Rootes garages had never had a small-car tradition, and were completely new to the idea of selling cheap little cars to marginal motorists. As one respected ex-Rootes executive puts it: "They were a rather stuffy lot, actually, especially the Singer dealers, and they were appalled at having to sell an advanced, tricky-to-maintain little car." The stodgy middle-class tradition which embraced stately Humbers and not-very-sporting Sunbeams would take a lot of wearing down.
From: Always too good to last / Graham Robson. - Motor 1974, March 9. - p. 14-15
|
|
| Seems like the custom-made suitcase is in that boot. | |
|
|
Picture impressions secured in the Rootes' Devonshire House showrooms several days after he announcement of the Hillman 'Imp' - and reflecting the continuous public interest in this new and fascinating model. Similar reports of encouraging patronage come from all parts of the country.
From: Rootes Group Review : published for distribution
to Rootes Group personnel at home and overseas.
- new series No. 2; July 1963. - p.18
I've no idea if this was plain propaganda or sort-of reality. It might have been true that there was a good lot of interest as the car magazines were very positive about the Imp.
 23 February 1966, Silverstone, dealer-day Peter Brown getting out of the Fraser Imp; the driver looks like Ray Calcutt? Official Rootes PR photo R56340, H.R. Clayton Ltd. - supplied by Peter Brown |
A sporty, but nearly frozen dozen dealers on a cold day at Silverstone ...
| period indication |
note | company name | address | tel. |
no. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
Jack Alpe | 50 Maylebone High St., London, W.1 | Welbeck | 1124 | |||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
Brew Brothers Limited | 133 Old Brompton Road, London, S.W.7 | FREmantle | 3333 | |||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
West London's largest agents. All new models in stock. | Davies Car Centre | 22-34 Horn Lane, Acton, W.3 | Acorn | 6731 | ||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
Exclusive Rootes dealers and stockist. Very early delivery most models; excellent after-sales service; demonstrations a pleasure. | Goodliffe Garages Ltd. | 13 Northington Street, High Holborn, W.C.1 | Cha | 8103 | ||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
Rootes Group Sales and Service, immediate delivery all models | Gunnersbury Park Garage | Gunnerbury Avenue, Ealing, W.5 | Acorn | 1122 | ||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
Hadley Green Garage | 202-204 High Road, Barnet | Barnet | 0332 and 9988 | |||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
Your Rootes dealers; immediate delivery. | Manton Motors Ltd. | 23-29 Shirley Road, Croydon | Addiscombe | 6051-6 | ||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
Rootes Area dealers. All models in stock. Super Minx automatic and Imp, demonstrations available. | Newtons of Wembley Ltd. | Forty Lane, Wembley | Arnold | 5252 | ||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
For early delivery of new Hillman range. | Northwood Hills Motor Co. | Joel Street, Pinner, Middx. | Northwood | 3271-2-3 | ||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
All latest models available immediately | Phoenix Motors Ltd. | Oxford Road, Gerrards Cross | Denham Gerrards Cross Gerrards Cross |
2716 2545 5156 |
||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
Poplar Garage | Billinghurst | Billinghurst | 2075-6 | |||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
All models early delivery; demonstrations arranged. | W. Shirley and Sons | Croydon | 8341 | |||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
For early delivery all models. | Jack Thomas (Car Sales) Ltd. | 31 Stafford Road, Waddon | Croydon | 0651 | ||
| Motor 1965, Oct.; (classified ad) |
Early deliveries all models. Demonstration car always available. | W. and I. Motors | High Street, Egham | Egham | 3838 | ||
| period indication |
note | company name | address | tel. |
no. |
 23 February 1966, Silverstone Hartwell Imp RU 3, surrounded by Rootes dealers Official Rootes PR photo R56456, H.R. Clayton Ltd. - supplied by Peter Brown |
 23 February 1966, Silverstone; Hillman FHP 909C Works Rally driver Peter Harper frightening a dealer. FHP 909C Official Rootes PR photo R56403, H.R. Clayton Ltd. - supplied by Peter Brown |
Under the header of 'Leading Hillman Imp dealers', 7 dealers advertised in Motor on the occasion of the launch of the Hillman Super Imp.
 |
Campbell Symonds, Watford Road, Wembey Leading Hillman Imp dealers |
|
 |
M.E.T. Garages Ltd., 409 Kilburn High Road, N.W.6 Leading Hillman Imp dealers |
|
 |
Humber Hillman Sunbeam, main dealers Leading Hillman Imp dealers |
|
 |
G.W. Rushworth Ltd., Queens Park Garage Leading Hillman Imp dealers |
|
 |
Smith Auto Company Limited Motor 1965, week ending 2 Oct.; p.84 Leading Hillman Imp dealers | |
 |
Dolphin Square Garage Leading Hillman Imp dealers |
|
 |
North End Motors Ltd, North End Road, Erith 33000 Leading Hillman Imp dealers |
 |
Beter deal at RootesTake the risk out of used car buying with a Rooted Tested and Guaranteed Vehicle. Prepared to exacting standards by Rootes Ltd., with first-class after-sales service. Call at any of these showrooms to see any of these Rootes Tested cars. Warwick Wright Ltd.
Rootes Limited
Motor 1965, week ending 2 Oct.; p.110 (classified advertisements suppl.) |
|
The Imp Site
|
© Franka |
Not Imp-related:
 |
On ebay the other day [see image]:
This handbook gives a list of all the dealers, Garages that were involved with the Rootes Motors Group in March 1967. The booklet covers saloons, estate cars and vans upto 1961.
Hull Museums Collections holds a 1965 booklet by the Rootes Group. One copy of a booklet listing dealers for Humber, Hillman, Sunbeam Cars, and Commer and Karrier vans and trucks 2nd edition.