| |
| Gillian's Nymph at the Imp04 I sat in the rear one evening when we went out for dinner and can testify it's still nippy when loaded down with four well-fed adults. ;-) My boyfriend drove it around for a bit, saying it's even more fun than driving an Imp. | |
|
The company Bohanna Stables (Peter Bohanna and Robin Stables) produced this kit car from 1975 to 1977, although by the end of 1975 there was only one runner.
Initially Chrysler envisaged to build it at Ryton in approximate numbers of 4,000 per year. This never happened as Chrysler U.S. killed off the Imp shortly after the Nymph's launch. This curtailed the supply of components and therefore the Nymph was destined to be a very limited production car. Only 42 cars were sold, usually in kit form. Marketing had of course been very low-key. They did advertise...
In 1976 it cost £387 including VAT (1975 and early 1976 it cost £378 incl. VAT).
Optional extras were
Because it is so light, it can easily manage 50mpg, driven quite hard.
| |||||||
The standard of design and construction is high. It's a g.r.p monocoque with all mechanical parts from the Imp - some of them quite ingeniously used. The engine is mounted on a simple rear subframe, the rear suspension just bolts to the moulding. Bracing struts are used to brace the front suspension. All steel parts are nylon coated - a technique that proved inadequate, but at least they tried.
The Nymph was launched prematurely. Although a prototype hardtop was made, they never did produce any doors.
R.M. Garrett. - Impressions Oct 1986
The Nymph - a brief history / from Graham Beddoe. - Impressions 1994, Jan. - p. 27-28
photo: James Henderson Graham's Nymph - Centre of England Run, 1997 |
A few years ago, the full set of Nymph moulds was donated to The Imp Club by Robin Stables of Bohanna Stables. The club is trying to find a member who would be willing to store these moulds on a longer-term basis (preferably in the Midlands area).
Model Registrar for The Imp Club: Graham Beddoe (owns an orange Nymph: PWK 680R)
11 Nymphs of the 42 sold are known to The Imp Club register (started in 1994).
Not just another 'special' with a flimsy single-skin fibre glass body grafted on to a rust prone metal chassis ! Styled to be cheekly attractive in any surroundings, the NYMPH has been designed by people with many years of experience in glassfibre boat and car design. It is built for us by firms accustomed to building high performance racing hulls to exacting standards using only the finest materials and skilled labour. (For this reason the NYMPH is not the cheapest kit on the market - but certainly it is the best.) The superbly finished full monocoque double skinned body shell is built to take years of punishment, neglect and English weather - it will not rattle or rust. The colour of your choice is in the material, so you will never have any paint peeling problems. All exposed metal parts supplied by us are NYLON coated for maximum protection. All lids are double skinned for maximum strength and pleasant appearance.
The NYMPH kit gives you the chance to build a car to suit YOUR needs - YOU <illegible> Whichever form you choose, it will be nippy, safe and very economical. Our aim has been to to produce a car of charm and character to suit your very own needs - a lot of people are now telling us that we have succeeded.
The NYMPH is unlike any other car available today - so versatile that it adapts to your moods and needs in minutes - on hot sunny days strip it to match your spring feelings ! Imagine yourself in Barbados as you drive around town or to your favourite country <...> - wander off down those leafy country tracks and really smell the countryside. <...>screens are fitted and folded away ready for use in minutes. On sunny spring days <...> soft top. Come winter - fit the smart heat preserving double skinned hard top and be snug with side screens or doors.
The cost of building a NYMPH is very variable - if you base it on a 1964 M.o.T. failure Imp costing £30.00p, spend another £30.00p on essential spares, it will cost you about £526.00p with a soft top and side screens.
If, on the othe hand you decide to fit works reconditioned exchange components and take the whole range of options, such as hard and soft tops, solid doors and side screens, full carpet kit, softer springs and choose a special non-standard colour, your total bill will be about £950.00p. This, however, gives you vitually a new car - and what else do you get for under £1,000 at today's prices ?
A great deal of thought and design work has been applied to this aspect of the NYMPH project. Three major stages in development involving extensive modifications to moulds and the construction of preproduction prototypes for each one have been necessary to arrive at a body/ chassis kit that meets our own very demanding specification. We are now satisfied that our customers will not have any problems fitting the mechanical components from the Imp range to our shells.
Everything you need to compliment the kit we supply, will come rom the standard Hillman Imp with only a few exceptions. (These are detailed in the instruction leaflet that is supplied on ordering the kit.)
It is at this stage that you start making decisions that will affect the end product. We strongly suggest that, unless you intend completely rebuilding all the mechanical components, or fitting reconditioned units purchased from a reliable source, you purchase an Imp that is drivable so that you can identify any faults and be prepared to rectify them before building them into your NYMPH. If you order a NYMPH, we send you a full instruction sheet along with your delivery confirmation, which, as well as detailing the assembly procedure, gives you many useful hints on what trouble sports to look for when choosing your Imp. In this way you can be ready to start your building as soon as your kit arrives.
If you have an average knowledge of car mechanics and common sense you will be able to to follow our simple illustrated instructions. Specialist tools are not required and the normal spanners, drills, screwdrivers from an amateur D.I.Y. toolbag are all that is required. No heavy lifting tackle is required. The body shell comes with all holes drilled and with the windscreen surround frame fitted.
The NYMPH body / chassis is in fact a replacement body shell so the finished car retains the registration of the Imp that supplied the mechanical components to build it.
As a result of initial press publicity, we have been contacted by garages all over the country who are interested in putting together kits for customers in their area.
They would be willing to locate and test a suitable Imp and build the NYMPH from our kit for you at an agreed price. So write to us and we will put you in contact with the garage nearest to you. Alternatively, contact your local garages and see if they would do it for you.
The above brochure, contains photos of DDL 384C and 514 NPO - the two prototypes ?
"Can you afford not having one ?"
Published in Impressions, June 1986
 | |
 White | |
 Pirate Red | |
 Golden Yellow | |
 Light Bronze Green | |
 Golden Brown | |
 Anchusa Blue |
We are very pleased to be able to announce that production has now started on our revised Mk.2 Nymph and we are now in a position to quote firm delivery dates.
During the delay period forced upon us by production problems we have been able to analyse information fed back to us from people who have built our Mk.1 cars. To this we have added our own experience of building and running Nymphs and have incorporated many detail improvements into our Mk.2 as a result. We are confident that the many changes carried out now ensure that our customers are receiving a kit which will not only be foolproof to put together but will result in a very professional looking car.
Enclosed in our folder you will find our latest price list. This is not the cheapest kit car on the market but we are happy that it represents real value for money. Included in the basic kit is everything you require to build your car - this includes all the nuts, bolts and screws required. All the trimming and major hole drilling is done; rear wheel spacers, new metal brake liners, headlamp rims etc. are supplied. Detailed assembly procedures are included so you are left with the straight-forward work of transferring your mechanical components from the Imp to the Nymph.
During the next few months we will be touring major centres in the country to let the hundreds of people who have written to us see and drive a Nymph. When we are going to be in your area we will publish the fact in the local press and advise you personally by letter.
Again we must apologise for the many delays - we are glad however that we have been able to utilize the time in perfecting the car and the final result now ensures that the Nymph is the most advanced and practical runabout kit car available, and that it will give many owners years of economical, rust free, fun motoring.
May 1976
| Basic | V.A.T. | Full price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Chassis Kit Full monocoque double skinned construction in 1st quality Glass Fibre reinforced polyester. Self coloured in six atrtactive colours. (Special colours are available at £10.00 extra.) The kit comes complete with all metal parts Nylon coated ready to accept components from a Hillman Imp to make a basic runabout) |
£368.50 | £29.48 | £397.98 | |||
| Fixed Rollover Bar | £18.00 | £1.44 | £19.44 | |||
| Hood The standard hood gives full headroom to front and rear passengers. Standard colour black. Other colours £7.00 extra. Hood can be used with side screens or doors. Comes ready fitted. |
£56.50 | £4.52 | £61.02 | |||
| Side Screens | £26.50 | £2.12 | £28.62 | |||
| Hard Top | £78.00 | £6.24 | £84.24 | |||
| Solid doors | £64.80 | £5.18 | £69.98 | |||
| Softer rate road springs Give softer ride and improved road holding |
£8.80 £12.60 |
£0.70 £1.01 |
£9.50 £13.61 | |||
| Rubber mat Pre-cut to shape |
£4.50 £15.60 | £0.36 £1.25 | £4.86 £16.85 | |||
| Carpet Pre-cut to shape. Hard wearing black carpet ready for you to fit and glue |
£7.00 £26.80 | £0.56 £2.14 | £7.56 £28.94 |
Nymph : stop press. - Hot Car 1976, February, p. 24 Due to unforeseen demand production mould capacity is being increased to speed existing orders and build up stocks - deliveries of production kits will start late February from our new premises in Reading. The order book is filling quuickly so don't delay - contact us now if you want a Nymph for the coming long hot Summer. We will send you all the prices at once and post the full literature on in February. We wiull also keep you in touch with progress and latest developments and inform you where and when demonstrators will be available in your area. Positions in the order book are reserved only on payment of £50 deposit. (This will be returned if you change your mind). If you want a Nymph, but don't fancy the D.I.Y. bit - contact us anyway as we have a country-wide list of garages willing to build one up for you. Latest hood / hardtop developments ensure quick and easy interchangeability and maximum versatility - use solid doors or slide screens with either hood or hardtop. To see and drive a Nymph now - come and see us (but phone first) at 'Trevose', Cadmore End, near High Wycombe, Bucks. Tel. 0494 - 881232 |
 |
The Imp Site |
| © Franka |
