Like everybody else, Nerus' development engineer Frank Webb expected the Imp engine to be improvable. Some research proved 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.
| 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
tested by Practical Motorist
(a standard Hillman Imp,
tested in Autocar of 3 May 1963)
[standard Hillman Imp,
tested in Practical Motorist 1963]
(997 cc Mini-Cooper)
| 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]
| 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 |
Nerus Hillman Imp 875 c.c. : improving the performance of popular cars. - Autocar 1964, May. - p.908-909
Testing 7760 FN
Reprinted in TSB 081. - p.18-19
The Nerus Hillman Imp : performance car test. - Practical Motorist 1964, November
Testing 7760 FN
Reprinted in TSB 081. - p.23