Development of the Hillman Imp

Second cold climate test
(Scandinavia, 1963 - preproduction)

Part of Kenneth Sharpe's memories

KS2521: Loading L17 & L18 - preproduction Imps VHS 817 & VHS 818

Linwood organ­ised a preproduc­tion car test in Scan­dinavia

The next test was to Sweden. The two cars VHS 817 (L17) and VHS 818 (L18) were air freighted across the Channel then driven up through Germany, Den­mark to Sweden. We paused in Stockholm to collect locally made studded tyres. These were of two types, those with the studs just flush with the surface of the tyre and the others with studs standing proud by 6-8mm. The latter gave fantastic grip while on ice but were not intended for use on roads where the ice was thawing. The other tyres were a drivers dream on icy roads, but were noisy and would only be appropriate for use in places where there is serious cold weather like Norway and Sweden.

On the whole this test went more or less as expected with good cold starts, no serious mechanical failures and insufficient heat output for -20°C in normal clothes (it was adequate when wearing suitable outdoor clothing). The car was also fitted with a temporary installation of a South Wind combustion heater and an exhaust heat recovery unit designed by Ricardo. The South Wind heater was excellent in every way, but it would impose installation problems and of course cost a significant amount of money. While the Ricardo unit recovered a useful amount of heat it did not help the slow warm up.

The excitement of the test was at Gallivare when we were pursued by some of the Swedish motoring press.

G. Walker: Off to the Arctic... Jan 20 to Feb 22 1963 "Start of the cold weather test - at Ryton" "Imp with a Norwegian train" Link to a railway review: the Kiruna - Narvik line

The Imp had not been announced so they were desperate to get this coup. Eventually we got the cars into the garage and the Linwood leader managed to persuade the press boys that it would be best for them to come back the next day when the cars would be cleaned and polished. We of course immediately packed up and drove to Kiruna to put the cars on the train over the mountains to Narvik.

Then followed the long drive down south by road, ferry and for one stretch where the road was blocked by snow, by train. Near Koppang we found a suitable test site for cold start test and general assessment with the lowest temperatures of the test.
Just as we were packing up to drive back to Ryton, I received a phone call from Craig Miller for me to get back to Ryton as soon as possible. The engineer who was due to lead the next Kenya test had moved to a different part of the company and I had to prepare the test. The test team dropped me off at a nearby railway station so I could get to Oslo and fly home while they drove the cars back.

KS2667: Pause by the wayside   KS2674: Crossing the Arctic Circle Polcirkeln; Napapiiri; Arctic circle; Cercle polaire Nordkap 550; Nordpolen 2611; Ekvatorn 7389; Sydpolen 17389 that's swedish for North Cape (Norway) 550; north pole 2611; equator 7389; South Pole 17389

KS2711: Mike Rushall wondering how deep the water is if we slide off the road

KS2735: On one of the many ferries that used to join up bits of the main North South highway in Norway