produced car with the engine block and cylinder head cast in aluminium. It used a space-saving rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout to allow as much luggage and passenger capacity as possible in both the rear and the front of the car. It used a unique opening rear hatch to allow luggage to be put into the back seat rest. The Hillman Imp was the first mass-produced British car to have an engine in the back and the first car to use a diaphragm spring clutch. This unorthodox small light car was designed for the Rootes Group by Michael Parkes and Tim Fry. It was manufactured at the purpose-built Linwood plant in Scotland. Along with the Hillman marque was a series of variations including an estate car Husky, a van[6] and a coupé. The Imp gained a reputation as a successful rally car when Rosemary Smith won the Tulip Rally in 1965. This led the Rootes Group to produce a special rally conversion of the Imp under both the Hillman and Singer marques known as the Imp Rallye. In 1966, Rosemary Smith after winning the Coupe des Dames, was disqualified under a controversial ruling regarding the headlamps of her Imp. The Imp was also successful in touring car racing when Bill McGovern won the British Saloon Car Championship in 1970, 1971 and 1972. The car did have reliability problems hampered its reputation, which led to the Rootes Group being taken over by Chrysler Europe in 1967. The Imp continued production until 1976, selling just under half a million units in 13 years.
