Posted on 05/03/2016 07:28
From time to time i will post pics of british classic cars and the odd bit of info.Here,s perhaps many peoples all time favourite classic.Built from 1961 to 1975 no name needed here i think 
.If you have any pics please post them or if you cant then i will try and find one and post it.
Posted on 16/05/2019 20:00 by dave the raveI started the restoration of a 1971 herald about 12/13 years ago but had to give up due to house move (new house had no garage).On retirement a couple of years ago and moving (again) I was offered a frogeye at a very reasonable price.(unfortunately the offerers family objected to the sale of their "inheritance" and it was not to be!So I content myself with collecting 1/64 scale models of cars that I have owned!(1938 austin 10 cambridge onward.Some I have had to build from kits,some I have had to respray to the correct colour and some cost a lot of money (1955 phase 2 vanguard in grey).Some are escaping me.....Senator 24 valve,herald 1200 estate,mk 1 trooper,mk2 trooper etc.My younger brother purchased a GT6 for his retirement present,but after it was "rear ended" a couple of years ago has shown it to be a "can of worms"when trying to repair it as this has shown up lots of bodges in it,s previous restoration,so be aware that a restored vehicle might not be what it seems!!!
Posted on 27/06/2019 13:25
Too right, a lot of cars restored in the 1980s classic car boom were undertaken by enthusiastic amateurs who didn’t have the tools or skills to do the job properly, Many of them were quite accomplished with a glass fibre filler kit though. Another problem seems to be the quality of restoration parts, quite a lot of it made by a 7yr old and his mates in Mumbai!
Posted on 27/06/2019 13:20 by SeasideBillGreat little cars to drive, but sadly flawed - bag of concrete in the front improved handling. It seemed that my mate and I had to change the head gasket on his 1964 imp on a monthly basis. That said, engine removal was a piece of cake and weighed very little - we used to remove it using a trolley made from a couple of roller skates. Brings back lots of fond memories. Would love to own or drive one again.
Posted on 27/06/2019 14:49 by MilothedogMust have been something wrong with it that you didn't notice. warped head or block deck face damaged? Did my apprenticeship in a Rootes dealership in the 70's. HGF wasn't uncommon on them but no more than most other cars of the time.
Posted on 27/06/2019 15:55
We knew what was wrong with it... corroded wet liners, probably due to neglect to regularly change antifreeze. I think you’ll find Imps suffered more than most, but not many alloy engines in production cars at that time. I remember it finally died when one of the con rods made an escape attempt via the cylinder wall - quite a spectacular ending! Still a fantastic little car though, great fun.
Posted on 27/06/2019 20:39
Only had one shortish trip out where the Imp's handling gave me cause for knicker change. Whoever thought of selling a Hillman Imp with crossply boots on. Very next day a lunchtime visit to a tyre shop. Full set of 5 Semperit radials fitted made all the difference. After that it was an utter delight until, one winters night, it got a touch cold when the heater tap ( on the front bulkhead ) cracked and all the coolant got pumped out into the boot. Never seemed to be the same afterwards for some reason.
volvoman9
Caravanner from Cheshire