Hillman Imp

It incorporated many design features which were uncommon in cars until the late 1970s, such as a folding rear bench seat, [[Choke valve|automatic choke]] and gauges for temperature, voltage and oil pressure.

It incorporated many design features which were uncommon in cars until the late 1970s, such as a folding rear bench seat, [[Choke valve|automatic choke]] and gauges for temperature, voltage and oil pressure.

This unorthodox small/light car was designed for the [[Rootes Group]] by [[Mike Parkes|Michael Parkes]] (who later became a [[Formula One]] driver) and [[Tim Fry]]. It was manufactured at the purpose-built [[Linwood, Renfrewshire#History|Linwood]] plant in Scotland. As well as the Hillman marque, there was a series of variations, including an [[station wagon|estate car]] (the [[Hillman Husky#Hillman Imp van derivative|Husky]]), a [[van]]<ref name=Autocar1965>{{cite journal |title=News and Views |journal=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] |page=997 |date=5 November 1965}}</ref> and a [[coupé]].

This unorthodox small/light car was designed for the [[Rootes Group]] by Bob Saward. [[Tim Fry]] was design engineer . It was manufactured at the purpose-built [[Linwood, Renfrewshire#History|Linwood]] plant in Scotland. As well as the Hillman marque, there was a series of variations, including an [[station wagon|estate car]] (the [[Hillman Husky#Hillman Imp van derivative|Husky]]), a [[van]]<ref name=Autocar1965>{{cite journal |title=News and Views |journal=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] |page=997 |date=5 November 1965}}</ref> and a [[coupé]].

The Imp gained a reputation as a successful [[rally car]] when [[Rosemary Smith]] won the [[Tulip Rally]] in 1965. That 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, after winning the Coupe des Dames, Smith 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 British Saloon Car Championship season|1970]], [[1971 British Saloon Car Championship season|1971]] and [[1972 British Saloon Car Championship season|1972]].<ref name=”George Bevan 1917-1998″>{{cite web|title=George Bevan 1917-1998|url=http://www.imps4ever.info/racing/races/bevan.html|website=The Imp Site|date=26 February 2012|access-date=28 January 2015}}</ref>

The Imp gained a reputation as a successful [[rally car]] when [[Rosemary Smith]] won the [[Tulip Rally]] in 1965. That 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, after winning the Coupe des Dames, Smith 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 British Saloon Car Championship season|1970]], [[1971 British Saloon Car Championship season|1971]] and [[1972 British Saloon Car Championship season|1972]].<ref name=”George Bevan 1917-1998″>{{cite web|title=George Bevan 1917-1998|url=http://www.imps4ever.info/racing/races/bevan.html|website=The Imp Site|date=26 February 2012|access-date=28 January 2015}}</ref>