The Imp Site

Who is who

I had only just started making this lisitng. Still thinking on how to go about it. Who (and who not) to include... Perhaps too tough a cookie and I'll break my teeth on it...
Then Ken Sharpe sent me the list he made for himself as an aid when writing his memoirs. I am hoping visitors will help with completing and improving.

Imp team - minus M. Parkes
KS: This is a photograph in either the Times or the Telegraph supplement at the time of the Imp's introduction.
It shows all the leaders of the Imp team with the exception of Mike Parkes.
The people are - nearest the camera and on the left: A.C. Miller, and going clockwise round the outside, Bill West with gearbox, Ken Sharpe just behind, Bob Saward with Imp model, Bob Croft, Leo Kuzmicki behind engine, and at the front Peter Ware. Squatting down in the middle: Harry White on the left and Tim Fry on right.

Ken Sharpe: The men responsible for the Hillman Imp
The following is a list of the Ryton design and development team from 1960 to 1965.
I have tried hard to include everybody I can remember but there are still several faces in my memory that I cannot put names to. It would be great if any of the these people could complete the list. Styling was done at the Stoke styling studio and I don't know these people.

Name PositionPeriodLocationNotes
B.B. Winter Engineering Director retired and replaced by P.G.Ware Ryton
P.G. Ware Engineering Director 1960 to 1965 Ryton Peter Ware

Quality control / Mike Taylor. - Thoroughbred & Classic Cars 1988 September. - p.62 - 67
An interview with Peter Ware, one-time Chief Engineer of the Rootes Group.

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Peter Ware, 46-years-old, is the Rootes Group's Director of Engineering. He has been responsible for the overall design and development of the Hillman Imp since its conception and has supervised the work of the team of specialists which took the car from a draughtman's doodle to a production line reality.
R.A. Evison Personal Assistant to Peter Ware 1961 to 1963 - .... Ryton

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Dick Evison, aged 24, is an ex-apprentice at Rootes and started work on the drawing board in the Imp engine design office two years ago. He is at present Personal Assistant to Peter Ware.
Mervin Cutler Chief Engineer 1960 to ...., left company and replaced by A.C.Miller Ryton
A.C. Miller (Maxie) Chief Engineer moved to Linwood - this was factual by August 1963 (and was replaced by Leo Kuzmicki) Ryton A.C. Miller
Leo Kuzmicki Engineering Dept.
Engine design then Chief Engineer		 .... 1963 - 1965; .... moved to Stoke Engineering and replaced by Stan Taylor Ryton Leo Kuzmicki
The Hillman 875cc engine / by Leo Kuzmicki, A Craig Miller and Peter Ware

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Fifty-two-year-old Leo Kuzmicki is Deputy Chief Engineer at the Rootes Ryton plant and has been mainly responsible for developing the engine of the Imp. Following a war career which reads like the page of an adventure book, he joined Nortons and became their chief engineer. In 1955 he joined the Vanwall racing team as chief engineer and a year later he joined the Rootes Group and has worked on the Imp project since its inception.
Philip Laugton research .... 1963 - .... Ryton

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Phil Laugton has been working in close associatiion with Leo Kuzmicki and has played a major part in the original design and development. He is now preoccupied with advanced research work. He is 30 and has worked at Rootes since leaving school.
Christine Jones secretary to Mervin Cutler .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Elsie Davies secretary to A.C.Miller .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Stan Taylor Body design then Chief Engineer .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Mike Parkes Project engineer .... 1955 to the end of 1962 Ryton Michael Parkes (1931) is an ex-Humber pupil (1949) who acted as Project Engineer on the Imp until the end of 1962, when he left to join Ferrari. He co-ordinated the activities of the specialists working on the car and also carried out a great deal of the testing of it. Here his ability as a racing driver was of inestimable value.
T.S. (Tim) Fry Engineering Dept.
Project engineer		 .... 1955 to 1965 .... Ryton Tim Fry

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Tim Fry is 28 and as a pupil was trained in engineering at Rootes. He was an original member of the team that conceived and built the very first small car six years ago. His personal experience covers many components and controls. He can handle the car extremely well, having lapped this circuit within 1/5th of a second of Mike Parkes.
P.G. Manning the Rootes Group's Quality Director .... 1963 .... Ryton

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Pip Manning, aged 49, is the Rootes Group's Quality Director. A former apprentice with the Group, he operates a close liaison with production engineers and is responsible for ensuring that Imps are built to the highest possible standard.
W.H. Round Quality Engineer .... 1963 .... Ryton

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Bill Round is the Quality Engineer responsible for all items manufactured at Coventry. He is in charge of the company's C.I.D., which not only stands for 'Criminal' but for Central Investigation Department. He is the policeman who keeps quality, law and order and watches the customer's interest.
Barbara Harris Draughts woman .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Ernie Unger Road test engineer .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Harry White Engineering Dept.
Senior Chassis design engineer		 1958 to 1965 .... Ryton Harry White

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Harry White (37) has been Chassis Engineer on the Imp project. Suspension, brakes and control, in fact, have been his passion throughout most of his engineering career. He joined the Rootes Group in 1958 and is engaged on engineering research and long term design. The remarkable road holding characteristics of the Imp are largely a result of White's ability.
Des Dudley Chassis design 1958 to 1965 .... Ryton

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Des Dudley is 31 and has been with the Group five years. He has been working on the Imp project from its inception and has been engaged mainly in suspension design.
Bill Rutherford Chassis design .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Alan Treadwell Chassis design .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Mrs Dudley Chassis design .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
A.W. West
Bill West		 Engineering Dept.
Senior Transmission Design engineer		 .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton Bill West
John Lewis Transmission Design and development .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Bob Croft Engineering Dept.
Senior Body design engineer		 .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton Bob Croft
K.M. Davies
Ken Davies		 Engineering Dept.
Body design engineer		 .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Stan Attwood Body development engineer .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
I.D. Paterson
Ian Paterson		 Engineering Dept.
Noise and vibration		 .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Stan Stanton Instrumentation .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
George Cotterill Cold room test .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
David Lloyd Senior Engine Development engineer .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton Dave Lloyd
John Horton Engine Development .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Ken Sharpe
apprentice and draughtsman Period? Stoke
Draughtsman Fighting vehicles Period? Stoke Aldermoor
Technical office Period? Stoke
Draughtsman
then Development		 Period? Ryton
Project Engineer Period? Stoke
Project engineer
then group Rig test		 Period? Whitley technical centre
Group Rig Test Period? Ryton
Truck Rig test Period? Dunstable
Ken Sharpe Senior Development engineer .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton Kenneth SharpeDeveloping the Imp: memories August 2005, with many photos
Graham Havard Road test engineer 1960 to ....; moved to Linwood - this was factual by August 1963 (and replaced by Fred Evans) Ryton; later Linwood
Fred Evans Road test engineer .... 196. to 1965 .... Ryton
Maurice Evans Road test engineer .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Derek Sleath Road test engineer .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Mike Rushall Road test engineer .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton Mike Rushall
Wynne Mitchell Road test engineer Part of the period 1960-1965 Ryton
Clive Mann Road test engineer Part of the period 1960-1965 Ryton
Peter Carpenter Road test engineer Part of the period 1960-1965 Ryton
Richard Manning Road test engineer Part of the period 1960-1965 Ryton
F.D. Marsden
Frank Marsden		 Engineering Dept.
Rig test engineer		 "I joined Rootes in 1961 from Standard-Triumph where I was working as a design draughtsman on the Sports car section.
I replaced David Ward, who left because he came into an inheritiance in, I think, Bournmouth. I was in charge of Rig Test from 1961, March or April, until after the Imp was launched.

In 1964, Rootes sent me to Cranfield, School of Automobile Engineering, where, at Leo Kuzmicki's suggestion I did a thesis on stress analysis of car body structures, which we did not know how to do at that time.
After finishing the year at Cranfield I was offered a job in charge of the Imp sports car; one had been made, designed by Tim Fry. I turned this down, as I did not think it would continue; it did not.

I then went to Rootes Long Term Development and Research Dept. at Humber Road, headed by Richard Hodkin, the brother of David Hodkin, Chief engineer. I was promoted to 2 i/c of that department, working mainly on ABS, on which I had a couple of patents, which Rootes never followed up. The first ABS on the Mk2 Escort, some years later followed the exact principle in one of my patent applications." [22 Jul 2007]		 Ryton

From: Frank Marsden
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007

Hi

Frank Marsden Rig test 1961-1964

Still around,
Frank Marsden

[22 Jul 2007] "I am still in contact with a couple of people who were in the Ryton dept:

  • Phil Laughton, who worked on engines and
  • Tony Griffiths, who designed a new (Mac Strut) front suspension for the Imp. This never made it to production, but would have been a major improvement, not the least reason being that it made much better use of the space at the front."

Brian A. Walker 1963-66: Rig Test Engineer / Manager
1967-70: Manager - Electrical and Heat Exchange Design
1971-75: Manager - Safety and Functional Test Department
1976-80: Chief Engineer - Vehicle Evaluation
1981-82: Product Engineer
1983: Engineering Director		 Coventry Came from Jaguar (The Jaguar Apprentice's Sketchbook), went to DeLorean
Stewart Wilson Rig test engineer 1964 to 1965 .... Ryton
David Ward Rig test engineer .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Jack Huddy Material supply 1960 to ....; retired an replaced by David Davies Ryton
David Davies Material supply .... 196. to 1965 .... Ryton
R.H. Riddiford
Ron Riddiford		 Engineering Dept.
Workshop foreman		 .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Roy West Fitter .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Jim Allen (the cornal) Fitter .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Ernie ? Fitter .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Ted Gothard? Fitter .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
E. Conrath
'Big Ted'		 Fitter .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton with his mate he could change an Imp engine while we went for a cup of tea.
'Big Ted' Conrath has been 16 years with Rootes (March 1963) as a mechanic. Working exclusively with Imps in recent years, he knows the car inside out. His capacity for engine changing is formidable, it being on record that, working alone, he has removed a complete power unit in twenty minutes. This stems from having done 37 engine changes on one particular car in 15,000 miles over six months, as pat of a special test exercise.
Harold Millner Tinsmith .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Horace Miller .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Burt Lathe .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Vic Gorman Fitter tester .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton Vic Gorman
Dave Newton Engine Test .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Ceril Oakley Rig test fitter .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
Peter Warwick Rig test fitter .... 1960 to 1965 .... Ryton
C.R. McLachlan Engineering Dept. .... August 1963 .... Ryton
Richard Puxted apprentice .... to .... Maidstone Richard PuxtedRichard PuxtedR. Puxted was there with testing the preproduction Imps in Kenya (2nd hot climate test), 1963. Chris Puxted of Tenterden: "Dad was working for the Rootes Group at Maidstone and he went on the trip as a result of being apprentice of the year (1961) at Rootes. I think dad did his apprenticeship as a body man." "He would have been 20 at the time, so was very much the junior of the team and I'm not sure if he had a defined function." [Kenneth Sharpe's memories; Garret Walker's memories]. His father died in 1989.
Name PositionPeriodLocationNotes

This list is short of about:
3 chassis draughtsmen
4 body draughtsmen
4 fitters
4 road test/fitter testers

And apologies if I have spelt any names incorrectly

Management

NamePositionPeriodLocationNotes
The Hon. Geoffrey Rootes Managing Director of Rootes Motors and Chairman of Rootes (Scotland) Ltd.     Geoffrey Rootes 1963
Timothy Rootes
Brian Rootes
Bill Garner Manufactoring director
in charge of production		 sent to Linwood from Coventry   excellent track record
a fine reputation for fairmindedness
a clear understanding of the problems created by assembly-line work
Cpt. J. Bryttan-Jones Director Purchasing .... - Jan. '62 - Feb. '65 - .... Rootes Scotland Ltd.
Coventry & Linwood
Purchasing		  
H.J.C. Weighell Director Prod. Plan. & Devel. .... - Feb. '65 - Aug. 68 - .... Rootes Motors Ltd.
Coventry		  
Barry Massey
B.H.O. Massey
5 Jan. 1924
Production Control Analyst
duties: Production control
Vendor scheduling		 Feb. '53 -
July '54		 Humber Ltd.
Coventry
Supply
Assistant to Mr. C. Diamond, Procurement manager
duties: Procurement of all non-current vendored sourced parts, placements of internal orders for Parts. Divs. preparation of vendor schedules, supervision of production control staff.		 July '54 -
Aug. '56		 Humber Ltd.
Coventry
Supply
Procurement manager Aug. '56 -
Aug. '57		 Humber Ltd.
Coventry
Supply
Buyer Aug. '57 -
Aug. '58		 Humber Ltd.
Coventry
Supply
Chief Buyer Aug. '58 -
Jan. '62		 Humber Ltd.
Coventry
Supply
Chief Buyer
duties: control of all plant, tool, machinery, consumables and automobile parts related to the Imp in Scotland 		Jan. '62 -
Feb. '65		 Rootes Scotland Ltd.
Coventry & Linwood
Purchasing
Product Cost Planning Director
duties: Reorganisation and set up of Product Cost Dept. within Rootes modelled on Chrysler Detroit lines to track truck and car costs through from planning stage to Job 1, provide and estimate service to Prod. Planning, Product Engineering, Purchase, set up value analysis and tear down section of Rootes & competitors products		 Feb. '65 -
Aug. 68		 Rootes Motors Ltd.
Coventry
Production Plan. & Development
Systems Planning Director
duties: To direct the planning, co-ordination and development of new and current systems through the areas laid down by the Director of MOS function and in accordance with established requirements and priorities with the directors of the user areas and Corporate staffs concerned.		 Sep. '68 -
....		 Rootes Motors Ltd.
Coventry
MOS
 Barry Massey
Guy Massey: "My father is still well and just as much a 'forthright speaker' as he was then, and now lives in North Devon. I wonder if anyone out there still remembers him?
I well remember sitting quitely in the corner of the Castle Hotel in Largs fussing Lulu the Boxer dog that belonged to Craig Miller (Chief Engineer on the Imp), whilst he and my father sat at the bar talking shop!" [22 Jun 2005]
Alan Lane Linwood Planning Manager He joined Rootes in 1961 - from Associated Industrial Consultants - and sourced the tooling & machines from Bavaria, etc. Rootes Motors Ltd.
Coventry

One of the gentlemen who helped to set up the Linwood factory - Alan Lane - he now lives in Victoria, Australia.

Matthew Lambert: "He had some interesting stories to tell - such as the day that the Duke of Edinburgh visited... apparently an electric fault stopped the line working, an employee had to hold two wires together to keep it running. Employees also had to keep driving the same cars around for the newsreels (as unfortunately not enough of them were working!)"


Mike Hancock

Garth Vaughan

David Low, the photographer

 

Rootes Competition Department

Competition Department


NamePositionPeriod Location Notes
Norman Garrad Competition Manager ...-1963
retired		   P.Harper: "Norman Garrad of Rootes, too, has done a wonderful job and I would place him very high indeed on my list of competition managers."

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Norman Garrad, the Competition Manager of the Rootes Group, has utilised his 40 years of International competitions experience in the planning and organising of long distance endurance testing of the Imp and tests by professional rally drivers.
Marcus Chambers Competition Manager 1964, Feb. 17
From BMC, Appleyard		   Timothy Rootes wanted to find a replacment who would take Rootes back into the forefront again.
John Rowe a 'resident' at the comp. dept.
of Publicity dept.		 ....   had been promised the Norman Garrad's job by Brian Rootes
Ian Hall 1964, April 1 - ....
replacing John Rowe as M. Chambers' assitant and team leader		 ....   ....
John Goff comp. dept. resident engineer (not M. Chambers technical assistant) ....   M. Chambers calls him 'a very abrassive young man'

 

NamePositionPeriod   Notes
Jim Ashworth Chief Engineer
in charge of the preparation of rally cars at Rootes
Private Rally Imps section		 .... 1967 ....   M. Chambers would have ranked him as foreman
P. Harper: "a great and likeable character."
T. Sharman call him Foreman, too.
Gerry Spencer Chief Mechanic
Works rally section		 ....   M. Chambers would have ranked him as deputy foreman
T. Sharman calls him a 'charge hand'. "The charge hand is responsible for the day-to-day running of the workshop and preparation."
Ernie Beck Mechanic
Works rally section
engines		 1952-1976
retired		   Engine builder
little Ernie Beck
George Coles Mechanic
Works rally section		 .... 1964-1967 ....   P.Harper: Jack Coles
Terry Sharman
T.A. Sharman		 Mechanic
Private Rally Imps section
Came from the 85 engine shop. Transfered to the Comps. Dept. in 1965		 1955 Coventry
Terry A. Sharman   
'I have included a photo of me & Ernie Schofield when we were both in the Rootes 85 engine shop around 1959/60 before we both went into competitions'
Ernie Schofield Mechanic
Works rally section
Came from the 85 engine shop.		    
Ernie Schofield    
Ernie Schofield in the Rootes 85 engine shop around 1959/60 before going to competitions
Derek Hughes mechanic
Works rally section		     Derek Hughes, mechanic
Terry Sharman: I think Derek Hughes went on to work with Andrew Cowan & Colin Malkin with the Mitsubishi team a few years ago
Jack Walton mechanic
Works rally section		      
Dick Wright mechanic
Works rally section		      
Arthur Bird 'sparkie' / electrician
Works rally section		     Arthur Bird
Ron (?) Bakewell trim & body work
Works rally section		     Ron Blakewell
Mike Coomb stores
Works rally section		     Raced a Tiger
Pete Burgess mechanic
Private Rally Imps section		      
John Winters gearboxes
Private Rally Imps section		      
Bob ? gearbox & axles
Private Rally Imps section		      
Bob Lamb engines
Private Rally Imps section		      
Dick Guy Apprentice     T. Sharman: "The two main apprentices were with the rally section, we also had apprentices in the private section for shorter periods."
David Brown Apprentice     David Brown, apprentice
         

 

Peter Harper Works driver
'Tiny' Lewis Works driver
Andrew Cowan Works driver
Keith Ballisat Works driver
Peter Procter Works driver
racing & rally
Rosemary Smith Works driver
Paddy Hopkirk Works driver ....1959-1962
gone to BMC		  
Stan Nicholls Time Keeper ....1964 ....  

Development

NamePositionPeriodLocationNotes
P.S. Wilson
Peter Wilson		Dept. Experimental
Engineer in charge of development		... 1963 ... Rootes
Humber Road
Stoke
Coventry

 

NamePositionPeriodLocationNotes
Bob Saward Styling
in overall charge of the Little Jim project		 ... Late fifties ...
Came from Ford		  Bob Saward

Engineering

NamePositionPeriodLocationNotes
P.G. Ware
Peter Ware		 the new chief executive engineer
playing a major role in the overall concept of the Imp		....  
Alec Caine .... ....   had been the engineer in charge of the Sunbeam TIger project

Experimental Department

There was a small development area in the Engineering department in which Little Jim was first given shape.

NamePositionPeriodLocationNotes
P.M.T. Cobley
Tom Cobley		 Airflow Engineer ... 1964 ...  
R.C. Tustin Dynamics Engineer ... 1964 ...  

Die-casting Department

Advertising / Publicity / Sales promotion

NamePositionPeriodLocationNotes
John Bullock Head of public relations for the Rootes Group in the 1950s ahs 60s,and Chrysler International SA during the 70s. involved with the Rootes brothers for nearly 30 years. ...
Bill Morris Head of public relations in Scotland came from the Daily Record at Glasgow a former bomber pilot
an experienced journalist
a good understanding of the motor industry
likeable
Bill Elsey advertising and sales promotion .... a good team
John Wilcox press and public relations campaign .... successful, skillful team
B. Campbell the Rootes Group's Home Sales Director 1932 - 1963 .... Ryton

Press Release, 11th May 1963:
Barry Campbell (52) is the Group's Home Sales Director. He has collaborated closely with the Imp's design team, bringing the salesman's viewpoint to many of the interesting design features. He has been with the Rootes Group for over 30 years.

Dealer support (?)

NamePositionPeriodLocationNotes
Neville Jackson General Manager   Rootes Ladbroke Hall, London  
Bob Clarke members of the Technical Department

Our responsibilities were to work with the factory to provide technical support for our own workshops and the dealer network. As you can appreciate we were kept very busy with the various manufacturing and technical problems that did exist with an evolutionary vehicle like the Imp.

 joining Rootes as an apprentice in 1963 Rootes Ladbroke Hall, London In addition to our normal day jobs we were tasked to develop our own Imps for competition work. The first one was our Rootes London CP Imp.
Lead by the support of our then General Manager Neville Jackson, we were given permission to evaluate running our own racing team, but one of the main conditions was that it had to be low key - in order that we would not infringe on the factory activities with the Fraser Imps or compete against them.
The other condition was that we built the cars and ran them in our own time.
So the team was formed with a limited budget sourced from Ladbroke Hall division and to keep costs down, as we were also responsible for warranty activities our spares had to be developed from warranty return scrapped components. A large task as you can imagine.
We also developed upgrades for customers cars and produced a limited run of Imps for sale as CP Imps (ComPetition).
Roy Capel  
Ian Lowe
another
another

June 1964 (source A):
K.W. Sharpe
P.G. Ware - Peter Ware, the new chief executive engineer and playing a major role in the overall concept of the Imp.
T.L. Jump
D. Hodkin
P.S. Wilson
D.R. Welbourne
E.F. Litchfield
V.J. Adrian
F.J. Smithyman
W.T. Oliver
P.J. Nevitt
L.T. Price
L. Kuzmicki
D.W. Brummit
C.W. Mann - Ryton
R.L. Croft - Ryton
K.M. Davis - Ryton
F.B. Evans - Ryton
H.W. White - Ryton
M. Rushall
E.S. White - Engineering Studio; Ted White and the Rootes Styling team
T.G.R. Fleming - Engineering Studio
T.R. Carpenter

Sources

  1. Geoffrey Rootes' dream for Linwood / Robert J. Allan, 1991

  2. Works team : the Rootes competition department / Michael Frostick, 1964

  3. Works wonders / Marcus Chambers

  4. The men responsible for the Hillman Imp / Ken Sharpe. - 8 August 2005. - MS Word file

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