November 1964
May 1964
November 1964 May 1964 |
Like everybody else, Nerus' development engineer Frank Webb expected the Imp engine to be improvable. Some research indicated that solving the Imp's breathing problems would be gratifying.
Nerus came up with four different stages of tuning for sporty Imp-owners, the hottest of these was refered to as the J.C. conversion. It is claimed to give 42% power increase over standard. But it isn't temperamental or intractable.
Cost: £91 -> total cost for the Nerus Imp: £623. (£55 more than a Mini Cooper at £568)
A year after the Imp first rolled out of the factory, several firms had tried their hand at tuning the Imp. The Nerus Imp with the J.C. conversion was the first to impress.
Frank Webb specialized in solving top-end breathing problems, and the standard Imp's breathing was constricted. The improvements were mainly in carburetion and top-end.
The manual choke operates through a Bowden cable. The control is on the wheel arch at the driver's right knee.
Stick-on Nerus badges were optional. One in the middle on the lip of the bootlid and the other on the engine compartment lid, below the register number.
| Acceleration times (sec.): | ||||
| m.p.h. | gear ratio: 1.14 to 1 | 5.70 to 1 | 8.91 to 1 | 16.91 to 1 |
| 10 - 30 20 - 40 30 - 50 40 - 60 50 - 70 60 - 80 |
-.- (15.1) 15.2 (14.2) 13.2 (14.1) 14.0 (19.3) 17.2 (23.0) 18.4 (-.-) |
9.6 (8.9) 8.1 (8.6) 7.6 (9.9) 9.6 (14.6) 14.0 (-.-) -.- (-.-) |
5.0 (5.3) 4.7 (6.3) -.- (-.-) -.- (-.-) -.- (-.-) -.- (-.-) |
-.- (-.-) -.- (-.-) -.- (-.-) -.- (-.-) -.- (-.-) -.- (-.-) |
Nerus Hillman Imp |
| From rest thru gears | Autocar May 1964 | Practical Motorist Nov 1964 | |||
| to 30 mph | 4.5 sec. | (5.4) | 4.1 sec. | [6.1] | |
| to 40 mph | 6.9 sec. | (9.1) | (7.4) | 6.9 sec. | [10.0] |
| to 50 mph | 11.8 sec. | (14.7) | (12.6) | 10.4 sec. | [15.6] |
| to 60 mph | 16.5 sec. | (23.7) | (18.0) | 15.4 sec. | [23.4] |
| to 70 mph | 26.2 sec. | (38.4) | 22.2 sec. | [-.-] | |
| to 80 mph | 34.9 sec. | (-.-) | 35.8 sec. | [-.-] | |
For gear changes 7,000 was used as the limit, although in first and second gear 8,000 rpm could be displayed on the the rev counter easily. A matter of improved breathing.
| Maximum speed on gears | |||||||
| m.p.h. | k.p.h. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top (Mean) (Best) |
86.5 87 |
(80.8) (83) |
(84.7) | 85.6 | [78] | 139.9 140 |
(130.0) (133.6) |
| 3rd | 72 | (71) | 74 | [60] | 116 | (114) | |
| 2nd | 46 | (46) | 47 | [40] | 74 | (74) | |
| 1st | 28 | (25) | 25 | [22] | 45 | (40) | |
The standing quarter-mile (402 meters): 20.0 sec. (21.8); 19.7 sec., doing 67mph at end.
Overall fuel consumption for 235 miles (378km): 35.2 mpg. (8.0 litres/ 100km) (38.1 mpg.; or 7.4 litres/ 100km)
At a road average of 30mph: 51.2 mpg.; [51.0]
At a road average of 50mph: 30.1 mpg; [36.5]
 Looks like it acquired a dent during the Practical Motorist performance car test  |
Nerus Hillman Imp 875 c.c. : improving the performance of popular cars. - Autocar 1964, May 8. - p.908-909
Testing 7760 FN
Reprinted in TSB 081. - p.18-19
The Nerus Hillman Imp : performance car test. - Practical Motorist 1964, November. - p.311
Testing 7760 FN
Reprinted in TSB 081. - p.23
At the time (1964) the address was:
Nerus Engineering Co.
Rye, Sussex
And the conversion was available from
R.J.V. Ltd.
165a Westbourne Grove
London W 11
|
© Franka |