Hartwell Imp - Restoration
Discussion
Takes me back to the start of my motorsport involvement .
1971 was my first year marshalling and Bevan and Hartwell were big names , saloons were always the big draw for me . Me and a mate built up an imp to have fun in and do some 12 car stuff and dip our toes into road rallying . We did spend more time building and swapping engines than driving it in anger . We got to the stage where we could do an engine swap in an hour and a half . A bronze/ gold Stilletto was a toy for a while . The last was a red Imp Sport that had connected with the wheel nuts of a truck . I repaired it all got it an mot and give it to the wife to replace her Herald , she didn't like it so it ended up for sale . Bought by a guy who built a Clan Crusader out of it .
Always have a soft spot for an.imp .
A Commer Cob was my first company van back in 72/73 it was very tired and tatty being a hard worked G reg when placed in my care .
1971 was my first year marshalling and Bevan and Hartwell were big names , saloons were always the big draw for me . Me and a mate built up an imp to have fun in and do some 12 car stuff and dip our toes into road rallying . We did spend more time building and swapping engines than driving it in anger . We got to the stage where we could do an engine swap in an hour and a half . A bronze/ gold Stilletto was a toy for a while . The last was a red Imp Sport that had connected with the wheel nuts of a truck . I repaired it all got it an mot and give it to the wife to replace her Herald , she didn't like it so it ended up for sale . Bought by a guy who built a Clan Crusader out of it .
Always have a soft spot for an.imp .
A Commer Cob was my first company van back in 72/73 it was very tired and tatty being a hard worked G reg when placed in my care .
grumpy52 said:
We did spend more time building and swapping engines than driving it in anger . We got to the stage where we could do an engine swap in an hour and a half .
That was the great thing about having an engine which was light enough you could just pickup the whole long engine gearbox assembly by hand and slot it back in.I remember working on my brothers Chamois outside his flat, as usual the engine was out when the BiB drove up. The older one didn't seem to feel that this was reasonable road side maintenance
. I tried to explain it was quite normal. He said he'd be back in half an hour by which time I'd got it running again 
Not much to report guys ....
A few silly little jobs like silicone sealing in the rear plastic window to stop it rattling, have moved passenger seat rails back as far as I can and cut accordingly, made some spacer blocks for driver seat rails in the event that my 6ft friend drives the car lol.
And have purchased a custom built race transporter for team hartwell lol
A few silly little jobs like silicone sealing in the rear plastic window to stop it rattling, have moved passenger seat rails back as far as I can and cut accordingly, made some spacer blocks for driver seat rails in the event that my 6ft friend drives the car lol.
And have purchased a custom built race transporter for team hartwell lol
Latest update on the car .... I did another test / track day at Brands during the week and again the car ran very well, I shared the day with a good friend of mine who will drive the car in the likely event that we race it.
Car went through a set of rear std brake shoes so am currently investigating why and looking at fitting some kind of brake bias valve.
Also got the car on the scales and its 580kg
few pictures below ...
Car went through a set of rear std brake shoes so am currently investigating why and looking at fitting some kind of brake bias valve.
Also got the car on the scales and its 580kg
few pictures below ...
Edited by TISPKJ on Saturday 22 June 09:23
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