Description Lightly modified for use in trials and road rallies; bucket seats; uprated drive shafts; SU carb conversion; 4-core radiator; recent repaint; original interior included Every now and again, a car comes along which deserves to be a lot more successful than it proves, the Hillman Imp falling firmly into this ‘heroic failure’ category for poor old Rootes.

Code-named Project Apex, it was to be the Rootes Group’s first small car and they were determined to get it right, work beginning on the car in 1955 and continuing steadily until it was finally ready for launch in 1963 – which was far too late as the equally brilliant Mini, launched in 1959, had by then stolen all its thunder.

Despite having fine handling by virtue of its all-independent suspension, an innovative opening rear screen, and a superb rear-mounted, race-derived, all-alloy Coventry Climax engine mated to a brilliant baulk-ring synchromesh transaxle that was far superior to the one found in the Mini, it just didn’...