The Imp Site

Hillman Super Imp

Hillman Super Imps was taken in production in September 1965 and continued up to the last days of the Imp in March 1976.

Portuguese Super Imp
João Gustavo Neves' Hillman Super
Imp (1971) and his nephew Diogo (1990)

It was launched when the basic saloon was dropped from the range and the Deluxe Mark II made its appearance. The Super Imp had superior fixtures and fittings to put it roughly midway between the Deluxe and the Chamois. It had the same mechanical specifications as the normal DeLuxe (itself improved in detail), but its furnishing and fittings were not as basic. Its style differed from the Chamois, as it had a more 'flash' appearance.

Externally the new Super Imp distinguised itself from de Imp de luxe by:

Inside the car, the emphasis is on more luxury than the de luxe sports:

Other features of the Super Imp include:


The uninspired name came from the Humber Super Snipe and the Super Minx.

Weights of the
Imp Super,
as listed in catalogues
1967
1968
1969
1971
1973		 1,578 lbs
1,578 lbs
1,577 lbs
1,577 lbs
1,560 lbs

As the weight of the panels did not vary (research on body panels confirms this), it is supposed that it must have been the trim.

Super Imp and Pulp Fiction's heroine
Eric Gillies' interesting Hillman Imp Super

Hillman Super Imp saloon Spring Special

During spring 1967 a special batch of Imp Supers was sold in the UK for £482. They were silver grey metallic, with special bumpers and whitewall tyres.
Apparantly these vehicles had been a special batch, that had been assembled for the Canadian market, but the order was cancelled.

Chassis numbers: B 44 20 30 297 HSO was one of these.


Hillman Super Imp        
Modern Motoring and Travel 1966, Sept. - p.3        
ENGINE   MOTOR   MOTEUR

Four cylinder with overhead valves operated by single overhead camshaft.
Aluminium alloy cylinder block with detachable aluminium alloy cylinder head.
Bore and Stroke 68 by 60.375 mm.
Cubic capacity 875 c.c.
B.H.P.: 42 gross (39 nett) at 5,000 r.p.m.
Maximum torque: 55.6 lb./ft. at 2,800 r.p.m.
Compression ratio 10 : 1
Lubrication: pressure by Hobourn Eaton pump with full-flow filter.
Oil capacity: 5.5 pints
Fuel system: Solex 30 PIH5 downdraught carburettor, AC mechanical pump

        
TRANSMISSION   TRANSMISSIE   TRANSMISSION
Laycock diaphragm 6.25 in. diameter clutch with self-adjusting hydraulic operation.
Gearbox: four-speed in unit with engine (aluminium alloy casting).
Synchromesh on all forward gears.
Gear ratios: 0.852, 1.174, 1.833 and 3.417 to 1. Reverse, 2.846 to 1.
Final drive: hypoid trans-axle and crown wheel and pinion with 4.857 to 1 final drive ratio.
Alunimium alloy casing.
Overall gear ratios: 4.138, 5.702, 8.905 and 16.595 to 1. Reverse, 13.824 to 1.		        
SUSPENSION   OPHANGING   SUSPENSION
Front, independent by swing axle and coil springs.
Rear, independent by traling arms and coil springs.
Shock absorbers: telescopic hydraulic front and rear. 		       
STEERING   STUURSYSTEEM   DIRECTION

Rack and pinion with two-spoke steering wheel

        
BRAKES   REMMEN   FREINS
Girling hydraulic two-leading shoe.
Drums, 8.0 in. diameter.
Brake lining width, 1.5 in. Total brake lining area 75 sq.in.		        
GENERAL DATA        
Wheel base: 6 ft.10 in.
Track (front): 4ft. 1½ in.
Track (rear): 4ft. ½ in.
Overall length: 11 ft. 7 in.
Overall width: 5 ft. ¼ in.
Overall height: 4 ft. 6½ in.
Ground clearance (laden): 5½ in.
Turning circle: 30 ft. 6 in.
Turn of steering wheel (lock to lock): 2.75
Weight unladen (with petrol and water): 1,535 lbs
Tank capacity: 6 imp. galls.		        

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The Imp family
A Super Imp with double headlights
on another site: Paul Waites' late Super Imp
© Franka